Anybody here do yoga exercises?

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24 posts. Really? That is spam not a discussion. I stopped after. #2.

I have been doing yoga for 40 years and it has been nothing but a blessing.
I thank God for bringing it into my life.
 
Pope Francis Says Yoga Doesn’t Lead Us to God
In a recent homily, Pope Francis reminded listeners that practices like yoga aren’t capable of opening our hearts up to God. “You can take a million catechetical courses, a million courses in spirituality, a million courses in yoga, Zen and all these things. But all of this will never be able to give you. Freedom”, he explained.While yoga was just one example offered among many, the Holy Father touched on a matter of great debate among faithful Catholics who happen to prefer this kind of exercise.
Can Catholics participate in yoga? The answer is a bit more nuanced than one might think. Catholics should not participate in any of the “spiritual” aspects associated with yoga, but technically can do the actual physical exercises. However, many people who practice yoga caution that it is often difficult, if not impossible, to separate the exercises from the meditations.
For example, a common mantra repeated in yoga is “So’ham” that roughly translates to “I am the universal self”. This focus on the self is contrary to the focus on God to which we are called. In the words of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI: “Christian prayer… flees from impersonal techniques or from concentrating on oneself, which can create a kind of rut, imprisoning the person praying in a spiritual privatism which is incapable of a free openness to the transcendental God” (Some Aspects of Christian Meditation, 3) (Originally quoted here)

http://www.vatican.va//roman_curia/.../rc_con_cfaith_doc_19850924_exorcism_en.html1

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/c...h_doc_19891015_meditazione-cristiana_en.html1
The words of Pope Emeritus Benedict speak for themselves. Everyone know who he is and understand his authority when he was Prefect for CDF

The Pope tells us that only the Holy Spirit can “move the heart” and make it “docile to the Lord, docile to the freedom of love”. If we are seeking a zen-like peace from yoga meditation, then we are seeking peace from the wrong source.
 
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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/mamaneedscoffee/2017/04/yoga-a-cautionary-tale
I lobbed my first question to Fr. Michael wanting to start at the beginning. Namely, does the Catholic Church have anything to say about yoga? He directed me first to a pontifical document born from a joint effort of the Pontifical Council for Culture and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue: Jesus Christ the Bearer of the Water of Life. It came to be under then Cardinal Ratzinger’s (now Papa B) watch, and I’d never heard of it, and it is absolutely fascinating. From section 2.1:
“Some of the traditions which flow into New Age are: ancient Egyptian occult practices, Cabbalism, early Christian gnosticism, Sufism, the lore of the Druids, Celtic Christianity, mediaeval alchemy, Renaissance hermeticism, Zen Buddhism, Yoga and so on.”
And again in section 2.134:
“Yoga, zen, transcendental meditation and tantric exercises are thought to lead to an experience of self-fulfilment or enlightenment.”

2.1. What is new about New Age?

For many people, the term New Age clearly refers to a momentous turning-point in history. According to astrologers, we live in the Age of Pisces, which has been dominated by Christianity. But the current age of Pisces is due to be replaced by the New Age of Aquarius early in the third Millennium.(14) The Age of Aquarius has such a high profile in the New Age movement largely because of the influence of theosophy, spiritualism and anthroposophy, and their esoteric antecedents. People who stress the imminent change in the world are often expressing a wish for such a change, not so much in the world itself as in our culture, in the way we relate to the world; this is particularly clear in those who stress the idea of a New Paradigm for living. It is an attractive approach since, in some of its expressions, people do not watch passively, but have an active role in changing culture and bringing about a new spiritual awareness. In other expressions, more power is ascribed to the inevitable progression of natural cycles. In any case, the Age of Aquarius is a vision, not a theory. But New Age is a broad tradition, which incorporates many ideas which have no explicit link with the change from the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius. There are moderate, but quite generalised, visions of a future where there will be a planetary spirituality alongside separate religions, similar planetary political institutions to complement more local ones, global economic entities which are more participatory and democratic, greater emphasis on communication and education, a mixed approach to health combining professional medicine and self-healing, a more androgynous self-understanding and ways of integrating science, mysticism, technology and ecology. Again, this is evidence of a deep desire for a fulfilling and healthy existence for the human race and for the planet. Some of the traditions which flow into New Age are: ancient Egyptian occult practices, Cabbalism, early Christian gnosticism, Sufism, the lore of the Druids, Celtic Christianity, mediaeval alchemy, Renaissance hermeticism, Zen Buddhism, Yoga and so on.(15)
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/mamaneedscoffee/2017/04/yoga-a-cautionary-tale
I lobbed my first question to Fr. Michael wanting to start at the beginning. Namely, does the Catholic Church have anything to say about yoga? He directed me first to a pontifical document born from a joint effort of the Pontifical Council for Culture and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue: Jesus Christ the Bearer of the Water of Life. It came to be under then Cardinal Ratzinger’s (now Papa B) watch, and I’d never heard of it, and it is absolutely fascinating. From section 2.1:
“Some of the traditions which flow into New Age are: ancient Egyptian occult practices, Cabbalism, early Christian gnosticism, Sufism, the lore of the Druids, Celtic Christianity, mediaeval alchemy, Renaissance hermeticism, Zen Buddhism, Yoga and so on.”
And again in section 2.134:
“Yoga, zen, transcendental meditation and tantric exercises are thought to lead to an experience of self-fulfilment or enlightenment.”

