Yoga has been exported to the West without the spirituality of the body. B.K.S. Iyengar always talked about the spirituality of the body. Carl Gustav Jung always warned the Westerners that you cannot practice yoga because you’re coming from a reductionistic background. But after the arrival of Einstein and a lot of other scientists today, who are accepting that faith is a very important factor which science brought in and it affirmed Guruji B.K.S. Iyengar’s teaching.
My retreat at Bonnevaux – Christian Meditation & Yoga – is all about going through the three stages of: the body, the breath, which connects with the trans-rational, and a final dimension, that I call the ‘noumenon’.
Now once that comes about, then the next thing is that you discover that within you, you carry an infinite capacity of the awakening, what scientists today talk about, the faith factor. And thanks be to God, we are able today to practice yoga with this dimension, this faith dimension, which is basically through the body.
That’s why the scientists always say today that our bodies are wired to God. Yoga, as the word says, is an encounter with the Lord and that Lord is called in Ayangar Yoga, Antaryamin, inner controller.
And from my experience, people who practice this way, have got rid of their diabetes and a variety of other stress-oriented ailments. That’s the benefit: health, not only of the body, but also of the mind. And we address people who have been coming from alcoholism, developing schizophrenia, bipolar, as well as coming from psychosis caused by multiple use of cannabis.
Fr Joe Pereira is leading a retreat at Bonnevaux that will open a space where people can bring clear attention – and intention – to their personal wellbeing, as well as being part of the creation of community. Participants will have the opportunity to practice yoga alongside breathwork sessions and teachings based on Fr Joe’s long experience of working with people experiencing serious health challenges in India and around the world.
