Yoga - not just a benign exercise!

[RCconvert7]

How am I “ambushing” anyone? This is how theology works. If you make a theological or moral position, you need to be prepared to defend it with the writings of the magesterium. That’s all I’m asking.

Also, does anyone know who the author of C&V might be?

Is this person a theologian? A member of the clergy?

 

[Alexander_Roman]

Well, it is true that Asian Christians do practice forms of Yoga and Zen meditation based on Christian faith (in Japan, they even have “Zen Christian” temples). Thomas Merton practiced Eastern meditation in the lotus position etc. There is the Syriac/Indian Catholic monastery “Kurisumala Ashram” (Vagamon, 685 503 Kerala, India).

I wouldn’t have any reservation about doing Yoga or Zen within a Christian context. But I have taken a course in Yoga and wanted to share my experience with it - without generalizing.

I found the Yoga exercises to be challenging, but also healthful. They relaxed me and actually did put me in the “mood” for meditation and prayer.

However, I didn’t like the subtle and not-so-subtle teachings on Hinduism that I and others were being subjected to throughout the time we were struggling to hold a pose (and the Yoga was offered through a parish church and was held in the parish basement . . .).

When the Yoga instructor (a very pious Hindu/Buddhist apparently intent on making converts) began to relate the story of his friend, a former Catholic priest who became a Buddhist and a seller of all things Hindu/Buddhist, I had to step back.

He would go on about how his mother cried at the former priest’s funeral that her son had left the Church and his vocation etc. His attitude was an unabashedly triumphalist one - the woman’s son had “found the true way” and “get used to the idea.”

He and I would “talk shop” at times and when he discussed the Buddhist prayer beads, I would tell him about the Jesus Prayer and the Hail Mary Rosary (which he was aware of anyway). After a while, whenever he mentioned a Hindu/Buddhist practice, he would (for my benefit, it seemed) include a Christian/Catholic practice that resonated with it, just to show he was “ecumenical” .

I was just uncomfortable with what were perceived jabs at Christianity so I left.

In no way is this a criticism of the practices followed by Asian Christians of all denominations in their effort to inculturate the Christian message in that milieu, in response to our Lord’s command to “teach all nations . . .”

As an aside, I once saw a large cross in a (Japanese) friend’s home with an image of the Buddha on it.

In the 19th century, when Christianity was banned from Japan, Japanese police, in their efforts to smoke out remaining Christians, took crosses and placed them on the ground. They then made suspected Christians spit on it in hopes that those who refused to would reveal themselves as Christians and would then be put to death.

Christians however began to place images of a Buddha on their crosses so as to remove this weapon from the hands of the police. The Buddha represented the “Enlightened One” and in that instance it represented also the “Enlightener” Who is Christ.

Christians in Asia will represent Christ as a Sage and sitting in the lotus position.

FYI, in Orthodox Christian Georgia, an entire area of 100,000+ men, women and children were beheaded and tossed into the nearby river as they walked passed two Icons of Christ and the Mother of God while being ordered to spit at them. None of them would do it, so all of them died (they are commemorated as Martyrs in the Georgian Orthodox Church and so should be by all Christians).

This practice was also followed in the time of the Catholic Templars. A group of 80 Templars taken prisoner after the Battle of Hatteen were marched before a Cross with orders to spit at it. None of them did and all of them were beheaded - true Martyrs as well. When the time comes and the (true) Templar legacy is reconciled with the Church, perhaps these Templar Martyrs may find their way to the honours of the altar as well.

Alex

 

[jewells17]

Well, it is true that Asian Christians do practice forms of Yoga and Zen meditation based on Christian faith (in Japan, they even have “Zen Christian” temples). Thomas Merton practiced Eastern meditation in the lotus position etc. There is the Syriac/Indian Catholic monastery “Kurisumala Ashram” (Vagamon, 685 503 Kerala, India).

I wouldn’t have any reservation about doing Yoga or Zen within a Christian context. But I have taken a course in Yoga and wanted to share my experience with it - without generalizing.

I found the Yoga exercises to be challenging, but also healthful. They relaxed me and actually did put me in the “mood” for meditation and prayer.

However, I didn’t like the subtle and not-so-subtle teachings on Hinduism that I and others were being subjected to throughout the time we were struggling to hold a pose (and the Yoga was offered through a parish church and was held in the parish basement . . .).

