Some time ago a friend gave me the reference to a book on Yoga, in the hope that the exercises in the book would help me overcome my back problems. The book is by Richard Hit­tlemen and is called Introduction to Yoga – Beginning and Intermediate Ex­ercise for Peace and Physical Fulfillment.¹

While the word "Exercises" make us think of workouts, muscle building and better health, the words "peace and physical fulfillment" hint that there is something else. That also comes out in the introductory state­ment, where he says,

Hidden inside you is a joy of life ... waiting to be released! Yoga is the key to this inner beauty of body and mind.p. 1

The exercises described in the book look like good ones. They are clearly written and well illustrated, and are designed to produce flexibility, good muscle tone, and a sense of good health. The approach is holistic, aiming at the total wellbeing of the in­dividual, and not just at cardiovascular development or an increase in brute strength or muscle bulge. Move­ments have to be executed carefully and gracefully. After following some of the exercises, I find them indeed helpful. But if you were to follow the entire set, it would be very time-con­suming, taking at least 30 minutes a day. That time may be well spent if you consider the long term benefits. But not everyone will spend that much time on physical fitness.

Although the exercises themselves seem quite appropriate, there are cer­tain elements in the book that bother me considerably. I think the word "mystic" may summarize what I have in mind.

First, there is a heavy emphasis on deep involvement and total commit­ment to the regimen, and an often repeated admonition to concentrate strongly and not to let the mind wander:

...he will execute all of the move­ments in a very serious manner and with great attentiveness.p. 79

Never laugh at yourself when balance is lost. Maintain a serious at­titude. p. 80

Remember to experience the stretching. p. 134

Experience the deep relaxation. p. 141

Secondly, there is something too ex­clusive when I read that the exercise mat "is put away after exercising and kept only for Yoga practice" (p. 11).

And again, "It is best not to practice this or any of the Yoga techniques in the presence of other persons" (p. 107). These things make me very uneasy.

My uneasiness increases when I read about the high claims made for Yoga in various parts of the book. Here are some examples:

that true peace and happiness (lies) in discovering one's true self and that the science of Yoga (will) provide a path to 'self-realization'.p. 9

I do not hesitate to state that if you will patiently follow the instructions herein you will soon note a wonder­ful, positive change in all aspects of your life.p. 12

The practice of Yoga imparts to the student an acute awareness of the beauty and power inherent in the body. He gradually senses that there is a spiritual aspect of the organism that previously may not have been per­ceived and the truth of the statement, The body is the temple of the spirit' becomes a personal experience. The distinctions among what are usually conceived of as 'body,' mind' and 'spirit' gradually diminish and there occurs a merger or unification of the seemingly diverse aspects of our being. p. 79

The phrase about the temple of the spirit is, of course, borrowed from the Bible where it says that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, in the con­text of living a life wholly dedicated to serving the Lord God.

As a Biologist I frown a little when I read about certain aspects of bodily functioning. He says, "...Deep Relaxa­tion ... frees the mind from its worries" (p. 14-15). And "Deep relaxation is a duet of the body and mind in repose, a passive state wherein there is a renewal of the life-force" (p. 15).

This life-force is further identified as follows:

The element that sustains life is known in the Yogic system as prana; this may be translated as 'life-force.' The primary source of life-force is found in the air...

The more complete and rhythmic the breathing, the more life-force that will be available to the in­dividual. p. 21

Later he says,

...The Complete Breath (techni­que) is designed to fill the lungs in their entirety and increase the supp­ly of prana, life force. It is presented here primarily as a natural method for tranquilizing...p. 106

You wonder if that movement has heard of the fact that we know about oxygen and its function in the body.

References to the spine also are very puzzling. What should we make of statements like the following?

the psychic energies contained in the channels of the spine must be able to flow freely between the base of the spine and the brain. p. 17

...there is great energy trapped in the spine that can be released and made available to us. p. 25

We know that the muscles of the spine can certainly give lots of trouble when they go into spasms, and they should be taken care of properly. But that there should be some form of energy trapped in the backbone, and that that energy would flow along the backbone, certainly seems very strange.

And when Hittleman talks about "awakening and utilizing certain powerful forces that lie dormant within the organism" (p. 21) he cer­tainly does not use language that is meaningful or useful to a Biologist.

So what does a person do with a book like this? The exercises are good ones for maintaining and improving various functions of the body. And I would recommend that a person take up some of these to improve general health, not just because it is a current fad, but because we have to be respon­sible stewards of our body and its health.

We do need a wholesome and holis­tic approach to life. We must keep our bodies strong and healthy to the best of our ability. Our minds should remain keen and alert. And our faith in Jehovah God and His redeeming power, for this life and the life to come, should be strong. We have to do our part for wholesome living, and in doing so our sole confidence must be in God's gracious gifts to us.

But I want to warn strongly against adopting a commitment to the philosophy which is evident in this book.