Yoga - not just a benign exercise!

[Sandalwood]

well, just to add here…

I have some dvd’s that are completely without the “religion” aspect and simply do the stretches and strengthening. I do them in my own home. They have helped me tremendously to keep my joints loosened up since being diagnosed with severe rheumatoid arthritis 5 years ago. I am very glad to have the instructor on the dvd’s work me thru the movements so I can keep mobile. I was bedridden for almost 3 months before strong medicines and yoga movements got me up and moving again. It’s not a place I want to go back to. There’s no reason you can’t pray your own prayers during this time, or reflect on the life of Christ. As far as that aspect goes, it is your own choice.

 

[Garyjohn2]

Quote
"Friend, with all due respect to you and Johnette Benkovic and co, Catholicism has adopted and adapted, and incorporated into itself and its worship, more practices that originated in pagan rites and worship than you’ve had hot dinners. Yoga is just one more, and I doubt it is any more dangerous than any of the others. "

This is illogical since the Pontifcal Document has already warned about the use of yoga and other New Age or practices. And because it is a provisional document there will be more that will be published concerning these and other New Age practices. I can’t beleive that it will be given the same adoption as say a wedding ring. I do understand that right now many of these practices are being sanctioned by priests but I feel that is simply because of the lack of information that has been available in the past to the truth of what these practices such as yoga were/are and how they are not in line with Christian tenets.

Many practices that Catholics use are not “approved” so to speak but are adopted. Take the practice of burying a statue of St. Joseph upside down until your house sells. This seems to be superstitious not Christian in practice. What is in line with the teachings of the Church is to call upon the saints for aid through prayers such as a Novena.

If the logic that you propose is used then any false worship or occult practice can be adapted and adopted if it is only cleaned up a bit with say a prayer. Nevermind the practice was and still is a way of worship to false gods (demons) whose head is the Father of all Lies and only come to kill, steal and destroy our souls.

I also understand that the Holy Spirit converts the mind and soul so I will just leave this to prayer. There are many others who have experienced the damaging effects of practicing yoga and their experiences are much more valuable than my simple research. I have already posted links to their books and books that will help us discern so that we remain faithful to our Lord in all things.

Love to you through Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, THE WORD MADE FLESH WHO WALKED AMONG US!
Grateful Soul

Yoga is not a new age practice.

I think all this talk of how catholics should not practice yoga is due to a lack of information.
I have not ever heard of anyone ever being harmed by yoga, if practiced properly. I have heard of many people who have been helped by practicing yoga, and it actually bringing them to more spiritual awareness, and closer to God. This is true for myself as well. The fruits will show its worth.

Personally, I think Satan hates yoga. He does not want people to dwell on spiritual things, does not want people to clear and quite their minds. He wants people to remain stiff and imobile, with toxins building up in their joints and muscles that he does not want them to use…so they feel terrible, and unhealthy, and then eventually draw inward and more selfish, focusing on their own pain and comfort. This in turn makes them feel worse. That’s what happened to me anyways. Maybe we have different ideas of Satan though.

There are many important questions that should be answered before we condemn yoga outright.

Are there other activities that were/are part of pagan worship that we now do regularly? What are they? Why are they acceptable now?

What is the definition of worship? Are modern yoga practitioners worshipping when they stretch? What is required for true worship to be taking place?

 

[Eliza10]

Two words - Common Sense. Sometimes you just have to use your head a figure “things” out for yourself. Some people on the radio think that there is a conspiracy behind every rock (or yoga pose) Be well.

So, you think that Catholic Answers Live wasted all that air time on a person who lacks basic common sense? Hmm, that doesn’t make much common sense to me.

 

[Stylites]

So, you think that Catholic Answers Live wasted all that air time on a person who lacks basic common sense? Hmm, that doesn’t make much common sense to me.

Puritanism says that even being in the near vicinity of something which when engaged in for the wrong reasons or in excess could lead one into sin is a sin in itself. Catholics hold a different view of morally-neutral actions.

Even kneeling in excess or for the wrong reason can be a sin, but we don’t condemn kneeling on that account.

 

[Eliza10]

I think all this talk of how catholics should not practice yoga is due to a lack of information.

No, rather, you are ignoring the excellent information provided in this thread.

I have not ever heard of anyone ever being harmed by yoga, if practiced properly. I have heard of many people who have been helped by practicing yoga, and it actually bringing them to more spiritual awareness, and closer to God. This is true for myself as well. The fruits will show its worth…

I have a friend who dates a lot, and gets in intimate relationships. In between relationships she thinks through the last one and then starts looking for a new one. She is divorced, and this is the lifestyle she has adopted. She finds it healing, exhilerating, makes her more physically fit, gets rid of toxins, makes her more spiritually connected, and that being in love brings her closer to God (and the “universe”). That is her opinion, and its really the opinion of the day. However, that doesn’t make it right.

And the last thing she wants from me is an explanation of why that is not God’s plan. She knows that my differing lifestyle has to do with being Catholic, something she has rejected for “spirituality” (as you refer to it). She decidedly avoids the topic with me. I can tell you, she does NOT want to know whether God wants her doing this or not. She would rather instead just go with what seems right to her, and her own experience. Kind of just like you and yoga. You and my friend think a lot alike, actually.