When the Yoga instructor (a very pious Hindu/Buddhist apparently intent on making converts) began to relate the story of his friend, a former Catholic priest who became a Buddhist and a seller of all things Hindu/Buddhist, I had to step back.

He would go on about how his mother cried at the former priest’s funeral that her son had left the Church and his vocation etc. His attitude was an unabashedly triumphalist one - the woman’s son had “found the true way” and “get used to the idea.”

He and I would “talk shop” at times and when he discussed the Buddhist prayer beads, I would tell him about the Jesus Prayer and the Hail Mary Rosary (which he was aware of anyway). After a while, whenever he mentioned a Hindu/Buddhist practice, he would (for my benefit, it seemed) include a Christian/Catholic practice that resonated with it, just to show he was “ecumenical” .

I was just uncomfortable with what were perceived jabs at Christianity so I left.

In no way is this a criticism of the practices followed by Asian Christians of all denominations in their effort to inculturate the Christian message in that milieu, in response to our Lord’s command to “teach all nations . . .”

As an aside, I once saw a large cross in a (Japanese) friend’s home with an image of the Buddha on it.

In the 19th century, when Christianity was banned from Japan, Japanese police, in their efforts to smoke out remaining Christians, took crosses and placed them on the ground. They then made suspected Christians spit on it in hopes that those who refused to would reveal themselves as Christians and would then be put to death.

Christians however began to place images of a Buddha on their crosses so as to remove this weapon from the hands of the police. The Buddha represented the “Enlightened One” and in that instance it represented also the “Enlightener” Who is Christ.

Christians in Asia will represent Christ as a Sage and sitting in the lotus position.

FYI, in Orthodox Christian Georgia, an entire area of 100,000+ men, women and children were beheaded and tossed into the nearby river as they walked passed two Icons of Christ and the Mother of God while being ordered to spit at them. None of them would do it, so all of them died (they are commemorated as Martyrs in the Georgian Orthodox Church and so should be by all Christians).

This practice was also followed in the time of the Catholic Templars. A group of 80 Templars taken prisoner after the Battle of Hatteen were marched before a Cross with orders to spit at it. None of them did and all of them were beheaded - true Martyrs as well. When the time comes and the (true) Templar legacy is reconciled with the Church, perhaps these Templar Martyrs may find their way to the honours of the altar as well.

Alex

Alex…your posting was great! I learned alot from it and found it quite interesting. You could teach history very well.

 

[RCconvert7]

I agree. That’s a great testimony, Alex. It seems to me that if this class occurred at your parish (or any parish, for that matter), that you should be talking to the Pastor about this person. Yoga postures ARE good for balance, stability, and quieting the body for prayer, but clearly, your parish shouldn’t be paying someone to come in and give you a “parable” about a apostate priest, nor offering prayers to Indian gods… Clearly this is an affront to Holy Mother Church and her spouse, Jesus Christ. Talk to that pastor, even if it was a while ago. For all you know, others may not have spoken up, and this person may still be giving classes at that parish.

 

[Alexander_Roman]

Yes, indeed!

While the need for funds to pay for parish bills is always a pressing thing, there should be some standards emmployed in terms of what is allowed to go on in the parish.

The parish priest or another parish committee person whom the priest trusts for their erudition in religious matters could/should attend one of the sessions (even incognito) to see what is going on. It was quite amazing that with all the religious images, and a large Crucifix, in the hall, there was that fellow’s brand of Yoga cum proselytism going on . . . quite disrespectful of the place.

Unfortunately, when I report things like this, I’m told I’m being “oversensitive” especially when the priest is so very “with it” and tells me that I’m not. (We traditionalists get a bad rap, don’t we? ).

I told him I would be quite willing to start a Christian Yoga class, but some people think that Yoga is Yoga. Not in my experience.

I do love the Eastern Christian practice of making prostrations to the floor and then up. 300 such bodily prostrations with prayers are prescribed daily for monastics. Am slowly working up to 50 . . .

And, in fact, the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius Loyola have a number of excellent meditative formats (e.g. taking the word “Father” from the Our Father and thinking on it for an hour etc.). Then there is Lectio Divina.

