Can I do Yoga?

  • Thread starter Thread starter TheBreak
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
PetiteFoi said:
I also do yoga. But I do it at home with a dvd; you can choose to have the “spiritual audio” on or off. If you choose off, they stop talking about your “inner god” and just tell you where to put your feet. 😉

When I had a 6 month old and hadn’t developed my “mommy muscles” yet - my back was in constant agony. The only thing that seemed to help was yoga stretches morning and evening.

Someone already used the example of incense, which I thought to be a perfect example.
People burn incense to pagan gods and it horrible rituals all the time - just like the use of candles.
Yet the actual item, in and of itself is not pagan. You decide how to use your incense; just like Catholic images and statues.
We know it’s “just a statue” and no, you’re not worshiping it because Mary is on your office desk.
But ask most proddy’s and they’ll tell you it’s an idol.

It’s intent.

My intent for yoga is a great relaxing stretch to help my poor back.
My intent with images/statues of Saints is to encourage me and remind me of their faithfulness and to emulate them. 🙂

Peace,
~ PetiteFoi
Click to expand...
👍👍👍

If I could just find my CCC, I’d point out its use of “intention.”
Thank you for this post.
 
PetiteFoi said:
The only thing that seemed to help was yoga stretches
Click to expand...
There you go, the issue here was that you were simply doing physical exercise. 🙂

Unfortunately, that is a very unique situation that you describe. Practice of Yoga is based on the belief of some sort of “energy” being channeled, or of some sort of “consciousness” being reached. That, I think, is what most people have the intention of doing, rather than simply moving parts of the body.

After all, the Church has never said these postures are per se bad. However, to say “yoga” is like saying “I exercise” or “I do sports”. It’s very vague! 😃 So it’s good to warn others and be careful.
 
R_C said:
There you go, the issue here was that you were simply doing physical exercise. 🙂

Unfortunately, that is a very unique situation that you describe. Practice of Yoga is based on the belief of some sort of “energy” being channeled, or of some sort of “consciousness” being reached. That, I think, is what most people have the intention of doing, rather than simply moving parts of the body.

After all, the Church has never said these postures are per se bad. However, to say “yoga” is like saying “I exercise” or “I do sports”. It’s very vague! 😃 So it’s good to warn others and be careful.
Click to expand...
I think her situation is what I was trying to describe as well. I don’t visit a yogi or a class, I don’t have spiritual music or anything–Blimey, I pray the rosary while doing my exercises–I am only doing the exercise. I’m glad to know that it’s ok. It really, really has helped my back! 👍 You had me worried for a minute!
 
Ophelia23 said:
I think her situation is what I was trying to describe as well. I don’t visit a yogi or a class, I don’t have spiritual music or anything–Blimey, I pray the rosary while doing my exercises–I am only doing the exercise. I’m glad to know that it’s ok. It really, really has helped my back! 👍 You had me worried for a minute!
Click to expand...
I was trying to put a word of warning 😃 The very fact that you are here means you take an extra step to figure things out, but I am afraid many people simply accept anything they learn in these classes, and are drawn into another religion - or at least in the superstitious belief of some sort of energy that anyone can manipulate - without even noticing :o
 
R_C said:
I was trying to put a word of warning 😃 The very fact that you are here means you take an extra step to figure things out, but I am afraid many people simply accept anything they learn in these classes, and are drawn into another religion - or at least in the superstitious belief of some sort of energy that anyone can manipulate - without even noticing :o
Click to expand...
good point. 👋
May I add that acupuncture deals with energy and meridians. Use of its wondeful trreatments do not, will not, make me Buddhist, Taoist, or any other religion of China and Japan. Nothing to invoke or conjure up except relief from a multitude of health concerns. Haven’t had sciatica in years…:extrahappy:
 
Ophelia23 said:
I think her situation is what I was trying to describe as well. I don’t visit a yogi or a class, I don’t have spiritual music or anything–Blimey, I pray the rosary while doing my exercises–I am only doing the exercise. I’m glad to know that it’s ok. It really, really has helped my back! 👍 You had me worried for a minute!
Click to expand...
Look if all you’re doing is exercises at home, it’s not Yoga. So I think saying it’s fine to do Yoga with “right intent” is misleading. What you are doing is exercising. I don’t think there is any prohibition against exercising or stretching. Far as I know Pilates which is also focused on certain positions is OK because it is just an exercise program.

Now if you are going through a series of Yoga positions, realize that the positions HAVE intent even if your mind is not on Shiva. The bowing, the stretching of the hands outward in the Sun Salutation, all have meaning and all have been designed to evoke a feeling. Just as someone pointed out, making the sign of the Cross is intent in its very nature.

IOW I don’t think you are doing yoga if what you describe is true. If you were, then it would be inappropriate even if Ave Maria were played in the background.

Lisa
 
LisaA said:
Look if all you’re doing is exercises at home, it’s not Yoga. So I think saying it’s fine to do Yoga with “right intent” is misleading. What you are doing is exercising. I don’t think there is any prohibition against exercising or stretching. Far as I know Pilates which is also focused on certain positions is OK because it is just an exercise program.

