The clergy should be more flexible on yoga
How bizarre to hear that a Church of England vicar has banned yoga classes from his church hall on the grounds that its underlying philosophy is incompatible with Christian values.
As opposed, say, to that 50ft helter-skelter erected in Norwich Cathedral or the Diocese of Rochester drafting in millennials to teach clergy social media skills like hashtagging the hell out of Heaven or using Instagram as “a tool for mission”?
The irony is that a spot of ashtanga might help an ecclesiastical stiff like the Rev Dr Nigel Dilkes gain a little more flexibility. But right now he has refused to take bookings at his Pilton parish in Barnstaple, Devon. His decision has been based on a rather fundamentalist judgment that yoga, which originated in Northern India and has connections to Hinduism and Buddhism, does not acknowledge “there is only one God and that… Jesus Christ is God himself ”. That’s a big ask for what is essentially a keepfit session; the Pilates teacher must be bricking it even as she crams the 1662 book of
Common Prayer. Rumour has it the legs, bums and tums lady was stoned to death outside a branch of Lakeland.
Now, I kick with the other foot so I’m no expert in anything but guilt and selfloathing. But I should have thought yoga was the least of the church’s worries; the main concern in this instance is that vicars are allowed to go rogue.
Over in Darlington, the Rev Lissa Scott tried to organise a Ramadan celebration at St Matthew and St Luke’s earlier this year. She offered to cover up the cross and a Holman Hunt devotional painting of Jesus so as not to offend Muslim worshippers – and was swiftly put in her place by the bishop, who pulled the plug.
But in Devon, Dr Dilkes is standing firm – although like most of us, I’m sure a few downward dogs would boost his core strength. He clearly believes there’s a religious dimension to sun salutations; not so. It’s a lifestyle choice. A bit like the Cofe. Oops.