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Yoga does not bring peace

We've all seen the picture of someone involved in yoga; their whole demeanour is one of peace and serenity. Indeed the whole point of undertaking yoga is to bring us into peace with the world and ourselves and, ultimately, union with 'god'. However, a recent article on the BBC Website gave a very different picture. Prisoners in a Norwegian jail have had their yoga classes withdrawn because:

"some of the inmates became more irritable and agitated and had trouble sleeping... (and) the prison did not have the resources to treat emotions unleashed by the deep breathing exercises."

Although successful in other prisons around the world the Warden was concerned that the exercises were breaking down psychological barriers and releasing emotions that could not be controlled.

The article points out that:

"The deep breathing exercises are an essential element of Yoga, which originated in India more than 5,000 years ago and aims to harmonise mind, body and spirit."

If the spirit released is uncontrollable and causing such disruption, the question must be asked, "Where does such a spirit come from?" We would suggest that it is certainly not from God's Holy Spirit but from a totally opposite force.

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