It is sad that with all these meditative resources in Catholicism there are those who feel they need to go outside the Church and into dangerous situations, often abetted by unknowing local church authorities. It is always best for Christians to do everything within the context of a focus on Christ and the Cross.

In fact, Hinduism has formally declared Jesus to be a “divine avatar” and an “incarnation” of one of their gods (much like what the Roman Emperor Alexander Severus did by including a statue of Christ among his pagan statues).

There are always people who will tell us that they have the real understanding of who Jesus was/is.

One Orthodox priest once wrote that, “ask these people to let us see if their version of Jesus has the marks of the nails, as St Thomas asked to see long ago. If their idea of Jesus does not have them, then that isn’t the real Jesus.”

Have a great Labour/Labor Day weekend!

Alex

 

[jewells17]

Yes, indeed!

While the need for funds to pay for parish bills is always a pressing thing, there should be some standards emmployed in terms of what is allowed to go on in the parish.

The parish priest or another parish committee person whom the priest trusts for their erudition in religious matters could/should attend one of the sessions (even incognito) to see what is going on. It was quite amazing that with all the religious images, and a large Crucifix, in the hall, there was that fellow’s brand of Yoga cum proselytism going on . . . quite disrespectful of the place.

Unfortunately, when I report things like this, I’m told I’m being “oversensitive” especially when the priest is so very “with it” and tells me that I’m not. (We traditionalists get a bad rap, don’t we? ).

I told him I would be quite willing to start a Christian Yoga class, but some people think that Yoga is Yoga. Not in my experience.

I do love the Eastern Christian practice of making prostrations to the floor and then up. 300 such bodily prostrations with prayers are prescribed daily for monastics. Am slowly working up to 50 . . .

And, in fact, the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius Loyola have a number of excellent meditative formats (e.g. taking the word “Father” from the Our Father and thinking on it for an hour etc.). Then there is Lectio Divina.

It is sad that with all these meditative resources in Catholicism there are those who feel they need to go outside the Church and into dangerous situations, often abetted by unknowing local church authorities. It is always best for Christians to do everything within the context of a focus on Christ and the Cross.

In fact, Hinduism has formally declared Jesus to be a “divine avatar” and an “incarnation” of one of their gods (much like what the Roman Emperor Alexander Severus did by including a statue of Christ among his pagan statues).

There are always people who will tell us that they have the real understanding of who Jesus was/is.

One Orthodox priest once wrote that, “ask these people to let us see if their version of Jesus has the marks of the nails, as St Thomas asked to see long ago. If their idea of Jesus does not have them, then that isn’t the real Jesus.”

Have a great Labour/Labor Day weekend!

Alex

Alex…you ight check out www.praisemoves.com not because I am involved with it because I am not. But I do think it’s good to know about what’s out there and some of the alternatives that are coming about. Didn’t read the whole website but will when I have time.
It looked interesting.

 

[phoenixrrt62]

Oh, wow…

Wouldn’t this be something where mentally/physically you could “take what you can use, and ignore the rest?”

If you had a strong enough religious foundation, and you were secure in your faith, why worry-unless you were in a class that was using yoga for more than a secular purpose, I suppose…but then if you were a RC who was happy in your faith, you wouldn’t be going to a class with that intent;0)

 

[Alexander_Roman]

Dear Jewells,

Will do and thank you for the link!

Your servant,

Alex

 

[RCconvert7]

In fact, Hinduism has formally declared Jesus to be a “divine avatar” and an “incarnation” of one of their gods (much like what the Roman Emperor Alexander Severus did by including a statue of Christ among his pagan statues).

There are always people who will tell us that they have the real understanding of who Jesus was/is.

One Orthodox priest once wrote that, “ask these people to let us see if their version of Jesus has the marks of the nails, as St Thomas asked to see long ago. If their idea of Jesus does not have them, then that isn’t the real Jesus.”

If you’d like a WONDERFUL antidote to this thinking, which I was HEAVILY steeped in during my old life, check out the book “Christ the Eternal Tao” by Hieromonk Damascene. While the title sounds like the same kind of drek we’ve been talking about, it is, in actuality, the exact opposite. This book considers Lao Tzu’s “Tao de Ching” in light of the Incarnation. Rather than try to find common ground with the East by diminishing the uniqueness of The Son’s birth, passion, and death, it tries to find common ground with a “reunderstanding” of Taoism as a foretaste of the coming of Jesus Christ, and succeeds in doing it without sacrificing solid Trinitarian and Salvation theology. Pretty amazing. It is written by an Orthodox monk, so there is an emphasis on the diviniation of the human soul, something that is not outside Catholic Theology, but is not emphasized the way it is among Orthodox monastics. Based on your posts, I think you’d find this a very interesting read.

