Can Yoga be good?

[JGheen]

Do you think a Catholic can participate in Yoga with a clear conscience? Or is it a slippery slope that we must avoid in order to “avoid the near occasion of evil”?

I’ve participated in a couple classes at my gym and love the stretching and calming aspects. When they say silly new-age things like “imagine you are one with nature”, I silently say a small prayer to God thanking Him for nature. When they say, “imagine you are one with your Creator” I again say a silent prayer to my Creator based on my own beliefs.

However, I do feel a bit guilty that I am tacitly participating in eastern mysticism. And there are a couple parts I’m uncomfortable with - specifically at the end of class when the instructor touches each person’s forehead to let the “life force” in and we have to say “na-moose-day” (I solute you) to her.

Is it okay to practice yoga stretches at home, where I will obviously skip the odes to a “life force” and all the other silly stuff? Or am I putting myself on shaky ground? I also participate in Pilates and like it a lot, but sometimes I just need/want to stretch - and yoga is the easiest way to get a good stretching workout.

I do not want to provide scandal to other Catholics by my actions. My Catholic girlfriends all do yoga and think there is nothing wrong with it - as long as you pray to God in your head and not the “life force”. However, I don’t want to judge myself based on others actions. That is definitely a slippery slope! What do you think?

 

[Ahimsa]

I’m not Catholic, but I know Catholics (or non-Catholic Christians) who do yoga, meditation, etc., and haven’t “slipped” down that proverbial “slippery slope.”

You can think of “becoming one with my Creator” as the state of heavenly bliss. You can think of “namaste” as meaning “I greet the spark of God within you.”

 

[JGheen]

Thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut.

 

[John-the-Seeker]

**My ** opinion is that if something is identified as not good, as Yoga has, then even if it is 98% good, the 2%, like a little arsenic on Grade A beef, can kill you. Avoid the near occasions of sin as well as the sin. Is not your Eternal Soul worth the precaution?

 

[jrabs]

**My **opinion is that if something is identified as not good, as Yoga has, then even if it is 98% good, the 2%, like a little arsenic on Grade A beef, can kill you. Avoid the near occasions of sin as well as the sin. Is not your Eternal Soul worth the precaution?

I am with you here as well. I do think it can help ease you onto the slippery slope. And the thing about that very slope…no one usually feels they are on that slope.

I like that you are not using other Catholics practicing yoga as your gauge - but you are sincere in finding the best answer for your soul.

 

[JGheen]

Thanks again for the (name removed by moderator)ut. I’m glad to hear others have reservations about yoga - it means I’m not totally crazy.

 

[Catholic_mommy]

JGheen:

Do you think a Catholic can participate in Yoga with a clear conscience? Or is it a slippery slope that we must avoid in order to “avoid the near occasion of evil”?

I’ve participated in a couple classes at my gym and love the stretching and calming aspects. When they say silly new-age things like “imagine you are one with nature”, I silently say a small prayer to God thanking Him for nature. When they say, “imagine you are one with your Creator” I again say a silent prayer to my Creator based on my own beliefs.

However, I do feel a bit guilty that I am tacitly participating in eastern mysticism. And there are a couple parts I’m uncomfortable with - specifically at the end of class when the instructor touches each person’s forehead to let the “life force” in and we have to say “na-moose-day” (I solute you) to her.

Is it okay to practice yoga stretches at home, where I will obviously skip the odes to a “life force” and all the other silly stuff? Or am I putting myself on shaky ground? I also participate in Pilates and like it a lot, but sometimes I just need/want to stretch - and yoga is the easiest way to get a good stretching workout.

I do not want to provide scandal to other Catholics by my actions. My Catholic girlfriends all do yoga and think there is nothing wrong with it - as long as you pray to God in your head and not the “life force”. However, I don’t want to judge myself based on others actions. That is definitely a slippery slope! What do you think?

When I do yoga I think some of the same thoughts as you. I believe that because my faith is so strong I’ll be OK, but I also believe not everyone is safe. I have a girlfriend who I’ve known my entire life who is heavy into yoga and has slipped down the slope… She now has a person whom she communicates through to her 5000 year old Asian man for her, relaying messages… I’m fearful she has slipped so far she may never come back up either. So, I guess my advice is to be careful and keep your thoughts focused

 

[John-the-Seeker]

**When I do yoga I think some of the same thoughts as you. I believe that because my faith is so strong I’ll be OK, but I also believe not everyone is safe. I have a girlfriend who I’ve known my entire life who is heavy into yoga and has slipped down the slope… She now has a person whom she communicates through to her 5000 year old Asian man for her, relaying messages… I’m fearful she has slipped so far she may never come back up either. So, I guess my advice is to be careful and keep your thoughts focused

---

Blessings, Catholic Mommy**

What if your faith is only stronger than your friends and not strong enough? Are the Eternal lives of you and your family worth the risk? Can you not get the feel good stretching and peace from other forms of exercises that do not involve Christian contrary teachings?

