Uninitiated Can Infect the Science of Yoga

I found “Lotus Blossoms” (June 19) on demystifying yoga disturbing. Having spent several months in India researching yoga for my doctoral dissertation, I discovered that we in the West do not know what yoga is nor what it can do. It should not be an option to replace aerobics or jogging.

Taking the ancient science of yoga out of context and turning it into an ordinary method of maintaining physical fitness can become dangerous not only to the uninitiated, but also to the science of yoga itself.

Just as ancient spiritual centers became polluted and lost their wonderful healing energies, that same pollution from the uninitiated can infect yoga and its mystical effects on the body will be lost forever.

Yoga postures were designed to change the atomic structure of the human body--to refine it so the body can withstand that surge of divine energy that flows into the brain when it unites the individual with its creator to become one with God. They should not be practiced without a full understanding of the science of yoga.

KAY MOURADIAN

South Pasadena