 

[benedictus2]

Yoga is a benign excersize. It’s more than benign, it’s beneficial. I encourage all catholics and non-catholics to try it out.

Yes, it originated in the Hindu religions, but the way it is practiced now is very far removed from that. The fact of the matter is, Indian wise men, over thousands of years, have studied the human body and how it moves. The result is a treasure-trove of information, excersizes, and stretches that are more than benign…they are beneficial. It is a real wisdom passed down over the ages.

Having heard testimonies from different people I would hardly call it benign. It masquerades as being benign.

I would not be surprised if those who are into yoga are into other new agey beliefs masked as being similar to Catholic practices as well.

Whatever wisdom we need is fulfilled in Christ. That is all that is needed.

 

[benedictus2]

Yes, that* brief comment* in Catholic Answer’s This Rock 2001 reflects your thinking and that of some others here on this thread. You must admit, though, that it is a very brief comment, and, there is no evidence of the author of the comment having looked deeply into the issue. Although I agree that the Catholic Answers mag. is a good source.

However, perhaps Catholic Answers has put more thought into the question since 2001, because in 2007, Catholic Answers Live featured guest Susan Brinkmann - (Correspondent for the Catholic Standard and Times which is the newspaper of the archdiocese of Philadelphia; member of third order discalced Carmelites.)

Brinkman said that “EVERY Yoga posture is designed as a position of worship to a Hindu god. …”

Brinkmann also says “Hindu professors laugh at the thought of “Christianizing” Yoga and they say Hinduism is always present in it regardless of what veneer one tries to put on it.”

I found the above info from a writer on Patrick Madrids blog, here, on this page:patrickmadrid.blogspot.com/2010/07/why-is-yoga-incompatible-with.html

This same writer, M. Burns, points out:

.** [it is interesting to note that St. Justin Martyr, in his First Apology, states that pagan gods are actually demons!*]

I think St. Justin Martyr is someone to listen to, particularly since he learned from the St. John the evangelist. And it is from their experience with* spiritual warfare* that Benkovich and Gigante and others say that Catholic should stay away from ALL yoga classes.

I guess if you think spiritual warfare is nothing to be concerned about these days this won’t bother you (and it you think that, you must have your head in the sand). I know that Benkovich and those speaking against yoga know way more about spiritual warfare than I do, so I listen to them.

M. Burns mentions other venerable Catholics who speak against it, and gives links. Here they are:

Moira Noonan - (Revert to Catholicism who used to be HEAVILY involved in the New Age Movement and had actual occult powers. She had to be delivered of several demons of the occult.) Her article on Yoga is at spiritbattleforsouls.org/id36.html

Anne Feaster - She has two articles on Yoga on her Web site, swordoflightandtruth.org (click on Articles & Newsletters in the sidebar).

Clare Merkle - Her article Yoga: Health or Stealth is found at crossveil.org/page7.html.

So how can anyone in good conscience ignore these voices? Only people who don’t think, or don’t want to think, in my opinion.

These are thoughful and convincing reason why you should avoid yoga, and they are given by venerable Catholics that I want to be more like. I would think if you were doing yoga, you would read them thoughtfully - unless you didn’t *want *to know the truth, that is. But the truth exists, and stays the same, whether you want to know it or not.

*** 1 Corinthians 10:21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. ***

Good post.

I was sitting at the train station a couple of weeks ago reading Fr Amorths book on Exorcism. A lady sitting next to me asked if it was about deliverance.
We introduced ourselves and she said she was protestant and was part of a deliverance ministry.

We started talking about posession and new age stuff and I told her about Clare Merkle’ story and she said: “Me too. It all started with what I thought was quite innocent - yoga.” Then she told me of how from there it progressed to all other kinds of new age practices and finally to a real encounter with the devil.

The point that Claire Merkle McGrath makes is very important. While you are in it the forces are seemingly benign. She did not feel its evil power until she actually tried to escape from its clutches.