 

[Eliza10]

And then perhaps that is the answer to my question… The POSTURE is the position of worship… so the postures should be avoided… Even under the guise of Pilates, or stretching or resting.

This is what YOU say. * I* am not advocating scrupulosity. Wiser and holier Catholics who are experienced in spiritual warfare say to avoid yoga classes. But they are not reccommending the type of excess scrupulosity that you suggest here.

Whether you care to listen to those who are well-versed in Catholicism and Yoga depends on what you are interested in. A common thread with all the linked speakers is that they want to grow in holiness. I want that too.

 

[Miserys_Fence]

I work with an awful lot of Hindus, so I thought since we are to avoid Yoga as something that Hindus do, I could help out with a more comprehensive list of Hindu behaviors that we as Christians should avoid:

Eating
Sleeping
Using computers
Watching TV
Mowing the lawn
Walking
Breathing
Marrying
Having children
Owning property
Wearing clothes
Working for a living

There’s lots more, but this should be a good start.

Miz

 

[Eliza10]

Listening to those that are older, wiser, and “holier” (I put this in quotes because I am generally opposed to the idea of any human claiming any degree of holiness, or even attempting to objectively compare holiness when compared to Christ’s ocean we couldn’t hope to fill a thimble) is generally a good thing yes…

Its an *excellent *thing. I agree, it would be a red light if someone claims to be holier or wiser than you! But “Holier” comes with humility, so holier people don’t claim their own holiness.

On top of that the idea that anyone here should submit to a non-authoritative Catholic teaching that we see no reason to when many of us know people, such as priests, in positions of authority who have expressed no qualms with it, and perhaps even permitted it to go on with church facilities is silly.

Nobody here on this thread is asking you to submit to anyone’s teachings. Certainly not. I personally am suggesting that its foolish or stubborn to be involved in a practice that has been put into question for Catholics and not give a listen, with an open mind, to wise, informed Catholics who have something to say on the matter. Especially when said lay Catholics are likely more informed on the topic than your local parish priest (or, if your diocese is like mine, it might be “the woman who runs your parish”).

If I am to grow in wisdom then I need the reason and not simply the command.

Always! And when the Church does explicitly command a hard thing, there is full explanation available! You can study any matter till it makes sense (in my opinion, it always does!). As to other matters, like yoga practice, that are not explicitly commanded, I think it is spiritual slothful for one not to consider what reputable informed Catholics have to say about it – if its an issue in your life, that is.

If the practice of secular Yoga is somehow sinful for Catholics then I would be obligated as a Catholic to notify fellow Catholics of this and be capable of explaining it to them.

That would be good. Though, you can’t always persuade with the truth because often people are married to their own way of seeings things, particularly when they are personally invested in a thing, and they really don’t WANT to know what God wants on a thing. So, they can turn on you, and call you names (like they did to Jesus). But sharing the truth is good.

So far no reasoning that fits with Church teachings or my understanding of sin has been offered.

Then you must not have looked at any of the links provided. Perhaps its not an issue in your life; you don’t practice yoga yourself?

After all wine is a pretty big part of both Catholic and secular culture, and trying to claim that the simple use of it is sinful would be condemning Christ himself. Yet we can not deny that alcohol brings occasion for sin.

But there are no informed reputable Catholics anywhere saying all Catholics should avoid alcohol.
PatrickSebast;6985895...[the Church:

they feel the use of things such certain exercise methods (yoga) or fiction books (Harry Potter, Davinci Code) are best left to the conscience of the individual,

We are responsible for having informed consciences.

so those saying it doesn’t feel wrong or corrupting are thinking more like Catholics than you think.

I think those saying it doesn’t feel wrong are just saying what it feels like to them.

 

[Eliza10]

I work with an awful lot of Hindus, so I thought since we are to avoid Yoga as something that Hindus do, I could help out with a more comprehensive list of Hindu behaviors that we as Christians should avoid:

Eating
Sleeping
Using computers
Watching TV
Mowing the lawn
Walking
Breathing
Marrying
Having children
Owning property
Wearing clothes
Working for a living

There’s lots more, but this should be a good start.

Miz

Its a good list. Because we are asked to find points of agreement with people. To see the good, and affirm it. Look at how much we have in common with Hindus. There is a lot of common ground here for respectful friendship. However if you attended worship with the Hindus, I assume you would be respectfully observing, not participating.

 

[Eliza10]

Puritanism says that even being in the near vicinity of something which when engaged in for the wrong reasons or in excess could lead one into sin is a sin in itself. Catholics hold a different view of morally-neutral actions.

Even kneeling in excess or for the wrong reason can be a sin, but we don’t condemn kneeling on that account.

I think you addressed this comment to me, but I honestly am not seeing what your point is. Sorry. (I guess you could explain it more if its important to you to be understood).

