Is yoga demonic or no?

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For the OP-

Why not just calll it stretching and just make sure you are not drug in to the spiritual aspects of Hinduism, mantras and so forth. Basically, a “downward dog” is touching your toes with your butt in the air. Gunga dips are just an extended motion of an old army “drop and give me 50” push-ups. If the aspect of the term “Yoga” bothers you, get Bob Anderson’s book “Stretching” It’s been around since the late 70’s or early 80’s and basically incorporates many of the same stretches you find in many Yoga movements. As far as I know, he doesn’t mention Yoga anywhere in the book and does not try to connect it with anything spiritual. I have worn out several copies through the yrs. You might also use Pilates which has many similar movements. If you leave out the spritual elements (and you can, by the way), I don’t see how doing Yoga streching could be harmful. Just my opinion.
 
I just have to ay that yoga brought me back into the Church from being a doped up, self centered, sinful young man. It is through Yoga that I came to know Christ and the sacramental life of the Church. Maybe it is not for everyone, and even for me it is on and off and pretty gentle. But it certinly can have a good and holy place in the life of a faithful Catholic with nothing to fear.
 
maxdouglas402 said:
Again. Yoga always involves turning the mind inward to the body. Turning the mind to the body is not what we’re called to do as Catholics. Catholics are supposed to turn their mind to God.
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All exercise forces you to turn your mind to your body. If your mind isn’t involved with focusing on the part you’re exercising, you not exercising.

Jim
 
A certain position that a Hindu uses when practicing a particular Yoga exercise, in and of itself does not make one a Hindu anymore than someone kneeling makes them a Christian. I never think of myself worshiping as a Hindu when I have done any Yoga movement. There is nothing wrong with focusing your mind on a stretch. Do you not focus on a chain saw when you cut a log? If you fear entering a spiritual element into your exercise, why not say the Rosary or the Divine Mercy Chaplet or the Jesus Prayer. There is certainly nothing non-Christian about that.
 
maxdouglas402 said:
I have to throw this out there.

I did my second yoga class yesterday because I have been so obsessed about giving it another try. Again, the class made me really focus my mind on the body. Even after the class was over. I felt like all day yesterday my mind was subconsciously or consciously focused on my posture, my leg position, my neck, or something else. As a Catholic, I honestly can’t help but notice the dangers of yoga. It is almost like the mind becomes a slave to the body, and every movement has to be correct.

I think that when there is heavy amounts of breathing in a certain yoga position the mind starts to really become aware of what the body is doing. The large amount of oxygen flow to the muscles during different poses, and the simultaneous large amount of oxygen flow to the brain causes your consciousness to change. Even if it is only slightly. Please be aware of this if you’re thinking about, or are practicing yoga. I know Im done.
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when an exercise changes my consciousness I start to get skeptical. As Catholics we are called to be sober minded.
 
Michael_Mayo said:
I just have to ay that yoga brought me back into the Church from being a doped up, self centered, sinful young man. It is through Yoga that I came to know Christ and the sacramental life of the Church. Maybe it is not for everyone, and even for me it is on and off and pretty gentle. But it certinly can have a good and holy place in the life of a faithful Catholic with nothing to fear.
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Yoga no doubt has health benefits! It is a great exercise. Im not denying that.
 
PCalungsod said:
Having the copy of the book (that one of Syquia) it clearly says that “yoga- even if done just as an exercise can increase the chance for a person to be possessed.”
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I repeat: referring to religious authorities is not an argument. I am familiar with Syquia. I am familiar with Amorth. But the fact remains, there has been no proof from others experience, from my experience, and much less from scientifically studied experience that body poses lead to possesion.

And again, I also would like to refer that my hands have been dabbling in religious symbolism for years. Never in those years have I experienced anything that you can remotely consider a demonic manifestation. Not possession. Not oppression. Nothing.

And what is wrong with training your consciousness? I thought religion was more than just mere mental experiences? Is spirituality reduced only to what goes on in our head?
 
maxdouglas402 said:
when an exercise changes my consciousness I start to get skeptical. As Catholics we are called to be sober minded.
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If this is the case and you feel compromised spiritually - then don’t do it.

Simple.

God Bless
THT
 
maxdouglas402 said:
The large amount of oxygen flow to the muscles during different poses, and the simultaneous large amount of oxygen flow to the brain causes your consciousness to change. Even if it is only slightly. Please be aware of this if you’re thinking about, or are practicing yoga. I know Im done.
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Oxygen to the brain and muscles is a bad thing? That’s news.
 
If Hinduism leads to Demonic possession, how is it Gandhi acted more Christ like than most Christians?

Was Gandhi possessed?

Are most of the Hindu’s living in India, demonically possessed?

We know the answer is negative and Pope John Paul himself met with the leaders of Hinduism and at no time did he tell them to convert to Christianity because they’re dabbling in the occult and subject to demonic possession.

That all being said, it’s the intent of the will which makes a spiritual practice dangerous or not.

For Catholics like myself who have been doing Yoga exercise for many years, we are centered in Christ and our spirituality is always drawn toward union with Him.

When I’m doing my exercises, I’m mostly focusing on my breath and the posture.

The postures are part of the dynamic flow of the exercise routine. Each posture is held for five to seven breaths. The breath actually helps you get into the posture and opens your body so that it’s more flexible, but also becomes stronger.

The link is to a Yoga Zone routine for weight-loss. I have used this, but ended up getting the Yoga Zone Power Yoga DVD.

youtube.com/watch?v=nmCoxxjJNfQ

Jim
 
maxdouglas402 said:
Yoga no doubt has health benefits! It is a great exercise. Im not denying that.
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But what I am saying is that it also had spiritual benefits. In fact, it awakened me to the reality of the faith I was baptized in. Christ used yoga to awakened me to Himself.
 
maxdouglas402 said:
Again. Yoga always involves turning the mind inward to the body. Turning the mind to the body is not what we’re called to do as Catholics. Catholics are supposed to turn their mind to God.
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Are you stating that God does not dwell within our body?
 
Veronica97 said:
Exactly, I think we as human beings focus enough on ourselves.
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But it is not either/or. We are incarnated. The purpose of yoga and relaxation is actually to transcend the body, to forget it and loosen the distraction it usually provides. Then, when relaxed, we let our consciousnes rest in God who is always around us.
 
Veronica97 said:
Exactly, I think we as human beings focus enough on ourselves.
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One of the many things Shaolin Monks got right is that we improve ourselves so that we may help others. It’s difficult to carry out God’s work and help others when you’re so out of shape (i.e., ignore God’s temple) that you can’t help yourself.
 
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