JESUS CHRIST OFFERS US THE WATER OF LIFE
2.1. What is new about New Age?

For many people, the term New Age clearly refers to a momentous turning-point in history. According to astrologers, we live in the Age of Pisces, which has been dominated by Christianity. But the current age of Pisces is due to be replaced by the New Age of Aquarius early in the third Millennium.(14). People who stress the imminent change in the world are often expressing a wish for such a change, not so much in the world itself as in our culture, in the way we relate to the world; this is particularly clear in those who stress the idea of a New Paradigm for living. It is an attractive approach since, in some of its expressions, people do not watch passively, but have an active role in changing culture and bringing about a new spiritual awareness. In other expressions, more power is ascribed to the inevitable progression of natural cycles. In any case, the Age of Aquarius is a vision, not a theory. But New Age is a broad tradition, which incorporates many ideas which have no explicit link with the change from the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius. There are moderate, but quite generalised, visions of a future where there will be a planetary spirituality alongside separate religions, similar planetary political institutions to complement more local ones, global economic entities which are more participatory and democratic, greater emphasis on communication and education, a mixed approach to health combining professional medicine and self-healing, a more androgynous self-understanding and ways of integrating science, mysticism, technology and ecology. Again, this is evidence of a deep desire for a fulfilling and healthy existence for the human race and for the planet. Some of the traditions which flow into New Age are: ancient Egyptian occult practices, Cabbalism, early Christian gnosticism, Sufism, the lore of the Druids, Celtic Christianity, mediaeval alchemy, Renaissance hermeticism, Zen Buddhism, Yoga and so on.(15)
 
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I do yoga but quit going to classes.

I enjoyed hot yoga for a period of time since the heat helps my flexibility and I like to work up a sweat. But all that body sweat from a packed room doesn’t bode well. It’s a cesspool of germs and bacteria. I got sick twice in which I attribute it to hot yoga classes.

I’m also not a fan of the cult-like atmosphere. Some instructors are just bizarre. I was also put off by a few instructors that were, truth be told, kind of obese. I’m not discrediting their knowledge but I just can’t pay money to take instruction from someone who is in worse shape than me, be it a yoga instructor or a fitness trainer.

Now I just do yoga at home, generally in morning on my mat with poses that work for me.
 
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http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/p...rc_pc_interelg_doc_20030203_new-age_en.html#5 JESUS CHRIST OFFERS US THE WATER OF LIFE

**Does the Catholic Church have anything to say about yoga? directed me first to a pontifical document born from a joint effort of the Pontifical Council for Culture and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue: Jesus Christ the Bearer of the Water of Life. It came to be under then Cardinal Ratzinger’s (now Papa B) watch, and I’d never heard of it, and it is absolutely fascinating.
*From section 2.1:
“Some of the traditions which flow into New Age are: ancient Egyptian occult practices, Cabbalism, early Christian gnosticism, Sufism, the lore of the Druids, Celtic Christianity, mediaeval alchemy, Renaissance hermeticism, Zen Buddhism, Yoga and so on.”
And again in section 2.134:
“Yoga, zen, transcendental meditation and tantric exercises are thought to lead to an experience of self-fulfilment or enlightenment.”
JESUS CHRIST OFFERS US THE WATER OF LIFE
2.1. What is new about New Age?

New Age are: ancient Egyptian occult practices, Cabbalism, early Christian gnosticism, Sufism, the lore of the Druids, Celtic Christianity, mediaeval alchemy, Renaissance hermeticism, Zen Buddhism, Yoga and so on.(15)
 
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Read them all, for your sake

Drug addicts think that what they’re doing is perfectly harmless too, but they are blinded.
Sinners addicted to sex think that what they’re doing is perfectly fine, but they are blinded.

Your view of Yoga is very similar: You practice it, you love it, and you won’t even look at what very credible sources have to say, both on their professional and personal experience only because you like what you to. Wether it is fear of coming across a good point opposing your view, or simply a desire to keep doing what you’re doing because you personally “like it” is not important. What you want is “exercise”, then do exercises, not Yoga.
 
