Letters: Christian yoga
Reading Lois K. Solomon’s article about “Christian yoga,” I couldn’t help but be struck by the xenophobia and fear expressed [“Yoga — With Bible Verses,” May 10]. Yoga has its roots, traditions and structure in Hinduism. It seems to me this is an opportunity to learn about another culture, another perspective, a different way of viewing life.
Is Christian faith so easily threatened (“It’s important for Christians not to put themselves in that world”) that it can’t tolerate even the hint of another idea? Some are “offended” by having to chant “om”? Now that is truly offensive. It’s like attending a Seder and getting upset because Judaism is involved.
Rather than denying the essential elements of yoga, non-Hindus (which is most of us) should take the opportunity to make some new discoveries. That’s what a spiritual path is all about.
Kathrin King Segal
Chatsworth
People probably do not even think about yoga being a religious sacrament and instead they do yoga for what it is, exercise. I am probably one of many Christians who were unaware that this is going against God, and others may even think that the idea is absurd. Christians do not feel that God would be angry with us if we go to yoga tomorrow or next week.
However the fact that there is a yoga class with a Christian spin is a great idea to attract those Christians who may have doubts. Yoga can be a very strong, physical and emotional movement that can help someone find or connect with God and stay with him throughout their life. So, I’m all for it!
Brandon Morin
Fullerton
I’m skeptical as to whether this is a good idea. Yes, I am a fundamental Christian (no, I’m not a Tea Party-er or even GOP); Satan uses every subtle seduction he can to persuade people (even Christians) away from God, Jesus, Christianity — he could be operating through this “avenue” also.
Gail Noon
San Pedro
Nature vs. nurture
Your article “DNA Referees” [by Amber Dance, May 3] is very informative about epigenetic influences on gene expression, i.e., the study of how the environment can turn genes “on” and “off.” However, you left out one extremely important part of the environment: a child’s care-taking environment.
The way a child is raised, it turns out, can regulate the expression of genes in the child’s developing brain. In a study published earlier this year by Tallie Z. Baram, at UC Irvine, in the Journal of Neuroscience, Baram identified how sensory stimuli from maternal care can modify the gene that controls a key messenger of stress called corticotrophin-releasing hormone.
There are also many epigenetic studies done using animals. For example, Michael Meaney, working with rats at McGill University, and Stephen Suomi, working with monkeys at the National Institutes of Health, have shown that maternal care influences the regulation of gene expression in a number of genes involved in emotional regulation and social relatedness.
This explains why the way a child is raised early in life can have a lasting impact throughout life.
Regina Pally, M.D.
Santa Monica
The writer is executive co-director of the Center for Reflective Parenting, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the parent-child relationship (https://www.reflectiveparentingprogram.org).
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