Yoga and R.C. School

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My daughter just started Catholic school this year. She is in the 6th grade, and since the beginning of the year they have had 2 assemblies on yoga. I’m surprised & disappointed because I thought yoga was based on Hinduism. The school even taught meta “prayer”. Does the R.C. have an official teaching or doctrine on the practice of yoga. I just think this may be a case of ignorance on the school’s part and I want to provide the school with the truth. :confused:
 
Yoga, as far as body weight exercises and stretching are concerned are fine ways of keeping fit.

Now, if they add chanting (which are usually the names of demons) that is bad and something has to be done to put a stop to it.

There are some forms of Yoga that are actually British Calisthenic exercises that the Yogis copied when India was a British Colony.
 
The physical aspects of yoga are essentially stretching and stuff, as already noted.

However, dependant on the system of yoga (there are a myriad) there is generally a whole way of looking at the world and a philosophy that goes along with it, which are based on one or other of the Hindu schools of philosophy.

Metta is a Buddhist concept, but one that has been appropriated by the New Age movement.

My advice to you would be to get more information, but be prepared to not get much, as many teachers of yoga know little more than a concocted philosophy. (What I am trying to say is that sometimes what is taught as “yoga” is not even recognisable to Indian practitioners.)
 
Something I have noticed about institutions teaching yoga, mindfulness, relaxed meditation etc., is that they tend to make a huge effort to remove the “spiritual” aspects, essentially sterilizing the practice or technique. What then happens is that folks are left a little wanting. These pratices revolve around a spirituality, a very dangerous one for Christians as it teaches an opposing mindset.

Yoga is great for the body, but not so much for the soul. Remember that it was developed as a physical accompaniment to a prayerful meditation, bridging the body mind and soul. I bet if you were to drop in on the yoga class, they would be playing a type of meditative music and told to concentrate (meditate) on certain things.

Here is a great letter from the CODF on these topics.
 
I have heard that the postions used are sitting positions of gods even if the other things mentioned in previous posts are not present in the class, the postions could be of danger.

Here is a site to some books on the subject.
lhla.org/search.php
You could do a search on EWTN’s audio library and other libraries for futher information.
 
blossom02 said:
I have heard that the postions used are sitting positions of gods even if the other things mentioned in previous posts are not present in the class, the postions could be of danger.
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I studied Hindu and Buddhist understandings about yoga, and can appreciate what you mean, specifically I think you could be referring to ideas common to mudra and tantra. However, my question as a Catholic is, if we consider such things to be indicative of “Gods”, are we not being superstitious in a way contrary to our Catholic faith?

My only concern with yoga ever now is in its explanation. Unwittingly we can taken “too much” from the yogic systems of the East, and, without meaning to, import concepts and philosophies that are at odds with a Catholic or Christian world-view.
 
TMC said:
In what way?
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I don’t know alot about it but this is what I have heard. I would do some research on the subject. Learn from those that have studied Yoga. I know Johnnette Benkovic has done writing on the subject. Father Mitch Pacwa has also spoke on this subject.

Here is a link to a few talks that may include some of the information you are looking for:

ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/searchprog.asp
 
markadm said:
My only concern with yoga ever now is in its explanation. Unwittingly we can taken “too much” from the yogic systems of the East, and, without meaning to, import concepts and philosophies that are at odds with a Catholic or Christian world-view.
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I think the answer is a bit different for Indian and the typical Westerner. For the Westerner yoga is an exciting novelty; either as completely harmless as any other fashion if not taken seriously, deeply dangerous if real hopes are invested in it. For an Indian it is something he understands, and won’t completely reject. Great religions like Hinduism have some truth in them, after all, and he can sift this from the aspects of his culture he must challenge; in fact he must sift it, because he cannot totally isolate himself from Indian life.
 
The physical aspect of it is alrite, but not the spiritual chanting part (i don’t know what’s the chant about) but is not encourage.

I had a frez’s son whom practise Chinese Tai Chi, too need to chant some kind of stuff (don’t know what) in the end, he suffered from terrible spiritual warfare…and so my frez (whom aim a christian) thoughts it was becoz of christianity practise…blar…blar, stop her son from going to church. So now her son is ok, and thus she detest christianity alot…

Thus is better to be careful then to be sorry later on…
 
Having an unfortunately long past history with hinduism, yoga, new age, buddhism, etc., I would like to add my :twocents:

While the physical stretching exercises of yoga superficially appear benign, the entire system is based on a philosophy which is not compatible with Christianity. If one studies yoga more deeply, one encounters consistant expressions of various hindu deities, who are claimed to have juristiction over various energies and nerves, etc. These hindu deities are not our God.

I believe it’s impossible to separate what we in the “west” think of as “yoga” from it’s roots - which are deeply embeded in the hindu religion.

In my experience I’ve encountered not one American Yoga studio that did not - at some point - introduce mantras, hindu deity concepts and such to their students.

Also, as stated above, Metta is a buddhist concept - which translates fairly well as “loving kindness.” Because buddhism is, essentially, atheistic - the person is reliant on their own actions, for their “spiritual” growth and ultimate “soul-liberation.” (Not exact, but that’s the best I can put it so it makes sense.)

In buddhism there is no reliance on God. Actually, in buddhism, essentially, there is no God. There is no Salvation Economy. There is no Heaven, Savior, or Community of Saints. Oh, and there is no Holy Spirit. So buddhism’s tenents of faith (so to speak) are based on a philosophy that is is in direct conflict with Christianity.