 

[thechrismyster]

i use a neti pot to clear my sinuses. it’s a yogic practice. but i don’t use it as yoga. so its not yoga.
if you use yoga as an exercise, with no regards to the spirituality, i see no problem with it.

 

[Zooey]

First, I am not Catholic, but I am Christian (Methodist), & I have done yoga stretches at home since I was in middle school, but…you could not pay me to take a class. There is too much of the eastern mystic practices involved in most yoga classes. (Maybe all yoga classes).
I am particularly alarmed that you say you “have to” say namaste. Why? If this is an exercise class, why on earth are you having to speak a foreign language? The word namaste does not just mean “I salute you”; it means “the god in me salutes the god in you”. It refers to the whole eastern idea that everything & everyone is a god.
I have health issues which made it necessary for me to learn a program of gentle stretching those many years ago, & I have no regrets, but as I say, I would not take a class. My doctor worked with me to adapt the stretching moves to maximize the benefits.
I freely admit that this is my own opinion, but I have to add that the very fact that you feel uncomfortable enough to ask, says to me that the class is really bothering you. At the very least, I would get out of the class. That way, you can pray silently (or out loud) while you stretch in your own home, away from the influences of this teacher.

My 2 cents…

 

[Paris_Blues]

No. I heard on Life on the Rock one time with that Johnette Benkevic (sp?) to NOT participate in it. I can’t remember what she said but I know she said something like it is not good for us…I can’t remember…

…maybe someone can help me?

 

[aimee]

At our parish there are yoga classes in the gym…couldn’t there be a separation between the spiritual and the exercise?

 

[jrabs]

aimee:

At our parish there are yoga classes in the gym…couldn’t there be a separation between the spiritual and the exercise?

Ya know, I wonder this too. Why can’t it just be for stretching???

 

[aimee]

jrabs:

Ya know, I wonder this too. Why can’t it just be for stretching???

I was attracted to it for the health aspect and since its not jumping around etc…I thought of doing it…I have arthritis and other health concerns…
Are you framilier with Rodney Yee’s power yoga tapes? I wish someone would take a look at them and let me know what they think.
He was on Oprah.

 

[Ahimsa]

aimee:

I was attracted to it for the health aspect and since its not jumping around etc…I thought of doing it…I have arthritis and other health concerns…
Are you framilier with Rodney Yee’s power yoga tapes? I wish someone would take a look at them and let me know what they think.
He was on Oprah.

(Again, non-Catholic speaking here.) I use Yee’s tapes. There is no spirituality or religion or non-English language (other than the names of the poses themselves) used.

 

[CatholicSam]

There was a good discussion on this topic a few weeks ago in the Family Life forum. You can see the thread here.

 

[JGheen]

(Again, non-Catholic speaking here.) I use Yee’s tapes. There is no spirituality or religion or non-English language (other than the names of the poses themselves) used.

Great to know! Thanks!

 

[GarryOwen]

Corrsct me if Im wrong but isnt yoga practised by Hindus it originates in India the same as meditation.

 

[nkelly]

Hello JGheen,

I would advise you to stay well away from Yoga. The associated philosophies are completely anti-Christian and your faith could
be weakened as a result.

It’s another one of Satan’s deceptions - a very clever one!

That is the goal and the techniques vary, but as one “ascends” through the 7 progressive chakras, each is an initiation unto a higher consciousness, until finally when you reach the point of union with “Sanat Kumara”, “Shiva”, “Vishnu”, “Lord of the World” or what they most blasphemously call the “Christ Consciousness”.

Satan’s deception is that through each successive chakra the occult initiate actually does perceive a shift in consciousness, which to him it seems, is a progressive shift. The occultist now feels his contact and psychic telepathy with the Hierarchy getting stronger. As he continues, the initiate invariably reaches a point of no return. There is no turning back and all those doubts he failed to heed — being the “right” path or not — are finally revealed to him…it’s too late. They’re his! This is called the Luciferic Initiation.

See conspiracyarchive.com/NewAge/Alice_Bailey.htm
at the section called ‘Luciferic Initiation’.

God bless and beware!
Noel.

 

[JGheen]

nkelly:

Hello JGheen,

I would advise you to stay well away from Yoga. The associated philosophies are completely anti-Christian and your faith could
be weakened as a result.

It’s another one of Satan’s deceptions - a very clever one!

See conspiracyarchive.com/NewAge/Alice_Bailey.htm
at the section called ‘Luciferic Initiation’.

God bless and beware!
Noel.

Yikes! Thanks for the info! :bigyikes: