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Steady_Eddy
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Can a practicing Catholic do Yoga? Your views please, I already know what mine are.
2 Cor 13:13
Eddy Barry
2 Cor 13:13
Eddy Barry
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Tomster
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I know this doesn’t really answer your question but I would say if you want to get it together - mind, soul and body - join the Marines!
Semper fi!
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hudson
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A Catholic can do the stretches since they do not own a copyright on stretches. A Catholic is not free to practice the spirituality of Yoga.
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Spencerian
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This EWTN article summarizes the challenges of practicing yoga as a Christian. This article contains links to the papal encyclical “Jesus Christ: Bearer of the Water of Life,” which gives supportive Church teaching on it and many other “new age” practices.
In short, if you are enjoying the physical aspects of the exercises and are not involved in the Eastern practices that are not approved, you may have a valid use of the practice. However, since yoga is generally about physical movement that connects into tenets of Eastern spirituality, you may consider some other exercise that is less questionable, such as pilates.
In short, if you are enjoying the physical aspects of the exercises and are not involved in the Eastern practices that are not approved, you may have a valid use of the practice. However, since yoga is generally about physical movement that connects into tenets of Eastern spirituality, you may consider some other exercise that is less questionable, such as pilates.
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Leegal
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Hatha Yoga yes. Your question does not specify what type of Yoga.
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Baelor
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agnes_therese
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Exactly. The question as it stands cannot be answered. Please be more specific.
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Tarpeian_Rock
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Are there not 266,844 threads on this topic already?
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Leegal
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kozlosap
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Yoga is a wonderful time to get at least one full Rosary in! I think most intelligent adults would agree that the yoga stretches themselves are totally separate from the new age spirituality that some promote. Maybe we should copy write a new type of yoga: Rosary Yoga for the Soul!
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mattkubes
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That’s true, although we shouldn’t just try to squeeze prayer into our other activities. God is deserving of all of our time and attention, so we should have some dedicated prayer time each day as well!
I don’t think you can validly imply that those who disagree with you are necessarily unintelligent adults. Most yogis would disagree with you. Heck, the definition of the word itself even disagrees with you:I think most intelligent adults would agree that the yoga stretches themselves are totally separate from the new age spirituality that some promote. Maybe we should copy write a new type of yoga: Rosary Yoga for the Soul!
“Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on the Hindu concept of divinity or Brahman.”
I’m not saying that’s the goal of non-Hindus who perform the stretches, but the practice clearly has some baggage. For my part, I wouldn’t touch it with a 10-foot pole, but I can see how the physical aspect could be divorced from the spiritual components of yoga. But then…it’s not really yoga anymore. People just seem to use that term as a marketing ploy more than anything in my experience. “Stretching Class” or even “Hot Stretching” doesn’t have that same trendy ring (alright, that second one might garner a second look from some).
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Lost_Wanderer
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People need signs, symbols, and words to help distinguish things and organize meanings. That’s one of the most basic principles of semantics (if not, the entire purpose of language and communication). Believe me, I’m in a marketing group but I’m also an AB English grad. The best you’ve cited is that it’s exploited but invented? No. We did that ourselves. We made the association.
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mattkubes
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I’m sorry, what?
I can promise you that I wasn’t arguing for some sort of semantic nihilism. I just looked at the word as it is properly used, and what most Westerners are doing simply doesn’t fit with that definition. And the usage I quoted must be fairly common if the warring editors over at Wikipedia could settle on that one. It was merely an observation. Just like when Anglicans call themselves Catholics…they’re wrong.
If a person isn’t aiming for “the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on the Hindu concept of divinity or Brahman,” apparently it’s not yoga. Or so say the yogis.
With that said, the stretches that most people do aren’t likely going to harm them, even if they do call them yoga. But I would choose to stay as far away from new-age inspired stretching as possible
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Lost_Wanderer
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Human language isn’t absolute. One century you have a word that describes a stack of wood, the next century that word is used to derogate homosexual men. That’s another basic principle as well. It’s why the dictionary just doesn’t list one definition.
And these people have the monopoly on the entire human language… how?
Don’t kneel then. That’s a new-aged inspired stretching. Good luck trying to reach out when things roll under your desk… or table… or bed… or etc.But I would choose to stay as far away from new-age inspired stretching as possible
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CarloMagnus
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I believe a Catholic can do Yoga, so long as the Catholic’s intention is just on the stretching of the body and not the worship of Hinduism.
-Karl
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mattkubes
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Where did I deny that?
I never indicated that they did. But they are experts and teachers of the practice, and in the same way that Catholics can tell Anglicans that they aren’t right in calling themselves Catholics, it’s reasonable to say that yogis can describe what is and isn’t yoga.
Kneeling has a long and rich history in the Christian tradition. Yoga does not.Don’t kneel then. That’s a new-aged inspired stretching. Good luck trying to reach out when things roll under your desk… or table… or bed… or etc.
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Lost_Wanderer
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You deny it whenever you insist that meaning is somehow determined by an absolute authority as evidenced by the following quotes.
Ah, no. Language doesn’t work that way. Even if the originator of a word were to insist on a certain meaning, it doesn’t make them the ultimate authority. Other factors can always prove stronger.
Apparently, you lack re-reading skills.
Yoga has kneeling positions. You decry Yoga as New-Age inspired stretching. Therefore, kneeling is a New Age inspired stretch.
See how sill you sound now?
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GlorytoJesus
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No, don’t do Yoga. Even if you aren’t actively practicing the spirituality, the positions are historically poses of worship to pagan gods.
When you are in love with GOD and want to give Him honor with your every breath, moment, action - who wants to go anywhere near that?
*Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. *Deuteronomy 6:4-5
“For all the gods of the Gentiles are devils: but the LORD made the heavens.” Psalm 96:5
When you are in love with GOD and want to give Him honor with your every breath, moment, action - who wants to go anywhere near that?
*Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. *Deuteronomy 6:4-5
“For all the gods of the Gentiles are devils: but the LORD made the heavens.” Psalm 96:5
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Padraig1972
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Don
t do yoga. Pray the rosary instead and meditate on mysteries over Lord Jesus Christs life, sufferings and His endless love for us all.
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Lost_Wanderer
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Yet you have no problems with the names on your calendar dedicating themselves to pagan gods.
Tolkien liked to honor God yet he also embraced European folklore and mythology.
I once had someone tell me that the Rosary doesn’t come with physical benefits.
I for one actually fell asleep. Not very advantageous really.
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