As Genesis says: the serpent is the most subtle of all creatures.

 

[jewells17]

Having heard testimonies from different people I would hardly call it benign. It masquerades as being benign.

I would not be surprised if those who are into yoga are into other new agey beliefs masked as being similar to Catholic practices as well.

Whatever wisdom we need is fulfilled in Christ. That is all that is needed.

 

[jewells17]

Having heard testimonies from different people I would hardly call it benign. It masquerades as being benign.

I would not be surprised if those who are into yoga are into other new agey beliefs masked as being similar to Catholic practices as well.

Whatever wisdom we need is fulfilled in Christ. That is all that is needed.

Fantastic post! And if you google long enough…you can find the article by Orthodox Hindu’s and they tell how offended they are that the west has done this to their religion. I think it’s called “Reclaiming Yoga”…but not sure. It was a great article from their perspective.

 

[benedictus2]

Well, it is true that Asian Christians do practice forms of Yoga and Zen meditation based on Christian faith (in Japan, they even have “Zen Christian” temples). Thomas Merton practiced Eastern meditation in the lotus position etc. There is the Syriac/Indian Catholic monastery “Kurisumala Ashram” (Vagamon, 685 503 Kerala, India).

I wouldn’t have any reservation about doing Yoga or Zen within a Christian context. But I have taken a course in Yoga and wanted to share my experience with it - without generalizing.

I found the Yoga exercises to be challenging, but also healthful. They relaxed me and actually did put me in the “mood” for meditation and prayer.

However, I didn’t like the subtle and not-so-subtle teachings on Hinduism that I and others were being subjected to throughout the time we were struggling to hold a pose (and the Yoga was offered through a parish church and was held in the parish basement . . .).

Aah yes, the serpent is the most subtle of all the creatures.

He and I would “talk shop” at times and when he discussed the Buddhist prayer beads, I would tell him about the Jesus Prayer and the Hail Mary Rosary (which he was aware of anyway). After a while, whenever he mentioned a Hindu/Buddhist practice, he would (for my benefit, it seemed) include a Christian/Catholic practice that resonated with it, just to show he was “ecumenical” .

An attempt to make you comfortable and thereby easier to manipulate.

As an aside, I once saw a large cross in a (Japanese) friend’s home with an image of the Buddha on it.

In the 19th century, when Christianity was banned from Japan, Japanese police, in their efforts to smoke out remaining Christians, took crosses and placed them on the ground. They then made suspected Christians spit on it in hopes that those who refused to would reveal themselves as Christians and would then be put to death.

Christians however began to place images of a Buddha on their crosses so as to remove this weapon from the hands of the police. The Buddha represented the “Enlightened One” and in that instance it represented also the “Enlightener” Who is Christ.

Christians in Asia will represent Christ as a Sage and sitting in the lotus position.

FYI, in Orthodox Christian Georgia, an entire area of 100,000+ men, women and children were beheaded and tossed into the nearby river as they walked passed two Icons of Christ and the Mother of God while being ordered to spit at them. None of them would do it, so all of them died (they are commemorated as Martyrs in the Georgian Orthodox Church and so should be by all Christians).

This practice was also followed in the time of the Catholic Templars. A group of 80 Templars taken prisoner after the Battle of Hatteen were marched before a Cross with orders to spit at it. None of them did and all of them were beheaded - true Martyrs as well. When the time comes and the (true) Templar legacy is reconciled with the Church, perhaps these Templar Martyrs may find their way to the honours of the altar as well.

Alex

This part of your post I found really interesting: the sell off ( Buddha on the Cross and Christ in Lotus Position) juxtaposed against authentic Christian witness ( Georgian Orthodox and the Templars).

And this is what makes for very bad corrupt theology.

The Buddha is not and will never, ever be Christ.

Christ is not just the enlightened one. He is the Enlightenment itself. Christ is the God incarnate. He is not just one guru among many guru’s. He is the Son of the Living God.

Anything else is syncretism and a corruption of authentic Christian doctrine.

 

[cjforJesus]

The serpent power of kundalini is very real , and yoga positions are specifically designed to arouse it.Once it is aroused then you have opened yourself up to demonic influences and will suffer the consequences. It may seem benign and just another form of enlightenment,but Jesus said HE is the way the truth and the life ,and no one comes to the Father but by Him.