We Christians rely on God’s grace and mercy. We rely on Jesus’ teachings and demonstrations of compassion. We do not need to add Metta prayer-mediations to our Faith.

Our faith is whole and complete as it is - especially as it is held within the doctrines and sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church.

So the Metta prayer-meditations should be stopped immediately as well.

Frankly, I it’s my experience-based opinion that because of the basic belief systems of hinduism and buddhism, toying with any of this stuff - for any reason, even with the best of intentions - is fraught with peril.

MMR
 
Michael_Mary said:
Having an unfortunately long past history with hinduism, yoga, new age, buddhism, etc., I would like to add my :twocents:

While the physical stretching exercises of yoga superficially appear benign, the entire system is based on a philosophy which is not compatible with Christianity. If one studies yoga more deeply, one encounters consistant expressions of various hindu deities, who are claimed to have juristiction over various energies and nerves, etc. These hindu deities are not our God.

I believe it’s impossible to separate what we in the “west” think of as “yoga” from it’s roots - which are deeply embeded in the hindu religion.

In my experience I’ve encountered not one American Yoga studio that did not - at some point - introduce mantras, hindu deity concepts and such to their students.

Also, as stated above, Metta is a buddhist concept - which translates fairly well as “loving kindness.” Because buddhism is, essentially, atheistic - the person is reliant on their own actions, for their “spiritual” growth and ultimate “soul-liberation.” (Not exact, but that’s the best I can put it so it makes sense.)

In buddhism there is no reliance on God. Actually, in buddhism, essentially, there is no God. There is no Salvation Economy. There is no Heaven, Savior, or Community of Saints. Oh, and there is no Holy Spirit. So buddhism’s tenents of faith (so to speak) are based on a philosophy that is is in direct conflict with Christianity.

We Christians rely on God’s grace and mercy. We rely on Jesus’ teachings and demonstrations of compassion. We do not need to add Metta prayer-mediations to our Faith.

Our faith is whole and complete as it is - especially as it is held within the doctrines and sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church.

So the Metta prayer-meditations should be stopped immediately as well.

Frankly, I it’s my experience-based opinion that because of the basic belief systems of hinduism and buddhism, toying with any of this stuff - for any reason, even with the best of intentions - is fraught with peril.

MMR
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The above may be a problem for those who GO to studios and DO the metta prayer-meditations.

I learned my poses from books and videos which I no longer use and which didn’t mention prayer or meditation any way. And I do specifically Catholic prayer and meditation, if I do anything (often I don’t), whie doing the poses.

I do not believe the poses are harmful when done in this way - otherwise every baby who touches its toes (which is one pose) or stands on tiptoe (which is another) is opening themselves up to demonic influences, since I do no different (certainly nothing more Hindu) than they would.
 
Yes, LilyM … those adults who are strong in their faith can use the physical exercises of yoga to limber-up their bodies.

But the topic is about innocent children. And children are not able to discern the differences between apparencies and actualities.

AND … well, most adults don’t have enough information to do so either.

I see that you state you’re be a Catholic, yet involved with yoga. So, ultimately any response I give will be filtered through your personal ideas of being Catholic.

However, I stand by my many years of experience-based opinions.

If we play with things outside of our incredibly widespread Christian Church-approved devotions, and exercises, we are at risk.

There are now a number of purly physically-oriented stretching and strength-enhancing prograns available that do not include the potential dangers of yoga-involvement.

To me - and this is based on YEARS of experience - it’s better to rely on the awesome graces of the Church than even expose ourselfs to the foilbles and potential spiritual horrors that can come from playing around with non-Christian modalities.

But then, I’m a “Rabid Cathoic” - or some folks would say …

And the Rabid Catholic of me says … “pheh.”

But the real parts of me say …

God Bless You.

MMR
 
Everything we as Catholics do is borrowed from Paganism. The Hierarchical Structure, the statues, the buildings, the Liturgical Cycles, need I go on…?

The Church has canonized pagan things and made them holy. Just because it comes from a pagan source, doesn’t mean it’s bad. Otherwise you’d better stop going to the doctor since all the medical disciplines were started by pagans.
 
Volodymyr, we must remember that the physical exercises (the external nature) of yoga are based on a completely different philosophy, completely different world-view (the internal nature). As such, Hindu/Buddhist philosophy is incompatible with Christianity generally.

Though I do agree that we could borrow some of the physiological techniques, if not entire asanas.
 
And medicine was based on the pagan belief of the 4 humors.

Everything, except Judaism, is based on Paganism!

As I wrote above, there are forms of Yoga that are exactly what the Yogis observed by watching British Calisthenics.
 
Catholisim is based on Judaism not on a pagan religion. Catholisim is the fullfillment of Judaism.
 
blossom02 said:
I don’t know alot about it but this is what I have heard. I would do some research on the subject. Learn from those that have studied Yoga. I know Johnnette Benkovic has done writing on the subject. Father Mitch Pacwa has also spoke on this subject.

Here is a link to a few talks that may include some of the information you are looking for:

ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/searchprog.asp
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This is the best advice. Johnnette and Father Pacwa have very strong opinions in these areas; see what the experts/authors say. Johnette has had guests who talk about subjects like yoga, its roots, etc. The OP mentioned “prayer” which is the biggest red flag!
 
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