How many of you practice yoga as a form of exercise? Me personally, I like to pretend that I practice yoga, but by no means am I anything but a bendy-ballerina who is jealous of those brave enough to attempt, let alone achieve, a proper head stand. However, I look at yoga in the same way that I view a really involved ballet class. It is an excellent way to not only work on your physical body, but also your mental health through meditation. Do you think it is possible to achieve 32 par terre hops in a row in Giselle while you are thinking about how you have to call the dentist about that tooth cleaning and pay your electric bill? It isn't, and if you do think about that bill, down comes your leg, you fall out of your pose, having lost your concentration. On the other hand, if you do maintain your concentration/meditation on the task/pose at hand and you pull it off, the mental and physical payoffs are immeasurable.
Yoga = Meditation = Peace of Mind = Having A Full Bucket = Better For The UNIVERSE!
Which is why I was really blown away by Feexa's post over at Hijab 'n' The City this morning. In her post, she brings up that in the Muslim religion, practicing yoga is considered 'haram'. Now, being an American and wanting to really understand exactly what Feexa was talking about, I did a little research to understand what 'haram' means.
Basically, it's against your religion and against God. Period. It's like when the Pope says, "Hey, y'all, no birth control because sex is for procreation only!" Except, I don't know about you, but I know many a Catholic woman who has used birth control. Kind of like that, only much more extreme because this is over in Malaysia, NOT America.
Feexa stated that there was a big uproar in the media in Malaysia back in 2009 about Yoga being 'haram' for practicing Muslims. While there continues to be a stigma against practicing yoga, it seems that Feexa is pushing on and continues to teach yoga to her students, despite many people in her community who do not allow their wives, daughters, mothers, or sisters to practice such a beneficial way to take care of the whole person. I chalk it up to naivete. People are afraid of what they do not understand, and it appears that in Malaysia, Feexa is fighting quite a battle against preconceived notions.
Her post makes me appreciate that I live in America. It makes me realize that as American women, we take for granted that we can walk down the street with our heads uncovered. And, if we choose to walk down the street with a hijab on our head, we also have that right. We can go take that yoga class, or maybe even a pole dancing exercise class and know that our husbands will not be waiting for us when we get home, ready to beat us for committing a sin against God and bringing shame to the family.
What a battle our sisters of the world face. Next time you go take a yoga class, or any class for yourself, remember that there a woman in this world who would like to be in your shoes...or bare feet, and be stepping onto her own yoga mat.
Is it sacrilege to take care of ones' self? I don't think so and I don't think you do, either. Therefore, let's all say an extra prayer or two for Feexa and her students and their continued battle in bringing yoga to the masses in Malaysia!