Now if you are going through a series of Yoga positions, realize that the positions HAVE intent even if your mind is not on Shiva. The bowing, the stretching of the hands outward in the Sun Salutation, all have meaning and all have been designed to evoke a feeling. Just as someone pointed out, making the sign of the Cross is intent in its very nature.

IOW I don’t think you are doing yoga if what you describe is true. If you were, then it would be inappropriate even if Ave Maria were played in the background.

Lisa
Click to expand...
So, then we’d need a new name for it wouldn’t we?

“Oh, I like to do totally-non-religious-yogic-type-stretches-but-aren’t-because-I’m-not-worshiping exercise…it’s on a my yoga dvd.” 😛 😃
 
Exorcist from Rome - Father Gabriele Amorth

“Practicing yoga is Satanic; it leads to evil…” said Father Gabriel Amorth, who for years was the Vatican’s chief exorcist and claims to have cleansed hundreds of people of evil spirits.

“Satan is always hidden and what he most wants is for us not to believe in his existence. He studies every one of us and our tendencies towards good and evil, and then he offers temptations.” Science is incapable of explaining evil, said Father Amorth, who has written two books on his experiences as an exorcist.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, was the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican’s enforcer of doctrinal orthodoxy. In 1999 he issued a document which warned Roman Catholics of the dangers of yoga, Zen, transcendental meditation and other ‘eastern’ practices… They could “degenerate into a cult of the body” that debases Christian prayer, the document said. Yoga poses could create a feeling of well-being in the body but it was erroneous to confuse that with “the authentic consolations of the Holy Spirit,” the document said.

Excerpt from a Pastoral Letter by Most Revered Donald W. Montrose

"…Remove and destroy literature from the Jehova Witnesses, Mormons, Christian Science, Unity, Science of Mind, Scientology, Hare Krishna, Yoga, Transcendental Meditation, Divine Light Mission, Unification Church of Sun Myung Moon, the Children of God, and the Way International. None of this or similar literature should be around our homes…

“…There are many and varied ways in which sin and evil are presented to us in an attractive way. This article presents some ways that many of us rarely think about…”

I could post the whole article if anyone wants to read it, though it’s not focused on yoga. When in doubt, though, why not avoid? There are plenty of methods for relaxation and exercise which do not rely on an eastern method that’s connected to paganism.
 
The_Curt_Jester said:
Exorcist from Rome - Father Gabriele Amorth

I could post the whole article if anyone wants to read it, though it’s not focused on yoga. When in doubt, though, why not avoid? There are plenty of methods for relaxation and exercise which do not rely on an eastern method that’s connected to paganism.
Click to expand...
Exactly. Good heavens, why the insistence that if you aren’t doing yoga you aren’t doing yoga even if you think you are doing yoga…

If you are just exercising at home, on your own, it’s not yoga. But if you are using a yoga DVD (and I used to have MANY of them…Brian Baptiste, Rodney Yee…the whole shootin match) then you are not only engaged in yoga but there is more than just exercise going on if you listen and practice as indicated.

Relaxing and rehab and stretching do not require yoga so why the “I want what I want because I want it…but I’ll just call it something else and fool you.”

Lisa
 
PetiteFoi said:
I also do yoga. But I do it at home with a dvd; you can choose to have the “spiritual audio” on or off. If you choose off, they stop talking about your “inner god” and just tell you where to put your feet. 😉

When I had a 6 month old and hadn’t developed my “mommy muscles” yet - my back was in constant agony. The only thing that seemed to help was yoga stretches morning and evening.

Someone already used the example of incense, which I thought to be a perfect example.
People burn incense to pagan gods and it horrible rituals all the time - just like the use of candles.
Yet the actual item, in and of itself is not pagan. You decide how to use your incense; just like Catholic images and statues.
We know it’s “just a statue” and no, you’re not worshiping it because Mary is on your office desk.
But ask most proddy’s and they’ll tell you it’s an idol.

It’s intent.

My intent for yoga is a great relaxing stretch to help my poor back.
My intent with images/statues of Saints is to encourage me and remind me of their faithfulness and to emulate them. 🙂

Peace,
~ PetiteFoi
Click to expand...
Incense is a great example. People may burn it simply because it smells good. I think it is illogical to assert that merely doing an action that Christians, Hindus and Buddhists do as part of their worship it somehow opens these people up to spiritual things. 🤷
 
LisaA said:
Relaxing and rehab and stretching do not require yoga so why the “I want what I want because I want it…but I’ll just call it something else and fool you.”
Click to expand...
I gave up bowling because it was bad for my wrist. Now I only go “pumpkin-chucking.” 😃
 
LisaA said:
Exactly. Good heavens, why the insistence that if you aren’t doing yoga you aren’t doing yoga even if you think you are doing yoga…

If you are just exercising at home, on your own, it’s not yoga. But if you are using a yoga DVD (and I used to have MANY of them…Brian Baptiste, Rodney Yee…the whole shootin match) then you are not only engaged in yoga but there is more than just exercise going on if you listen and practice as indicated.

