Ah, no, but seriously, I do

Wish I were religious, I mean. I wish there was some sort of supernatural Great Big Dad Person, or Kind Bearded Toga Guy, that I could give all my troubles to. I wish I could march down to church, close my eyes and fold my hands, and feel something other than awkward.

I imagine really faithful people have got to be pretty relaxed, right? So what if life sucks — then you die! Heaven and that. Win win.

It’s not just Christianity. Or any of the “Top Three.” I would feel equally as silly sitting in, say, a buddhist temple. The closest theory I can allow as possibly, marginally acceptable to my worldview is that of Bronson Alcott and the, what were they, Romantics? The Oversoul. That notion that all humanity is connected. That we are all in it together, as a family. A big, stinking, mismanaged family.

Sigh.

So. Anyone got any good tips for getting started on yoga? Local yokels with advice?

January 4, 2008 | Filed Under baltimore, neuroses

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Comments

13 Responses to “Ah, no, but seriously, I do”

Ada on January 5th, 2008 12:04 am

I had a boyfriend who was deeply moved by a trip he took through Africa and the people he met who introduced him to Animism. From what he told me, it sounds very close to my own little corner of religious belief. Perhaps you might want to check it out?

However - as for yoga? Whatever you do, try to take a class when you first start out. Don’t to the home thing until you are pretty confident. My two cents.

Oh, and Ashtanga all the way, baby.
Chair on January 5th, 2008 12:23 am

I second the Ashtanga, baby.

Born and raised Roman Catholic and later being kinda angsty about it, I read a lot of pagan stuff. I think I’ve kind of settled in a semi-pagan-nature-lover yet finding truth in pretty much all faiths I read about. The JD Salinger stories about Seymour (Franny&Zooey especially) speak to me, he accepts everything as wisdom and a way to see G/god, which I dig. I’m not religious in the sense that I practice anything loyally, but I am spiritual. I DO miss the community that was always around me when I was growing up, but I’m generally skeptical of the way it seems all faiths get perverted by the few as a means to power.

Ashtanga yoga brought me the closest to a truly moving spiritual moment that I’ve ever been. I canNOT wait to get back into it.
Cham on January 5th, 2008 8:43 am

Thinking too much hurts ones brain. Stop it.
Jen on January 5th, 2008 11:48 am

I feel the same way! Like life would be more easily digested if I had some faith in some higher power. But I don’t. And you just can’t fake it. Maybe we need a support group for atheists in denial.
Ty on January 5th, 2008 12:03 pm

Have you read Eat, Pray, Love? Do if you haven’t. It’s a good look at finding yourself and comfort without traditional American religion.

My dad and I believe that the souls of the dead stay around to help you in times of need. Both of us have had the weird feeling that my grandfather, his father, has been present in certain troubling moments (one of which we were were in together and later noted that we both felt his presense). I have always found that comforting. I take it as a sign that if I don’t feel his presence, I’m really ok, and I can handle the situation without him.

It may sound a little cheesy, but for me, as someone who also feels uncomfortable in a church, it helps.
Lisa on January 5th, 2008 3:26 pm

Lurker coming out of hiding here. If you are seriously considering yoga, have you tried Charm City/Midtown Yoga? Small friendly environment - and it’s about $15 a class. I know you live in Baltimore, and they have 2 different locations.
pea on January 5th, 2008 6:34 pm

I know a few people who would tell you they are deeply faithful and they’re still stressed out. I’m not gonna make a judgment on that, just making an observation.

I hope that, if you do yoga, it offers you a relief from stress.
zenchick on January 5th, 2008 7:12 pm

1. I don’t think faith takes stress away. (nothing does-stress management helps you deal with it!)
I have a lot of faith, I found it in ways I couldn’t describe or prescribe, but I re-found my own religion as an adult, on my terms, and also found a lot of connection in Eastern stuff.
2. any studio will let you take your first class for free-start out with a beginner or “level I” class. People think yoga is “easy” because we live in a more-faster-better-I-can-do-more-time-on-the-treadmill than you society…but it ain’t so easy. If you start out at too difficult a class you’ll be turned off.
Good luck! Email me if you want info on the studio I go to.
Lisa the domestic diva on January 6th, 2008 6:36 am

and here I am thinking I’m the only one who feels so awkward at church. I was always worried that the priest would notice me not knowing all the right words to the songs and prayers. So, I just stopped going before they’d discover I was an imposter.

I keep thinking I need to choose a religion or something…but nothing seems to fit.

Yoga? Nah, not for me. My hot personal trainer beats out the skinny arse yoga lady any day of the week, KWIM?

With friendship,
Lisa
kelly on January 6th, 2008 1:01 pm

Just found your blog today. I’ll be back.
For me, God is in laying done our clean white bones, to fill up the page. I’d say you have plenty of faith.
Melissa on January 7th, 2008 12:21 pm

I’m in Charles Village and head to Charm City Yoga for their prenatal class every Sunday evening. I really like the space and teacher. I have a friend who does Beginner Yoga on Saturday and loves it.

Classes are $15 for drop in but less if you purchase a five or ten class card. Community Yoga on TH and SU eves at the Preston St. location is $6 p/class.

I can’t help with the God thing. I was raised Catholic and married an atheist Jew. We belonged to a secular Humanistic group when we lived in DC (Machar), but the commute to/from Baltimore to Bethesda and back is a bit much, especially now that I’m pregnant.
toyfoto on January 7th, 2008 10:25 pm

You know what … I’ll be the idiot: Get a tape and start. Go gently. If it’s right for you you’ll eventually find a class.

I did it that way. I’ve been practicing yoga for more than twenty years now. (I know, silly right?). But true. Started with some yoga TV personality way back in the 70s when my mom was into it and just kept on. When i got serious about it I just got a tape and then eventually — like years later — went to classes and experimented. I liked ashtanga a lot, but now mostly just practicing on my own again.

The hardest part for me was listening to the teachers in real life do the yoga speak. But I have to admit, when I was ready, there was something really awesome about being in a room with LOTS of people. There was an energy I couldn’t get by myself. But it wasn’t there for years because I was too self-conscious.

So I say yoga is what you make it. Start to do it anyway you feel comfortable and if you like it continue. There’s always something to learn.
Melissa on January 8th, 2008 6:58 am

Found you a while ago but I don’t think I’ve commented yet. Our kids are close in age and now here’s something else we have on common! I genuinely admire the comfort other people get from their faith but it just doesn’t work for me. I can’t see it as anything other than another set of myths. (Actually, that’s how we’re planning to present bible stories to our kids.)

Got nothin’ for you on the yoga. I’ve tried it but I would need one of those special classes for inflexible people because I can’t even touch my toes.