 

[cjforJesus]

symptoms of kundalini arousal: heat or ice-cold currents moving up the spine, and in most cases, reaching the head.

Sometimes a feeling of air bubbles or snake movement up through the body up to the head.

Pains in varying locations throughout the body.

Titillation of the genital area, spine, or head.

Tension or stiffness in the neck, and headaches.

Vibrations, unease, or cramps in legs and other parts of the body.

Fast pulse and increased metabolism.

Sensitivity to sound, light, smell, and the proximity of other people.

Orgasm-like sensations in different places in the body, or total cosmic orgasms.

Mystical/religious experiences, revelations, and/or cosmic glimpses.

parapsychological abilities. Light phenomena in or outside the body.

Problems with finding the balance between strong sexual urges, and a wish to live in sublime purity.

Persistent anxiety or anxiety attacks, due to lack of understanding of what is going on.

 

[Vixit]

Simply because yoga was invented by Hindus doesn’t mean practicing it is acknowledging Hindu beliefs. The exercises are great for people like myself, who have bad backs and need better core strength but also need low-impact workouts. I took it as my Phys ed class in college, and there was absolutely no mention of religion or anything.

 

[Grateful_Soul]

Simply because yoga was invented by Hindus doesn’t mean practicing it is acknowledging Hindu beliefs…

You are right, practicing it does not mean you acknowledge the Hindu beliefs, BUT, it does mean that you are using, for whatever reason, poses that are meant as worship to false gods. You might call them exercise but yoga masters call them poses. That’s becasue they are poses of worship to false gods, demons! This is the fact that has to be recognized no matter what your opinion of the physical benefits you might have felt you derived from the poses. They are not exercies, they are poses meant for worshipping the many, many false gods. When you deliberately assume one of the poses you are participating in the worship of a demon for that is actually what the poses are, not exercises, poses of worship to false gods!

You can say, but, I don’t beleive that way, I don’t have that intention. It doesn’t matter, Satan would rather have you ignorant and drive home in your mind, it’s only exercise that I am doing, I am gaining some good physical benefits and my mind is being opened to spiritual benefits also when in fact He is the father of all lies and is not going to give you facts, only misinformation, misrepresentation as well as the example of other misinformed Catholics who are also using these same worship poses as exercise. Ignorance is not bliss and Satan will use EVERY opportunity to destroy your soul!

It is loving for one Christian to want to give the truth to another using any reasonable means to show the truth. That is why these people who have been delivered from the darkness of pagan practices share their experiences with others. That is why good Catholics like Sue Brinkmann share the truths of the faith concerning these practices that souls may be delivered and others saved from becoming involved in these pagan practices in the first place.

Rejecting the truth is so common to those who have used these poses of false worship and called them exercise. Once you participate, even ignorantly, you are opened up to and bombarded by the demons with lies and misleading people to keep you in the dark and further lead you into darkness. Satan comes only to Kill, Steal and Destroy our soul! That’s his only work! You continuing to assume poses of worship to his demons and to Satan himself only pleases him because he can further draw you away from the truth as you are slowly indoctrinated with the lies that cause you difficulty in hearing, beleiving and understanding truth when someone does present it to you! Remember these are poses of worship of demons, false gods, NOT exercises!

To me this is not hard to understand, but to someone who has participated and staunchly defends his continued participation I see that the lies of Satan have already begun to take root and darken the ability to discern TRUTH!

There is really no reason for anyone to need these poses. There are many good exercises that are not poses designed for the worship of demons. Walking is one of the best and it actually helps bring order in the body. It’s safe and Jesus Himself walked most everywhere He went while on earth. There is really no reason, no matter what your health, that you need to use poses of false worship as exercises.

Also someone said accidentally forming your body in one of the poses would be practicing yoga and offend God. No, I disagree with that. The actual practice of deliberatly assuming the different poses is a deliberate act of the will to use these pagan god worship poses as exercise. Accidentally getting into one of those poses does not involve the deliberate act of my will to form my body in one of the hundreds of poses, it is simply that, an accident and God is not a taskmaster, He is a loving God and will not hold that accident against us.

