This is just my opinion. So you know, I am a convert to Catholicism (10 years), very conservative and orthodox, do adoration, love the Latin mass, and follow the classic contemplative prayer tradition of St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, and others.
I’ve also done yoga off and on for years as a physical practice, both prior to my conversion to Catholicism and after becoming a Catholic, and only became aware of any controversy around it a couple of years ago. I never did it for spiritual reasons, and have never had any “spiritual” experiences because of it. I like it because it is very healthy for my body, and helps me handle stress, such as recently when I was in graduate school.
Yoga is mentioned twice in the Church’s document
Jesus Christ, The Bearer of the Water of Life. The document is not about yoga
per se, but about New Age spirituality. It does not discuss yoga, but simply names it as one of several things that can flow into New Age spirituality, during a discussion of aspects of such spirituality. And this is true - I’ve read many stories of people who started with yoga, and then got into New Age spirituality.
But: it also is clear from their stories that the reason why was not some magical thing about yoga that just overcame them, even when doing just the physical practice, but ignorance of their own Christian faith. In other words, they weren’t able to tell the difference between Christian and non-Christian spirituality. And today we have many Catholics who do not know their Faith well, so yoga could indeed be a danger.
On the other hand, there is a growing body of scientific literature that shows that the physical practice of yoga has clear physiological benefits that go beyond traditional Western forms of exercise.
Here is the most extensive list I’ve found, that names 77 different health benefits, based on scientific studies.
So yoga has proven physical benefits - and if so then to say any and all forms of yoga are dangerous, even just the physical practice, might be bordering on the superstitious. So, the question is: Can you separate physical yoga from eastern spirituality? I think so. Some Hindus say you can’t, but their belief system has errors in it, so why believe them? And Christianity has always borrowed and adapted things from other cultures that were compatible with Christianity, never thrown things out wholesale.
The Church today teaches that we are to acknowledge what is good in other religions, and Indians have figured out some good things about how to take care of the body. There is nothing wrong or anti-Christian with that. Some Indian Catholics don’t like to do yoga, because it might lead into Hinduism. But there are other Indian Catholics who have integrated yoga successfully into a purely Catholic context, some in the Malankara rite, for example, which is in communion with Rome.
Discernment, purpose, and context are key. Why, and where, are you doing yoga? St. Paul wrote about meat sacrificed to idols, did not say “don’t eat the meat, it’s forever contaminated with evil spirits,” but “go ahead and eat the meat because they are false gods, not real, just don’t go to the temple to eat it, because then you look like you’re participating in worship of false gods. Buy it in the marketplace and take it home.” I think the same principle can apply to yoga.
I’d probably advise most Catholics first of all not to do yoga unless you know your faith well and have a good health reason for it. DON’T do it for spiritual reasons or think for one minute it has spiritual benefits, because it doesn’t. Sin is our spiritual problem, and yoga doesn’t solve that. DON’T, DON’T, do it in Church! That is silly!
If you do it, avoid yoga studios that have any kind of spiritual teaching going on. Look for a gym or class that offers just the physical practice. If you feel competent enough, you can also find DVDs made by good teachers (I have several) that avoid the spiritual stuff and focus on the physical practice. Then you can do it at home, where you have control over your environment and don’t give the appearance of practicing non-Catholic spirituality. And study your faith, get to know it better all the time! That will give you great discernment.
And if a little spiritual or philosophical stuff sneaks into a class or DVD, ignore it, laugh at it, mock it (Satan hates to be mocked). Reclaim the body for Christ, focus on the physical poses, and if you want to do something spiritual, focus on Christ, and love Him.
Some Hindu gurus say that if you don’t do the spiritual stuff along with the poses, then you’re not doing yoga. Okay, great! Then we’re just doing a healthy system of physical exercise, and it is safe. We just need to come up with a different name for it.
Again, this is just my opinion. Hope it helps.
1 Corinthians 10:25-26, 31 *Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” … So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. *
