Can Catholics participate in yoga?

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Christian Yoga is like saying a Baptist Eucharist. It doesn’t exist. Only worse - at least the Baptists are trying to imitate a Christian event. Christian yoga is imitating a false religion.

Consider Islamic Prayer. They have a set routine they follow. Technically we could follow exactly the same routine, but rather than praying to Allah, we pray to Christ. Would that make it ok? Of course not. We would be imitating the worship of a false religion. We have enough depth within our own faith, we don’t need to borrow from others.
 
Jayne_L said:
Consider Islamic Prayer. They have a set routine they follow. Technically we could follow exactly the same routine, but rather than praying to Allah, we pray to Christ. Would that make it ok? Of course not. We would be imitating the worship of a false religion. We have enough depth within our own faith, we don’t need to borrow from others.
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So Christians shouldn’t pray five times a day, because doing so is Satanic?
 
Jayne_L said:
We have enough depth within our own faith, we don’t need to borrow from others.
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I heavily disagree. As far as cultural arts are concerned, Catholicism has a good offer but it certainly not good enough that other cultures/religions don’t have something to rival it in that category. Crosses and medieval themes can be cool and all but they’re not THAT cool (and personally I find them overrated at times).

The good thing about that though is that there is no moral imperative regarding such subjects. Yoga, as far as its physical postures alone are concerned, are pretty cool and unique.
 
Ahimsa said:
So Christians shouldn’t pray five times a day, because doing so is Satanic?
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We should pray without ceasing. Few enough of us do so, so if you pray 5 times a day that’s great.

What you should do is pray facing Mecca, generally on an Islamic prayer mat whilst following the Islamic prayer movements. There is a lot more to Islamic prayer than “praying 5 times”.
 
Do you guys know nothing about Islamic prayer? There is a lot more to it than just “5 times a day”. Islam is a very good example for the very reason you gave. The problem behind praying as Muslims do during their 5 prayers is the theology behind Islam and what those prayers mean. That is also the problem with Yoga. The underlying theology, how yoga developed and how it all interconnects.
 
Jayne_L said:
If that’s what you read, I suggest you take some classes to help your comprehension. It’s certainly not what I wrote.

We should pray without ceasing. Few enough of us do so, so if you pray 5 times a day that’s great.

What you should do is pray facing Mecca, on an Islamic prayer mat whilst following the Islamic prayer movements. There is a lot more to Islamic prayer than “praying 5 times”.
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I can understand not praying to Mecca, but why can’t a Christian pray towards the East, using a mat?
 
Ahimsa said:
I can understand not praying to Mecca, but why can’t a Christian pray towards the East, using a mat?
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Why would a Christian pray towards the East? What would be the purpose?

I have no issue specifically with a mat - my issue would be with an islamic themed one. If the mat assists in your prayer life some how (i.e. better than sitting on a cold floor) then by all means use it.

You are insisting on breaking everything down into parts. One part on it’s own is ok - no example is perfect, but to best align this anology with yoga, we need to address all the physical aspects of the Islamic prayer. The hand motions, the standing and kneeling, the mat, the direction, wudu etc. Praying as Muslims pray during their 5 daily prayers, would not be appropriate for a Christian.
 
Jayne_L said:
Why would a Christian pray towards the East? What would be the purpose?
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From St. Paul Catholic Church website:

There is much historical and theological justification for our church facing East. From early on, Christians adopted the Jewish practice of praying toward Eden, in the East (Gen. 2:8), the direction from which Ezekiel says: “and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the *east.” (Ez *43:2,4).

For just as lightning comes from the east and is seen as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. --Matthew 24:27

One of the Ancient fathers of the church Tertullian informs us that Christian churches are “always” oriented “toward the light”. Another of the Fathers, Origen, asserts that the direction of the rising sun obviously indicates that we ought to pray inclining in that direction, an act which symbolizes the soul looking toward the rising of the true light, the Sun of Justice, Jesus Christ.
I have no issue specifically with a mat - my issue would be with an islamic themed one.
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One can easily make a Christian-themed mat, using Arabic letters even. No problem.
You are insisting on breaking everything down into parts. One part on it’s own is ok - no example is perfect, but to best align this anology with yoga, we need to address all the physical aspects of the Islamic prayer. The hand motions, the standing and kneeling, the mat, the direction, wudu etc. Praying as Muslims pray during their 5 daily prayers, would not be appropriate for a Christian.
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I’m sure a Christian could develop Christian-oriented hand motions, standing/kneeling forms. And since cleanliness is next to godliness, a Christian form of wudu would not seem problematic.
 
No I didn’t. I said I would be very skeptical, and I myself wouldn’t get involved. I gave the reasons, and a brief history behind those reasons. I did achknowledge that it is possible to practise in the home without those intentions, but I personally see no benefit as the same result can be achieved through other methods.
 
…and inconsistent with Church teaching:
Nostra Aetate affirms: “In Hinduism men contemplate the divine mystery and express it through the unspent fruitfulness of myths and through searching philosophical inquiry. They seek release from the anguish of our condition through ascetical practices and deep meditation or a loving, trusting flight towards God” (n. 2).
 
Jayne_L said:
I used to be part of a therapy group that involved an hour of yoga every week (It was 16 hrs a week total). For two years I argued with the instructors because I refused to do yoga. I’m Catholic, it’s buddhist. Not doing it. Every one said to me, it’s just exercises - but it wasn’t. It wasn’t just exercises for the teacher - she believed in centreing prayer and whilst she didn’t (I believe) achknowledge that she was involving hindu practises it was very evident that she was. Every 3 months they’d bring her into the therapy group for a chat (and try to convince me) and by what she and the others said, I knew they were getting counsel on hindu practises. They just didn’t realise, and really didn’t care anyway.

I will never willing do yoga. Especially in a class situation - how the teacher intends the exercises to be done matters. Just as having a Priest praying a blessing in your house invites God, having a yoga teacher practising hindu practises invites evil. Rather simple to me. It’s possible to say "the yoga teacher isn’t intending that… but what do you really know? Maybe they do.

Doing yoga off a video or a chart would be more acceptable, because we know our intentions, but when there are other options I just don’t see the need to rely on yoga.
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So do you think its Buddhist or Hindu? There is a very good yoga teacher I have gone to, she is very Catholic. I did not do pray to or was asked to pray, it was all poses and exercises.

“Maybe they do”? I really think you have a little knowledge about yoga and I am sure you have heard the saying that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

Hinduism is not demon/devil worship.

Hinduism and Buddhism both originated in India. Those and Indian culture predates Christianity and all Europeon culture. Would you then say that no Catholic (even Indian) should perform Indian dances for instance as there had some connection to Hinduism?
 
I’m sorry. I didn’t realise one could only post in this thread if they agreed with you.

Ofcourse it is merely my opinion. This is a message board. 99.9% of what is said is merely opinion.
 
severus68 said:
So do you think its Buddhist or Hindu?
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It has associations with both.
There is a very good yoga teacher I have gone to, she is very Catholic. I did not do pray to or was asked to pray, it was all poses and exercises.
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And I have known yoga teaches who insist they don’t bring religion or spirituality into it, when they most definitely do.
Hinduism is not demon/devil worship.
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Ps 95(96):5

"For all the gods of the Gentiles are devils: but the Lord made the heavens."
 
Micah 4:5 KJV: “For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.”
Micah doesn’t think other religions are “demonic”.
 
Thhere are still some who say Catholics worship Mary and statuesfor instance.
 
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