But continuing to use the poses, plus knowing and being warned now takes you from ignorance and makes you responsible to stop using these poses. They are what they are and you cannot claim ignorance anymore. But you can stop doing these poses, renounce the practice of yoga, confess your knowledge of it and from now on avoid the practice of these poses so that you no longer put your soul at risk by using poses of worship to demons. God will heal your soul, bring His grace down upon you and aid you in discerning what else must be done to “clean up” the mess that Satan had been able to manifest in your life by your participation in the poses of false worship. But remember, there are still many Catholics who do not accept the truth of what these poses are and will continue to tell you “in their opinon there is nothing wrong with yoga” when you start looking for answers, they will tell you it’s simply exercise. But the TRUTH must be heard and so remember those who have shared their experience, they are sharing the truth, hear them, read their stories and see in their sharing the love of Jesus for your deliverance is nigh! Praise the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost!

We are here to know, love and serve God in this life so that we can be happy with Him in the next. That is why we are here and yoga does not fall in the knowing, loving and serving God as it is worship of the enemy of our souls, Satan and his demons.

May God’s mercy fall upon all who have and/or are participating in yoga or any other pagan practice and show each person the dangers and the way of escape back to the loving arms of the Father!
God bless all!
Grateful Soul

 

[LilyM]

You are right, practicing it does not mean you acknowledge the Hindu beliefs, BUT, it does mean that you are using, for whatever reason, poses that are meant as worship to false gods. You might call them exercise but yoga masters call them poses. That’s becasue they are poses of worship to false gods, demons! This is the fact that has to be recognized no matter what your opinion of the physical benefits you might have felt you derived from the poses. They are not exercies, they are poses meant for worshipping the many, many false gods. When you deliberately assume one of the poses you are participating in the worship of a demon for that is actually what the poses are, not exercises, poses of worship to false gods!

Yes, Hindus MEANT those poses to be worship of false gods.

The cross was MEANT to be an instrument of torture that ended life. December 25 was MEANT to be celebrated as a feast dedicated to the pagan sun god Sol. Decorated trees were MEANT, by pagans, to be worshipped as nature deities. Bridal veils were MEANT as a superstitious custom to ward off evil spirits. Pontifex Maximus was MEANT as a title for the chief of Rome’s pagan priests.

All these things can be and have been transformed. The cross is now a sign of victory over death. December 25 is now the day we celebrate the coming of the Son of God, even though He was most unlikely to have actually been born at the end of December. Decorated trees are now symbols of the season of Christ’s birth. Bridal veils are a symbol of purity and chastity. Pontifex Maximus is an honorific title we use for our Holy Father, St Peter’s successor.

 

[benedictus2]

Yes, Hindus MEANT those poses to be worship of false gods.

The cross was MEANT to be an instrument of torture that ended life. December 25 was MEANT to be celebrated as a feast dedicated to the pagan sun god Sol. Decorated trees were MEANT, by pagans, to be worshipped as nature deities. Bridal veils were MEANT as a superstitious custom to ward off evil spirits. Pontifex Maximus was MEANT as a title for the chief of Rome’s pagan priests.

All these things can be and have been transformed. The cross is now a sign of victory over death. December 25 is now the day we celebrate the coming of the Son of God, even though He was most unlikely to have actually been born at the end of December. Decorated trees are now symbols of the season of Christ’s birth. Bridal veils are a symbol of purity and chastity. Pontifex Maximus is an honorific title we use for our Holy Father, St Peter’s successor.

This is somewhat a valid claim. But notice that the examples you gave were specifically Christianized, reclaimed by Christ or by Christians because after all, nature belongs to God.

There is nowhere any account of Yoga or Hindu practices being reclaimed by the church. If anything, all the go about yoga is secular. And the major pushers of this exercise are anything but solid in their support of magisterial teaching. So no Christianization happening there.

I would recommend to everyone on this thread to read the

JESUS CHRIST
THE BEARER OF THE WATER OF LIFE
A Christian reflection
on the “New Age”

Based on the testimony of quite a lot of people, I would say it is a practice that is un-necessary and may even be dangerous.

With regards Christmas, I used to believe that to.

But Mark Shea set me right. The record of December 25 being associated with Christmas predates its supposedly pagan origins. Mark Shea calls this pseudo knowledge - something that has become part of common belief because everyone assumes it is common belief.