What Can Postural Yoga Contribute to an Embodied Christian Spirituality? An Analysis of the Strengths and Weaknesses of Postural Yoga in the Light of Kashmir Śivaism

Fabrice Blée

doi:10.3390/rel13020120

Abstract

In this article, I propose to examine how the practice of āsanas (postural yoga) offered in Western yoga studios might contribute to an embodied Christian spirituality. I will do this with reference to Kashmir Śivaism, which links postural yoga to the “way of action” (kriyopāya) and considers it to be ‘inferior’ to the two other paths to supreme liberation, that of energy (śāktopāya) and that of will (śāmbhavopāya). In my critique of the widespread contemporary emphasis on postutral yoga, I will point out both its strengths and its weaknesses, and reaffirm the role of the body in our relationship with God.

Highlights

The benefit of being attentive to the body is one of the reasons for the success of yoga in the West, where the practice of postures is virtually the only kind of yoga that is practiced
We offer a critique of postural yoga in light of the non-dual Tantric path of Trika, which is better known as Kashmiri Sivaism
This study—in line with other reflections (Ryan 1995; Sheveland 2008; Malkovsky 2017)—should suffice to show that a Christian spirituality that is concerned with the bodily dimension can benefit from involvement with postural yoga

Summary

Introduction

The benefit of being attentive to the body is one of the reasons for the success of yoga in the West, where the practice of postures (asanas) is virtually the only kind of yoga that is practiced. Postural yoga is generally detached from its Hindu context and promoted without religious reference This is often done so that it will be more acceptable among those who are especially distrustful of religion. We propose a critical examination of the ability of postural yoga to emphasize the bodily dimension, doing so in light of the Trika philosophy of Kashmir’s Sivaism, which, while granting a central place to the body, relativizes the practice of asanas. This Hindu Tantric tradition allows us to question postural yoga in order. Religions 2022, 13, 120 to make known the strengths and limitations that it brings to the urgent effort to recover the contemplative dimension of Christian spirituality

What Is an Embodied Christian Spirituality?

The Contribution of Postural Yoga to an Embodied Christian Spirituality

Critiques of Postural Yoga in Light of Kashmiri Sivaism

Conclusions