I Got a Yoga Problem

[Inquiringperson]

I brought this up with my confessor and he said I can do Yoga. He also said it’s up to me to find out if there is anything bad in what the instructor (aka DVD player) says.

When they say to empty my mind, they mean complete blankness. I know this part is wrong now now that I’m more awake. I guess I’ll pray during when the instructor says to empty my mind.

 

[ebonykawai]

I am SO TIRED of these posts.

 

[ebonykawai]

When they say to empty my mind, they mean complete blankness. I know this part is wrong now now that I’m more awake. I guess I’ll pray during when the instructor says to empty my mind.

Anyone who tells you to “empty your mind” is NOT a qualitifed instructor. Wow, I’m tired not only of these kinds of posts here, but also tired of all the unqualified yoga teachers out there!!!

You can’t empty your mind. The human mind’s function is to think. It’s impossible to empty your mind unless you’re holding your breath (try it), and even then you can have thoughts if you seek them out.

Just concentrate on the breath during these times, breathe slowly and fully use your lungs. This is for detox, and also to help the mind and body relax. When you start to feel relaxed, begin to pray to God, saying something like you might during adoration: “I’m open to all your love and goodness, I accept all that you may give me, Lord.” Or use your own words, do whatever opens your heart.

Yoga is a system that can be applied to ALL religions. It’s not Hindu (it pre-dates this by at least a thousand years and maybe more). It’s not evil. It’s simply a method of relaxing the body so the mind can relax and, if we CHOOSE, we can pray to God with a clear mind and an open heart.

 

[AdamP88]

I’m taking P.E. over the Summer, and one of the exercises we do are Yoga (our Yoga instructor is just a DVD). I know that the theology of Yoga is incompatible with our Faith, but as Michelle Arnold has said, we as Catholics can do the physical parts of Yoga and not the spiritual parts.

I’ve done the best I can to omit what I think is contrary to the Faith. However, I got some questions however.

1. The instructor says to feel your energy move from your body to the palms of your hand. Is this heretical?
2. The instructor sometimes says to empty your mind. Is this against our Faith?

Please answer, guys. I don’t want to get possessed.

I have also had this exact same issue while I was in High-School.
My solution was to refuse to do the Yoga exercises.

Yoga, by it’s nature is part of another spiritually aimed at looking within oneself to discover god. This is contrary to christian spirituality.

I would be very cautious of yoga and any eastern religious or pseudo-religious practices adopted as exercise. There are other methods of stretching that require no mental “energy” or “emptying of the mind”. This is the kind of practice to be wary of and it can lead to spiritual danger.

My recommendation would be to avoid yoga altogether as there are other ways of doing the same physical stretches.

 

[Tommm]

It is funny your concern about empty mind. Who has done this? What happened when you emptied your mind? If you have not tried this what are you afraid of? Do you think god will get mad if you shut off your monkey mind for a minunite?