ARE THEY COMPATIBLE? Yoga and Christianity

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ARE THEY COMPATIBLE?**Yoga & Christianity

** It is not at all uncommon these days to see Yoga advertised and promoted. Books on Yoga abound, websites dealing with its philosophy and practice are numerous, and instructional seminars are routinely offered in gyms, health clubs, and even some Catholic institutions. It has so successfully permeated our culture that most people don’t even raise an eyebrow at the mention of it. In fact, some Christians have integrated Yoga into their lives and may thus admire their own “inclusive” attitude. Or they see nothing wrong with practicing Yoga and would be quite surprised to learn that it represents any spiritual threat whatsoever.

It is precisely because of this ignorance about Yoga – on the part of professed Christians – that I have chosen to write this article. I don’t doubt that the vast majority of believers who practice Yoga are blissfully unaware of its true nature and purpose, and they probably view it as “simply exercise.” But herein lies its greatest danger. When Yoga is written off as a mere physical discipline with little or no regard for its spiritual underpinnings, we run the risk of being misled about something that could have a significant bearing on our own spiritual well-being.

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buffalo said:
ARE THEY COMPATIBLE? Yoga & Christianity
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The article makes two strong points. The first: practicing yoga is the Hindu version of receiving the Eucharist and will therefore spiritually affect you. The second: the “oneness” and good feeling that is experienced by yoga practicioners does not replace the loving relationship with the transcendent God.

The first point should not worry a devout Catholic. We believe in 7 sacraments that are all within the instituted Church. We do not believe in sacraments outside the Church. Neither do we believe in “evil sacraments.” The spiritual effect of yoga should be negligable on the devout Catholic.

The second point is not that worrisome either. The Church does not command us not to feel good. The Church wants us to discern between warmth/relaxation and a true relationship with God. As long as this is understood, there is no problem with feeling warmth/relaxation on your own time.

Conclusion: don’t worry about it!
 
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shannin:
I just ordered the Yoga-Bootie-Ballet DVD. Is that okay?
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:rotfl: oh my…shannin…let me know how you like it 🙂
 
I do not practice yoga now; but I did when I was in college 25 years ago.

Yoga does affect your body in a peaceful way, as would any activity with similar physical postures and breathing techniques. I mean, come on, if someone were to tell you to lie quietly and breathe deeply, let’s face it, your body is going to relax.

The crux of the problem is what to think of these peaceful moments. Hindus claim this is a mystical melting of your consciousness with the divine. We Christians know better;
but the un-churched don’t.

Yoga is dangerous to the degree the practicioner buys into the philosophy that is invariably packaged with it.

Doing the physical motions will not, indeed, **can not ** raise your chakras, release karmic bonds, or prevent you from being reincarnated as a snake. those ideas are patently false. But these ideas are intertwined with the teaching of yoga; and therein lurks the danger for the spiritually naive (your average joe or jane).

Yes, this practice *is * part of the Hindu religion; but we’re not taking part *in * that religion by doing yoga, anymore than a dip in the Ganges will make us one. Gregorian chant is part of the Catholic religion; just the physical act of listening will make you more peaceful; but the music will not make you Catholic until you start buying into what the message of the words is saying.

Don’t buy into the message of yoga; but the motions are not the message.
 
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scriabin:
Don’t buy into the message of yoga; but the motions are not the message.
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Excellent post. I would say that those who want to go through motions of yoga without the message would be safer just doing Pilates or other similar exercise routine and simply stay away from yoga.
 
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arieh0310:
Excellent post. I would say that those who want to go through motions of yoga without the message would be safer just doing Pilates or other similar exercise routine and simply stay away from yoga.
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Pilates is rooted in Yoga. Many of the Pilates exercises are identical to Yoga exercises. Joseph pilates studied Yoga and other eastern disciplines.

Also, look at the stretching chart on the wall of any gym. It is remarkably different from the charts from 50 years ago. The difference is that the exercises have become the same as those that have been in Yoga texts for hundreds of years.

Orthopedic doctors will recommend exercises for back problems. those same exercises are found in the Yoga texts. I don’t contend the doctors took them from Yoga, but it is possible that the same beneficial exercises can be independently discovered by two different disciplenes.

So, it’s likely many of us do Yoga exercises and don’t even know it.
 
Would the Tai Chi postures equal to all of this? Would it be like the sacraments of said occult practice?
 
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