Pilates & the Church

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mom4truth said:
Hi everyone!

Do we know for a FACT that Pilates is in agreement with the Holy Father and Magisterium? Or are we just speculating? Thanks everyone!
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I have never seen the Holy Father or the Magisterium make statements one way or another on Pilates or any other form of phyiscal exercise.

I would suggest that you ask your pastor about it, if you don’t trust what we’re saying.

Jim
 
beckycmarie said:
Kind Bean, refer to post #9. Pilates may be okay, but Yoga is not - even if you think you’re doing it “just for the exercise.”
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Please see:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=14225

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=39690

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=189264

I relate it to going to a non-Catholic sunday service, it is not a sin to go and join in the service, as long as you don’t agree with the non-Catholic beliefs and do not partake in the communion. Yoga as simply exercise is not harmful! There are many studies done to show how physically beneficial it is. I am a devote Catholic, if I thought for one moment it was a sin, I would quit it instantly. The movements of yoga are simply stretches and breathing exercises.
 
beckycmarie said:
Once again, Yoga is NOT okay. It doesn’t matter what your intention is when you do it.
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That’s curious… I’ve been doing yoga exercises for a few weeks now, and they haven’t negatively affected my spirituality in the least. If they weren’t called ‘yoga’ by the exercise program I’m using, I wouldn’t be able to distinguish between them and ordinary stretching, bending and strength-building exercises 🤷
 
Jim:

It seems you specialize on any activity that is counter to the Catholic worldview and is warned against by reputable and loyal priests and authorities, and even Vatican documents at times.

And you certainly like to pounce on any post and proselytize your odd opinions at a drop of a hat.

All that can be said is, “There you go again.”

You do know that no one takes you seriously.

I am sure you will response, Ego cannot resist. But I will never respond to you again. It ain’t worth the energy.

St. Paul teaches to shun those who teach counter to the faith.

Bye.
 
whatevergirl said:
I have done yoga for years as well, and it never adversely affected me…ever. But, here is an article I just found on the net…written by a priest…interesting. Might change us yoga enthusiasts’ minds?:o

catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0275.html
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My parish is quite fond of the works of Fr. Hardon. While it’s true that yoga can be used in Hindu spirituality, when divorced from that, it’s merely exercise. The first sentence of the article is where Fr. Hardon misses the practice of yoga in which you and I have engaged: “Yoga is incompatible with Catholicism because the best known practice of Hindu spirituality is Yoga.” The movements alone do not bring about a Hindu spiritual consciousness, particularly if one has dispensed of said elements.

I’ve recently started the yoga exercises included in my Nintendo Wii Fit system, and they have absolutely no elements of spirituality included in them. I’m a bit baffled by the suggestion that I’m letting in pagan spiritual influences by stretching my arms, legs and back while working in improving balance and strength in those areas. Again, I wouldn’t know these things were ‘yoga’ if they weren’t categorized by the Fit system as such.
 
djrakowski said:
My parish is quite fond of the works of Fr. Hardon. While it’s true that yoga can be used in Hindu spirituality, when divorced from that, it’s merely exercise. The first sentence of the article is where Fr. Hardon misses the practice of yoga in which you and I have engaged: “Yoga is incompatible with Catholicism because the best known practice of Hindu spirituality is Yoga.” The movements alone do not bring about a Hindu spiritual consciousness, particularly if one has dispensed of said elements.

I’ve recently started the yoga exercises included in my Nintendo Wii Fit system, and they have absolutely no elements of spirituality included in them. I’m a bit baffled by the suggestion that I’m letting in pagan spiritual influences by stretching my arms, legs and back while working in improving balance and strength in those areas. Again, I wouldn’t know these things were ‘yoga’ if they weren’t categorized by the Fit system as such.
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I agree lol…although, I could see where Fr Hardon is coming from…I wonder if there is anything concrete in the CCC? I actually practice power yoga, which is anything but meditative…well, maybe the end…when I’m laying on my back trying to catch my breath! ha…I have never ‘used’ yoga for anything other than stretching, and flexibility reasons.

I would say that perhaps because it originated from the eastern cultures, born out of eastern spirituality, it has the tendency to cause perhaps people who do yoga, to become curious as to the rest of the practice…that is the only thing i can think of that would conflict with our faith.
 
whatevergirl said:
I would say that perhaps because it originated from the eastern cultures, born out of eastern spirituality, it has the tendency to cause perhaps people who do yoga, to become curious as to the rest of the practice…that is the only thing i can think of that would conflict with our faith.
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You’re probably right. However, the manner in which the yoga is presented by the Fit wouldn’t tempt anyone to look into the spiritual aspects. I’m just happy that I’m losing weight and starting to see some improvements in muscle definition and balance :D:thumbsup:

I think some conservative Christians have a tendency to overdo it a bit when it comes to practices like this. They issue blanket condemnations against practices that can be used to extreme spiritual detriment, without realizing that there are ways to engage in those practices without the negative spiritual elements - and that’s what you and I are doing 🤷
 
whatevergirl said:
I would say that perhaps because it originated from the eastern cultures, born out of eastern spirituality, it has the tendency to cause perhaps people who do yoga, to become curious as to the rest of the practice…that is the only thing i can think of that would conflict with our faith.
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Chinese Buddhists invented printed books. Perhaps people who read books might become curious about Buddhism?😉
 
mom4truth said:
Hi everyone!