Relaxing and rehab and stretching do not require yoga so why the “I want what I want because I want it…but I’ll just call it something else and fool you.”

Lisa
Click to expand...
Being Pope doesn’t require you to take the title ‘Pontifex Maximus’ (ie ‘Supreme/Sovereign Pontiff’) either. That title was originally given to the pagan Roman chief priest.

I’m sure you’ll happily write to tell whoever succeeds Benedict XVI that they mustn’t use it, seeing as how it is unnecessary and of pagan origin.

Same goes for incense, kneeling, prayer beads such as the Rosary, monks and monasticism, fasting, clerical celibacy etc etc.
 
PetiteFoi said:
I also do yoga. But I do it at home with a dvd; you can choose to have the “spiritual audio” on or off. If you choose off, they stop talking about your “inner god” and just tell you where to put your feet. 😉

When I had a 6 month old and hadn’t developed my “mommy muscles” yet - my back was in constant agony. The only thing that seemed to help was yoga stretches morning and evening.

Someone already used the example of incense, which I thought to be a perfect example.
People burn incense to pagan gods and it horrible rituals all the time - just like the use of candles.
Yet the actual item, in and of itself is not pagan. You decide how to use your incense; just like Catholic images and statues.
We know it’s “just a statue” and no, you’re not worshiping it because Mary is on your office desk.
But ask most proddy’s and they’ll tell you it’s an idol.

It’s intent.

My intent for yoga is a great relaxing stretch to help my poor back.
My intent with images/statues of Saints is to encourage me and remind me of their faithfulness and to emulate them. 🙂

Peace,
~ PetiteFoi
Click to expand...
What DVD(s) do you use? You may send a PM if you prefer.
 
To the objectors - would you be happy with something like ‘Praise Moves’, which is a series of DVDs which employ the same stretches as yoga but in an explicitly Christian context? If not, why not?
 
LilyM said:
Being Pope doesn’t require you to take the title ‘Pontifex Maximus’ (ie ‘Supreme/Sovereign Pontiff’) either. That title was originally given to the pagan Roman chief priest.

I’m sure you’ll happily write to tell whoever succeeds Benedict XVI that they mustn’t use it, seeing as how it is unnecessary and of pagan origin.

Same goes for incense, kneeling, prayer beads such as the Rosary, monks and monasticism, fasting, clerical celibacy etc etc.
Click to expand...
What ARE you talking about. The post makes zero sense.
LIsa
 
LisaA said:
What ARE you talking about. The post makes zero sense.
LIsa
Click to expand...
Your objections to the use of yoga - even just as stretches to help your back - were twofold in the post of yours that I quoted. You objected that

a) Yoga is of Hindu origin and
b) yoga-style stretches are unnecessary

I was pointing out that many of our religious practices meet both those criteria.

The Pont Max title is also of pagan origin and also unnecessary, so are the other practices I mentioned.

I was pointing out your inconsistency in not objecting to the other practices since by your logic they are just as objectionable as yoga.
 
LilyM said:
Your objections to the use of yoga - even just as stretches to help your back - were twofold in the post of yours that I quoted. You objected that

a) Yoga is of Hindu origin and
b) yoga-style stretches are unnecessary

I was pointing out that many of our religious practices meet both those criteria.

The Pont Max title is also of pagan origin and also unnecessary, so are the other practices I mentioned.

I was pointing out your inconsistency in not objecting to the other practices since by your logic they are just as objectionable as yoga.
Click to expand...
Sorry you must have me mixed up with someone else. I made neither statement. I have no idea what you mean about not objecting to other practices. What other practices?

I used to be quite an avid Yoga practitioner, even studying Kundalini Yoga which is probably among the most “religious” in orientation. I was well aware that the specific movements, the atmosphere in a yoga studio, the chanting, etc were all spiritual practices. I’m trying to remember the little song at the end of every Kundalini practice but in essence it was being one with the world…At the time I was neither Christian nor Catholic so it wasn’t a problem.

What I don’t understand are those who have read numerous statements by Church authorities that indicate practicing yoga is inappropriate so either “I’m not really doing yoga I’m just stretching.” Well if that’s the case you are not practicing yoga, you are stretching. The alternate argument is “Because I don’t intend to evoke the god Shiva, no harm no foul.” Rather like because I didn’t intend to have sex with the guy I met in the bar it really doesn’t count.

Lisa
 
We’re splitting hairs here. The stretching and poses are called yoga. What else should we call it? Maybe it is a difference of yoga with a little y and Yoga with a capital y. 🤷

I do yoga. By that, I mean I practice the breathing, the stretching, the concentration, and the posing. We could be very generic and say I exercise… but that could mean I do cardio, or I do spinning, or I weight lift, or any other fill-in-the-blank exercise. I do not practice Yoga, where I am trying to become one with the world or chanting any mantras or paying homage to any false god. :cool:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top