Editor,

RE: "Mazimpaka on the spiritual, psychological benefits of yoga” (The New Times, April 23).

Yoga and all "martial arts” from the East are not sport. They are not only fitness activities. They are not mere physical activities just to sit and watch, or perform for the sake of it. In their original respective socio-cultural contexts, they are not "entertainment”.

Unfortunately, it seems here in Rwanda we, again, have gone the wrong way borrowing from the East, as we have been mindlessly borrowing from the West.

Francois-Xavier Nziyonsenga

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I agree with Mr Nziyonsenga. As for yoga, it is certainly is not "an alien” practice and not even "Indian”. Yoga is self-originating and has probably sprung in various part of the world at the same time.

For example, there are a lot of pictures from ancient Egypt and Greece, and a method called "kemitic yoga”. In the end, all yoga is yoga and the goal of yoga is liberation.

We are grateful for India, for the beautiful codification of this system of practical philosophy and many sacred texts. Yoga’s timeless practical wisdom is relevant today in all cultures, including in Rwanda.

Go visit the group of ladies at the Indigo cooperative. They will tell you, in their own words, what yoga is. With the growing number of practitioners and teachers, these practices will be demystified. It is only a matter of time.

The article presents many factual mistakes, but thank you The New Times for featuring Aline Mpazimpaka. We hope to read more in these columns.

Jeanine Munyeshuli