Do we know for a FACT that Pilates is in agreement with the Holy Father and Magisterium? Or are we just speculating? Thanks everyone!
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mom4truth, I haven’t been able to locate anything definitive about Catholicism and Pilates from a reliable source. I think your question would be a good one for Ask An Apologist.
 
djrakowski said:
That’s curious… I’ve been doing yoga exercises for a few weeks now, and they haven’t negatively affected my spirituality in the least. If they weren’t called ‘yoga’ by the exercise program I’m using, I wouldn’t be able to distinguish between them and ordinary stretching, bending and strength-building exercises 🤷
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See post #9. 🙂
 
kind_bean said:
Please see:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=14225

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=39690

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=189264

I relate it to going to a non-Catholic sunday service, it is not a sin to go and join in the service, as long as you don’t agree with the non-Catholic beliefs and do not partake in the communion. Yoga as simply exercise is not harmful! There are many studies done to show how physically beneficial it is. I am a devote Catholic, if I thought for one moment it was a sin, I would quit it instantly. The movements of yoga are simply stretches and breathing exercises.
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Thanks for the AAA links. In the second link you posted, Jim Blackburn quotes from the Vatican document on the new age explaining why Yoga, zen, transcendental meditation and tantric exercises are contrary to Catholic faith.

If the Vatican says not to do it, that’s good enough for me, as it should be for anyone who claims to be an obedient Catholic.
 
SedesDomi said:
Chinese Buddhists invented printed books. Perhaps people who read books might become curious about Buddhism?😉
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Not quite the same thing…I’m not curious about the mystical elements of yoga, but yoga was initially designed with mysticism intertwined. But, I’m merely stating that is why the priest in the article could feel such a strong opposition to yoga. Not that yoga would lead one to become curious, but I think he is looking at the curiousity aspect as being a potential near occasion of sin.
 
beckycmarie said:
See post #9. 🙂
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I did. I practice yoga, and I don’t enter into an “altered state of consciousness.” My body gets a darned good workout, and my muscles are stretched well enough for my strength and aerobics exercises, but nothing spiritual happens.

Having to repeat that my use of yoga exercises has nothing to do with spirituality to those who condemn the practice with little understanding of how myself and others are using it is a bit like the discussions I’ve had with non-Catholics about how we worship Mary - “But you do!” “No, I don’t!” “No, I know what you’re really doing, and you’re worshiping Mary!” In the context of this discussion, myself and others have said, “we do yoga without the spiritual elements,” and you continue to come back with, “but that’s not possible!” We respond, “yes it is, because we’ve actually done it, and have seen no harm and massive benefits!”

Perhaps to appease the conscience of the ultra-scrupulous among us, those of us who do yoga exercises in this manner ought to call it something other than yoga. I’ll start calling it “The Super-Effective Balance, Strength and Flexibility Exercises.” It’s a bit of a mouthful, but it says exactly what I’m using it for, and exactly the effect it’s having on my body (and, note, not my mind and/or spirituality).
beckycmarie said:
Thanks for the AAA links. In the second link you posted, Jim Blackburn quotes from the Vatican document on the new age explaining why Yoga, zen, transcendental meditation and tantric exercises are contrary to Catholic faith.

If the Vatican says not to do it, that’s good enough for me, as it should be for anyone who claims to be an obedient Catholic.
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And also note that two of the three links say that one can practice yoga in the manner described by a few folks in this thread. One of those two is the opinion of a rather solid Dominican priest.
 
djrakowski said:
Perhaps to appease the conscience of the ultra-scrupulous among us, those of us who do yoga exercises in this manner ought to call it something other than yoga. I’ll start calling it “The Super-Effective Balance, Strength and Flexibility Exercises.” It’s a bit of a mouthful, but it says exactly what I’m using it for, and exactly the effect it’s having on my body (and, note, not my mind and/or spirituality).
.
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LOL–that made me giggle.😃
 
djrakowski said:
I did. I practice yoga, and I don’t enter into an “altered state of consciousness.” My body gets a darned good workout, and my muscles are stretched well enough for my strength and aerobics exercises, but nothing spiritual happens.
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Disclaimer: I do not practice yoga (being fat, advanced middle aged, and inflexible) nor do I practice “altered states of consciousness.” Neither do I advocate either.

That being said, the history of the Church is filled with mystic saints. Most mystics enter into “altered states of consciousness(ASOC)” and it is during those states that they receive their revelations. Serous fasting frequently results in ASOC. Runners when they get into the “zone” often mention slipping into an “ASOC.” Likewise charismatic prayers both Catholic and Protestant traditions report “ASOC”.

If one enters an ASOC while focussed on Jesus, is this a “bad” thing? If one is meditating on Mary while practicing yoga and enters an ASOC is this evil? Perhaps it is more a case that if this happens one should have a spiritual director to guide them through these mystical experiences.
 
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