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Spam. Some are even posted twice.

It is kind of sad that people cannot simply appreciate the benefits of holding a few stretches and have to view everything as a threat from demons.
 
You are comparing yoga to addiction? How can you do that when looking at the outcomes of each?

What exercises and stretches are you not afraid of?
 
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What pushes you to ignore the warnings of countless specialists, ex-satanists, ex-witches, scientists, priests, exorcists, psychologists, regarding the spiritual dangers of Yoga (in every single one of its forms). These people did more research, faced more witnesses/cases and have more experience with Yoga than you and me… so why would you not even listen to what they have to say instead of automatically call it “superstition”?

Is it addiction? Or are you capable of stopping this instant, and only rely on regular exercises, diets and programs that emerged from no occult backgrounds? Ask this question to yourself, seriously.

There are plenty out there, but you choose to stick to Yoga?
Did you take courses? Did you went to India? Why?
 
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Hear is a comment on CNA
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/mamaneedscoffee/2017/05/i-would-be-remiss

I am new to your website because of the Yoga piece. I want to say THANK YOU so much for the courage to post it. I cannot fathom how many souls are in danger because of Yoga. The sheer response to your article is PROOF, almost scientific I would say, of that . I would love to speak on the phone some day with you i person, because what I have to share is too long to write here. Suffice to say that I have worked for about 10 years with many exorcists in France as a prayer and discernment helper and know many priests in France who are in this ministry. In particular, the exorcist of Le Mans, Father Dominique Auzenet has amassed a tremendous amount of information and experience as a direct result of various New Age practices. But the worst portal or entryway of the demonic appears in our day to indeed be Yoga. Whether we are talking about America or Europe, this issue is the same. Just as you use the very accurate medical diagnosis metaphor, the priests I know in this ministry simply deduced from experience and spiritual “diagnosis” of their “patients” who came for special deliverance prayers. Time and time again the common portal was and is Yoga, which means YOKE ! It is a terrible spiritual yoke , using our bodies that are meant to be the temple of the Holy Spirit the ONE TRUE GOD of all creation. Instead, we allow to enter any multitude of demons. All exorcists who are EXPERIENCED in dealing with the rotten spiritual fruits of Yoga will tell you they are certain the Hindu “gods” are in fact demons, and legions of impure spirits are made present through Yoga. And yes you are so right, the Church has been slow to “awaken” to the vast danger inherent in New Age practices , Yoga in particular, because FEW are the priests who are knowledgeable and experienced in the ministry of deliverance. I would say it is “statistical” for those priests who deal with this spiritual terrain and they see clearly the ROOT CAUSES for the need for deliverance : the spiritual portals that are found in New Age. I could go on for quite a while on what I have learned over the past 10 years, branching out further past Yoga into the portals of demonic entryway that are : aromatherapy, essential oils, naturopathy, acupuncture . Father Amorth and all exorcist priests will tell you that the PORTALS ARE THE SENSES : eyes, ears, nose, mouth. Anything we look at, smell, hear or eat that is not of God potentially can allow the demonic to enter into our bodies. Yoga is a corporal prayer not only to a Hindu god, but in fact, to a demon. And we should know by now the POWER that such prayer can express , as Saint JPII opened up the Church the fullness of such Truth and Wisdom…
Anyhow, I will stop for now but I just wanted to let you know that I am here if you want to write or call anytime. I now live in America as of August 2013, only visiting France periodically. I am an American mother of 3 sons, married to a Frenchman for almost 30 years. I am Roman Catholic, a convert from the Episcopal Church. I live in Austin, Texas.
 
I took a class about 40 years ago and have been doing it on my own, and not as often as I like. What other exercises do you recommend. Pietra Fitness? I thought it was the stretches themselves that were spiritually dangerous. What stretch would not be dangerous in your view?

Another concern I saw in those posts was that if you let your mind become empty some demon might fly in. That is totally contrary to St John of the Cross, A doctor of the Church, and the Apophatic tradition.
  1. And thus the soul that journeys through this night, we may say, journeys in concealment and in hiding from the devil, as will be more clearly seen hereafter. Wherefore the soul says that it went forth ‘in darkness and secure’; for one that has such happiness as to be able to journey through the darkness of faith, taking faith for his guide, like to one that is blind, and leaving behind all natural imaginings and spiritual reasonings, journeys very securely, as we have said. And so the soul says furthermore that it went forth through this spiritual night, its ‘house being now at rest’ — that is to say, its spiritual and rational parts. When, therefore, the soul attains to union which is of God, its natural faculties are at rest, as are likewise its impulses and yearnings of the senses, in its spiritual part. For this cause the soul says not here that it went forth with yearnings, as in the first night of sense. For, in order to journey in the night of sense, and to strip itself of that which is of sense, it needed yearnings of sense-love so that it might go forth perfectly; but, in order to put to rest the house of its spirit, it needs no more than denial of all faculties and pleasures and desires of the spirit in pure faith.
    Book 2 chapter 1
https://www.ccel.org/ccel/john_cross/ascent.v.i.html
 
