Is yoga demonic or no?

[maxdouglas402]

I was informed that there is no teaching in the church against yoga.

I discovered that even if the Hindu’s claim that yoga is offered up to their gods, there really is only one God, The Holy Trinity.

I started a yoga class last night at myyogaonline.com and the teacher kept speaking of the body healing itself, and finding that inner divine. I completely ignored her teachings but I followed the movements and physical aspects of what she was teaching.

I strangely woke up in the middle of the night last night and was wide awake.

Im wondering if yoga affects the mind more than it affects the spirit, or vice versa, or neither. They speak of teaching the body how to fix itself. Somewhat like a neural reboot. I felt this might have affected my spiritual life. Or maybe I was just being paranoid.

Again, I completely ignore the philosophies of yoga. I merely focus on what they tell me to do physically. But sometimes when Im in a relaxed laying down position it seems like they start bombarding me with their philosophies. In a calm voice they say, “let that inner divine come out.” Or something along those lines.

I have experienced some troubles in the past with evil spirits so I was definitely worried when I entered into it. But I woke up this morning and felt this great soreness on my muscles that I was looking for. I have a lot of injuries from football and yoga seems like it can really help.

Any advice? (sorry for such a long post)

 

[InJesusItrust]

I would stay away from chanting any prayers or mantras. Otherwise I think it’s all good.

 

[R_C]

The Vatican exorcist has been very clear on this:

Practicing yoga is Satanic, it leads to evil …]Yoga is the Devil’s work. You thing you are doing it for stretching your mind and body but it leads to Hinduism. All these oriental religions are based on the false belief of reincarnation. Satan is always hidden and the thing he desires more than anything is for people to believe he does not exist. He studies each and everyone of us and our tendencies towards good and evil and then he tempts us.

Since we don’t need yoga in our life, we should refrain from it. Christianity has plenty of wonderful paths of meditation that will be far more effective than these nowadays popular panaceas, and even for your specific issues there are plenty of different paths you can follow.

Consider your own words:

even if the Hindu’s claim that yoga is offered up to their gods, there really is only one God, The Holy Trinity.

Yes, but…then who are these “gods”? We already know from the Bible that there are plenty of spirits who like to be worshiped by men…

I started a yoga class last night and the teacher kept speaking of the body healing itself, and finding that inner divine. I completely ignored her teachings but I followed the movements

You ignored the explanation of the movements but followed the teachings

 

[centurionguard]

Here’s a good Catholic article on the restrictions on Yoga as a practice.
ewtn.com/expert/answers/yoga.htm

The Church distinguishes between physical postures and the philosophy or religion underlying them (cf: Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, On Christian Meditation). The adoption of a particular physical posture, even if originating in a religious or philosophical system foreign to Christianity, is permissible provided the posture is severable from the religion or philosophy that first motivated it. Its use then becomes possible in Christian freedom (cf. 1 Cor. 8), and indeed the Church has “baptized” even pagan practices that were not intrinsically linked to paganism.

The question of yoga, therefore, becomes “to what extent can yoga postures be independent of non-Christian religious motivation, as well as any intention to manipulate forces or energies described within a non-Christian worldview?” This is the same question which arises with respect to Reiki healing practices, which also depend on a non-Christian, indeed an occult, worldview.

If it is a matter, therefore, of simply using yoga positions for relaxation in preparation for Christian mediation, while not embracing to any degree the philosophy or explanation behind the posture, their use is theoretically possible.

However, many Christians who are former practitioners of yoga argue that it is not possible, that the dangers of the occult remain, especially by efforts to manipulate internal forces in order to achieve a particular physical state. That, while natural causation is claimed, in fact achieving the result depends on the existence of the very forces which the non-Christian philosophy teaches. Separating the philosophy from the posture makes possible the posture’s Christian use, but removes any value of it over any other physical posture. On the other hand, retaining the posture and seeking its purpose necessarily adopts a non-Christian worldview, opening the individual to spiritual forces, as opposed to simply material ones, who are opposed to their salvation.

While the question of yoga has not been definitely answered by the Magisterium, Christians who are considering its use, or the use of any practice derived from non-Christian philosophies or religions, should be familiar with two documents: the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s On Some Aspects of Christian Meditation, and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue’s Jesus Christ, The Bearer of the Water of Life. They should then scrupulously apply the principle of the necessity for the complete separation of a practice from any religious or philosophical system which is contrary to Catholic teaching or the practice of the faith.

ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDFMED.HTM

ewtn.com/library/CURIA/PCCPCIDA.HTM

 

[Aelred_Minor]

The gods of the pagans are demons. Or rather, they are generally figments of human imagination, sometimes not that bad considered as a simple fantasy, but demons may impersonate them in order to lead people astray.

I would not, personally, get mixed up in pagan mysticism, even a form like yoga that has been semi-secularized in the West.

 

[RPRPsych]

The gods of the pagans are demons. Or rather, they are generally figments of human imagination, sometimes not that bad considered as a simple fantasy, but demons may impersonate them in order to lead people astray.

I would not, personally, get mixed up in pagan mysticism, even a form like yoga that has been semi-secularized in the West.

I’d also recommend staying away.

There are numerous forms of legitimate exercise or fitness training that come with no strings attached.

Most “yoga packages” include chanting, mantras, and other practices that sometimes border on the occult. Like the rest of the “New Age”, it’s best avoided in practice.

 

[A_G]

I would stay away from yoga.

Yoga aims to establish a relationship with the pagan god Vishnu. Yoga is not compatible with Christianity, no matter how much one tries to “sugar-coat” it. Yoga has a pagan background and is a form of Hindu worship. To practice the religion of yoga spiritually, is to deny Jesus Christ. Their “poses” and stretching “positions” imitate pagan gods. To practice the so-called “modern” yoga is harmful as this can push you into a “new age” style of thinking (and I know people this has happened to) which is contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church. “Yoga” means “to control,” and it promises salvation via pagan gods. It manipulates the body, mind and spirit, via physical postures, breathing control and chanting of these false beliefs. A real Christian will reject paganism, and all the heresies accosiated with them.

 

[agnes_therese]

Yoga stretching is very good for the body. If you’re only doing the physical exercises, then you’re only doing the physical exercises. Stretching muscles does NOT = paganism.

 

[maxdouglas402]

we seem to be split 50/50 on this matter, and so am I!

I have spoken with Catholic Apologists and they say it is acceptable if it does not lead to Hinduism.

here is a video that is similar to what I watched and did yesterday youtube.com/watch?v=OsLKjPUgowg
Does this seem evil? (and that is not a rhetorical question) lol

I have heard that it is somewhat reaching to assume yoga is satanic worship or demonic. But I see the main issue is the question, “can one truly separate Hinduism from Yoga?”

I simply want to do yoga as physical therapy for my neck, shoulder, hip, and ankle. I have arthritis on my neck from football and a broken ankle from football, and I’ve tried a lot of things to get me to be able to be physically active again. Im not even 20 and I don’t want to be using a walker when in 40! Ill have to find time and read those two documents centurionguard recommended.

And would it be a mortal sin or a venial sin if I did a yoga class?

 

[Monica4316]

I was informed that there is no teaching in the church against yoga.

I discovered that even if the Hindu’s claim that yoga is offered up to their gods, there really is only one God, The Holy Trinity.

I started a yoga class last night at myyogaonline.com and the teacher kept speaking of the body healing itself, and finding that inner divine. I completely ignored her teachings but I followed the movements and physical aspects of what she was teaching.

I strangely woke up in the middle of the night last night and was wide awake.

Im wondering if yoga affects the mind more than it affects the spirit, or vice versa, or neither. They speak of teaching the body how to fix itself. Somewhat like a neural reboot. I felt this might have affected my spiritual life. Or maybe I was just being paranoid.

Again, I completely ignore the philosophies of yoga. I merely focus on what they tell me to do physically. But sometimes when Im in a relaxed laying down position it seems like they start bombarding me with their philosophies. In a calm voice they say, “let that inner divine come out.” Or something along those lines.

I have experienced some troubles in the past with evil spirits so I was definitely worried when I entered into it. But I woke up this morning and felt this great soreness on my muscles that I was looking for. I have a lot of injuries from football and yoga seems like it can really help.