But the worst portal or entryway of the demonic appears in our day to indeed be Yoga. Whether we are talking about America or Europe, this issue is the same. Just as you use the very accurate medical diagnosis metaphor, the priests I know in this ministry simply deduced from experience and spiritual “diagnosis” of their “patients” who came for special deliverance prayers. Time and time again the common portal was and is Yoga, which means YOKE ! It is a terrible spiritual yoke , using our bodies that are meant to be the temple of the Holy Spirit the ONE TRUE GOD of all creation. Instead, we allow to enter any multitude of demons.

All exorcists who are EXPERIENCED in dealing with the rotten spiritual fruits of Yoga will tell you they are certain the Hindu “gods” are in fact demons, and legions of impure spirits are made present through Yoga. And yes you are so right, the Church has been slow to “awaken” to the vast danger inherent in New Age practices , Yoga in particular, because FEW are the priests who are knowledgeable and experienced in the ministry of deliverance. I would say it is “statistical” for those priests who deal with this spiritual terrain and they see clearly the ROOT CAUSES for the need for deliverance : the spiritual portals that are found in New Age. I could go on for quite a while on what I have learned over the past 10 years, branching out further past Yoga into the portals of demonic entryway that are : aromatherapy, essential oils, naturopathy, acupuncture . Father Amorth and all exorcist priests will tell you that the PORTALS ARE THE SENSES : eyes, ears, nose, mouth. Anything we look at, smell, hear or eat that is not of God potentially can allow the demonic to enter into our bodies.
Yoga is a corporal prayer not only to a Hindu god, but in fact, to a demon. And we should know by now the POWER that such prayer can express , as Saint JPII opened up the Church the fullness of such Truth and Wisdom…

Galatians 4:9 Now, however, that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits? How can you want to be enslaved to them again?

Galatians 5:1
For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
 
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Don’t post these for my benefit. I have been ignoring about the last 24. Again, it is spam not discussion.
 
Shakuhachi, Franics is posting a lot of good scripture, and you are responding that it is spam and you are ignoring it. That’s what it looks like to me. Or am I seeing this wrong?

Maybe you never were encouraged to read scripture on your own in your Catholic life? It actually always has been recommended, that Catholics read and study God’s word regularly, even if it never gets preached on the parish level at every parish. Our current Pope has been an outspoken advocate that Catholics devote themselves to reading of scripture.
 
Francis is misinterpreting Scripture when it comes to opposing yoga exercises and misapplying it.

Jim
 
Shakuhachi said:
24 posts. Really? That is spam not a discussion. I stopped after. #2.
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YES. THANK YOU.

@Francis you might want to consider how ineffective this approach is. These sources are just ones that support your view even though there are others from good, orthodox Catholics that either disagree with these sources and when they do agree are more nuanced and less sensationalistic.

Stop with the spamming. Please.
 
Eliza, I have studied scripture at master level and reflect upon it often, especially the Psalms and Gospels. I have an M.Div. and an M.A. in Spirituality from a Catholic institution. I hate to disclose that because it seems like I am bragging but I would like you to know that I have a deep relationship with scripture and Church teaching as well as yoga. My M.A. thesis dealt with inter-religious studies and an examination of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. It took me pretty deep into the philosophy so I know the fine distinctions that must be made. And just because I studied it does not mean I but into it. I see that it is a broad field even within itself.

Did you not find the articles on Swedish\Danish Gymnastics interesting? Did you ever stop to think that perhaps not everything that does not have a “Catholic” label is from Satan? Don’t you find it odd that a body position or gesture (some of which are so natural that any child at play can be found doing them) is viewed as spiritually dangerous.

This has gotten tedious. If you do not feel comfortable with yoga, don’t do it. But then I would have to say don’t stretch at all just to be safe. You never know what demon you might be honoring. Just bending down to touch your toes, standing straight with your arms spread out, laying on your back , taking a deep breath or kneeling, for that matter, where does your fear stop and common sense begin?

As I said before, I have been doing yoga for 40 years and it has been nothing but a blessing. I don’t do it everyday, but I should. I wish I did. I don’t care for classes. Too distracting with other people. There are far more spiritually dangerous things to be concerned about. And we see them on this very forum in the way we interact with each other.
 
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