Any advice? (sorry for such a long post)

I would strongly advise to not do yoga and find another type of exercise. Some people say (such as Fr John Hardon) that we can’t really separate the exercises of yoga from their spirituality. I’ve heard of some Hindu people saying this too. Though there is no official Church about yoga, it is mentioned in the Vatican document against the new age, as I seem to remember (maybe check on that), and priests like Fr John Hardon have commented on it advising Catholics against yoga.

Some links that I found helpful
catholicbridge.com/catholic/is_yoga_ok_for_catholics.php
catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0275.html
courageouspriest.com/warning-eastern-meditation-should-never-be-used

I also read about someone who got really deeply involved in yoga and then became possessed, so I’d stay away.

There are many exercises to choose, we don’t have to do yoga.

Hatha yoga (what people do typically in the West) leads eventually to other forms like Kundalini yoga which involve much more than physical exercises.

THe problem with these things is, that you don’t really notice the effects until after and then it’s really difficult to become free of it. It seems good at first but who knows what could happen.

Maybe the explanation is that the way the exercises affect the mind, it gets the person into this meditative sort of state, I don’t know.

 

[maxdouglas402]

Some links that I found helpful
catholicbridge.com/catholic/is_yoga_ok_for_catholics.php
catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0275.html
courageouspriest.com/warning-eastern-meditation-should-never-be-used

Thank You for the Links Im checking them out now

 

[Robertanthony]

The Vatican exorcist has been very clear on this:

Since we don’t need yoga in our life, we should refrain from it. Christianity has plenty of wonderful paths of meditation that will be far more effective than these nowadays popular panaceas, and even for your specific issues there are plenty of different paths you can follow.

Consider your own words:

Gabriele Amorth is not the Vatican exorcist, he is an exorcist who practices(ed) in a diocese in Rome. “The Vatican exorcist” was the way it was spun for the media. DO NOT take what this man says at face value as if it came directly from God’s mouth. Research some of his claims, like the one where he says he has performed I don’t recall how many tens of thousands exorcists. Jimmy Akin is critical of him, so are other Catholic commentators.

OP, I’ve not always thought this way, but nowadays I have a more balanced view of things, don’t see the Devil everywhere like I was inclined to formerly, now my personal opinion on yoga is that if you can disconnect the physical (stretching, muscle training) aspect from the spiritual mumbo jumbo, I see no real problem. Perhaps prayerfully ask God if this is right for you, perhaps he’ll steer you in another direction. Unfortunately there is no manual for life where every little thing is detailed, we have to find out through trial and error.

 

[Michael_Mayo]

we seem to be split 50/50 on this matter, and so am I!

I have spoken with Catholic Apologists and they say it is acceptable if it does not lead to Hinduism.

here is a video that is similar to what I watched and did yesterday youtube.com/watch?v=OsLKjPUgowg
Does this seem evil? (and that is not a rhetorical question) lol

I have heard that it is somewhat reaching to assume yoga is satanic worship or demonic. But I see the main issue is the question, “can one truly separate Hinduism from Yoga?”

I simply want to do yoga as physical therapy for my neck, shoulder, hip, and ankle. I have arthritis on my neck from football and a broken ankle from football, and I’ve tried a lot of things to get me to be able to be physically active again. Im not even 20 and I don’t want to be using a walker when in 40! Ill have to find time and read those two documents centurionguard recommended.

And would it be a mortal sin or a venial sin if I did a yoga class?

And where do we draw the line? Physical therapy, for example, pilates, weight lifting, Tai Chi?

After some yoga stretches I feel wonderful, alert, prayful and more aware of God’s presence. Yoga brought me from a godless hedonist to a follower of Christ. I think it can be sacramental. God gave us bodies. How about if we use them to the fullest extent in our prayer?

 

[Veronica97]

I strangely woke up in the middle of the night last night and was wide awake.

I have experienced some troubles in the past with evil spirits so I was definitely worried when I entered into it.

Maxdouglas, I think you already know the answer to your question. It has been said that yoga can be practiced if you do the physical exercises without participating in the spiritual aspect (which I personally think would be very difficult but perhaps some can do it.) HOWEVER, you say you have had troubles in the past with evil spirits. So for you personally this is not a good idea and the worries that you have are either from your own conscience or promptings from your guardian angel. I would heed the warning.

 

[Matt_Tiza]

I don’t think that yoga is demonic or harmful.

A lot of this will depend on the “enthusiasm” of your yoga instructor.

Does he/she try to get you to consider New Age philosophies?
Does he/she use any type of mind-clearing “centering prayers?”

I’ve done P90X yoga which is about as secular as it comes. There were no religious or spiritual implications in this video at all. I thought that it was going to be all soothing and relaxing, but it was quite a vigorous workout cycling through all of those poses really quickly!

You can secularize almost anything, and I think that yoga as purely an exercise regimen is not harmful at all. If you start to delve into New Age philosophy or centering prayers as a result of it, then perhaps it is not right for you.

 

[agnes_therese]

It has been said that yoga can be practiced if you do the physical exercises without participating in the spiritual aspect (which I personally think would be very difficult but perhaps some can do it.)

On the contrary, it’s not difficult at all. If you have no interest in Hinduism, then you have no interest in Hinduism. There’s no magic in yoga that would make you change your mind about your religion.

 

[Veronica97]

On the contrary, it’s not difficult at all. If you have no interest in Hinduism, then you have no interest in Hinduism. There’s no magic in yoga that would make you change your mind about your religion.

I have no interest in Hinduism, but I think I would find the chanting and the directions from the instructor distracting and hard to ignore. Maybe for others it wouldn’t be difficult. I would be afraid of being influenced even subtlely or sub-consciously.

 

[R_C]

Gabriele Amorth is not the Vatican exorcist, he is an exorcist who practices(ed) in a diocese in Rome. “The Vatican exorcist” was the way it was spun for the media. DO NOT take what this man says at face value as if it came directly from God’s mouth. Research some of his claims, like the one where he says he has performed I don’t recall how many tens of thousands exorcists. Jimmy Akin is critical of him, so are other Catholic commentators.

The Italian press refers to him as the exorcist of the Vatican, that’s where I took the name. I do not like everything Fr. Amorth says, but I do respect him as someone who has exercised a ministry of direct confrontation of evil which the majority of us never have, thank God. I do not have any reason to doubt that he has performed thousands of exorcisms, given that they are lengthy procedures and that probably more than one patient can be visited in one day. I know that he is not infallible in his teachings, but if he says yoga is bad, then I think I’ll stay away from yoga, it’s not like I need it to survive…

 

[agnes_therese]

I have no interest in Hinduism, but I think I would find the chanting and the directions from the instructor distracting and hard to ignore. Maybe for others it wouldn’t be difficult. I would be afraid of being influenced even subtlely or sub-consciously.

I’ve never had a yoga instructor who did any “chanting.” And instructions are often necessary so you can learn how to the poses; it’s not religious instruction.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Since we don’t need yoga in our life, we should refrain from it. Christianity has plenty of wonderful paths of meditation that will be far more effective than these nowadays popular panaceas, and even for your specific issues there are plenty of different paths you can follow.

You are confusing the world of physical exercise with that of spiritual exercises. Our faith has dibs on the latter.

I have to restrain myself from laughing every time I’ve seen people suggest ‘alternatives’ for the former.

QUOTE=R_C;9930202]You ignored the explanation of the movements but followed the teachings

Contrary to Jackie Chan and Jet Li, there is more physical engineering than philosophy behind body movements.

So basically if some instructor tried philosophy to teach me, I will only politely respond that I’m a monkey-see-monkey-do type of learner.

I know that he is not infallible in his teachings, but if he says yoga is bad, then I think I’ll stay away from yoga, it’s not like I need it to survive…

Yet you mandate his word for all Catholics. That’s contradictory. And hypocritical.

I would strongly advise to not do yoga and find another type of exercise. Some people say (such as Fr John Hardon) that we can’t really separate the exercises of yoga from their spirituality. I’ve heard of some Hindu people saying this too.

There are plenty of martial arts documentaries out there that show the science behind powerful moves. I suggest you watch those more. Hopefully you will come to the realization that physical movement CAN be separated from spirituality.

Simply put… if a punch hurts, it hurts not because you are Hindu/Buddhist/Shintoist/whatever.

It hurts cuz you know how to make it hurt.

The same goes with yoga.