 

[Eliza10]

well, just to add here…

I have some dvd’s that are completely without the “religion” aspect and simply do the stretches and strengthening. I do them in my own home. They have helped me tremendously to keep my joints loosened up since being diagnosed with severe rheumatoid arthritis 5 years ago. I am very glad to have the instructor on the dvd’s work me thru the movements so I can keep mobile. I was bedridden for almost 3 months before strong medicines and yoga movements got me up and moving again. It’s not a place I want to go back to. There’s no reason you can’t pray your own prayers during this time, or reflect on the life of Christ. As far as that aspect goes, it is your own choice.

That certainly seems sensible. Personally, if I were in your shoes, this is what I would do. [and sorry, I know you didn’t ask!] If yoga was a regular practice of mine, I would listen closely with an open mind to what good informed Catholics have to say about yoga (I Iinked some good ones in this thread). I would try to keep my mind open to God, to see if this information is something he wanted me to act on, even if I didn’t immediately feel so moved. And I would begin researching tapes on stretching or dance stretching or Pilates, to see if these were good alternatives for me, in case I felt God wanted me to put yoga away.

 

[faithfully]

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.”

No, That’s not what I SAY… It’s what YOU quoted… please read above… EVERY yoga posture is designed as a position of worship to a Hindu god…"

So… Please explain… Is it the POSTURE??? Or is it doing the posture while calling it yoga… Based on your comprehension of what this woman says?

Because the posture exists in many other forms of exercise…

So bascially, could one pick and choose 10 postures and call it stretching??? Or Pilates as is actually true… Is it OK/safe to do these postures, based on your interpretation of the quote you offer, If they aren’t going through some official form of yoga practice?

It may seem like I’m splitting hairs here… but it’s important. Because the Hindus “laugh” at doing the postures and calling it something else… So, it seems they would laugh very hard at a person doing certain pilates exercises thinking they are doing something that some German Boxer designed… when it’s REALLY a worship of their god, and theirfore, and invitation of a demon to enter your body???

So… HELP ME OUT HERE… What is being said EXACTLY?.. That one can’t assume the posture under any name??? Or one shouldn’t go to a Yoga class, and assume the same posture???

Also, in reading the vatican article… it seems the approach they are discussing has NOTHING to do with exercise, and more to do with ones approach to “spirituality”… Which then is absolutely an issue. Because if your spirituality as a Catholic isn’t based in the church, then it’s ALL wrong…

 

[LilyM]

No, That’s not what I SAY… It’s what YOU quoted… please read above… EVERY yoga posture is designed as a position of worship to a Hindu god…"

So… Please explain… Is it the POSTURE??? Or is it doing the posture while calling it yoga… Based on your comprehension of what this woman says?

Because the posture exists in many other forms of exercise…

So bascially, could one pick and choose 10 postures and call it stretching??? Or Pilates as is actually true… Is it OK/safe to do these postures, based on your interpretation of the quote you offer, If they aren’t going through some official form of yoga practice?

It may seem like I’m splitting hairs here… but it’s important. Because the Hindus “laugh” at doing the postures and calling it something else… So, it seems they would laugh very hard at a person doing certain pilates exercises thinking they are doing something that some German Boxer designed… when it’s REALLY a worship of their god, and theirfore, and invitation of a demon to enter your body???

So… HELP ME OUT HERE… What is being said EXACTLY?.. That one can’t assume the posture under any name??? Or one shouldn’t go to a Yoga class, and assume the same posture???

Also, in reading the vatican article… it seems the approach they are discussing has NOTHING to do with exercise, and more to do with ones approach to “spirituality”… Which then is absolutely an issue. Because if your spirituality as a Catholic isn’t based in the church, then it’s ALL wrong…

One exercise I vividly remember when I was doing yoga, which I used to have an interest in although I don’t any more, consists quite simply of sitting on the floor with your legs in front of you and stretching until you can touch your toes with your fingers.

Dancers do this and similar stretches all the time.

By the original poster’s logic, I can only conclude that they are thus opening themselves up to diabolical influence, since it seems to be the actual position of the body that matters rather than anything else associated with the practice.

As the poster has indicated that whatever mental elements may or may not be present - even should they be overtly and specifically Catholic such as praying the Rosary while adopting the postures - will not negate the evils of the particular bodily poses.

Heaven help anyone who accidentally contorts their body into a yoga pose while asleep!

 

[Eliza10]

No, That’s not what I SAY… It’s what YOU quoted… please read above… EVERY yoga posture is designed as a position of worship to a Hindu god…"

I was responding to what you said about that. You said, “And then perhaps that is the answer to my question… The POSTURE is the position of worship… so the postures should be avoided… Even under the guise of Pilates, or stretching or resting.”

Perhaps I understood you wrong, but it seems to me that you were concluding that we have to examine other disciplines like Pilates, and see if they have a yoga posture incorporated, and leave that out. So I was suggesting that was being too scrupulous.

So… Please explain… Is it the POSTURE??? Or is it doing the posture while calling it yoga… Based on your comprehension of what this woman says?

Because the posture exists in many other forms of exercise…

So bascially, could one pick and choose 10 postures and call it stretching??? Or Pilates as is actually true… Is it OK/safe to do these postures, based on your interpretation of the quote you offer, If they aren’t going through some official form of yoga practice?

It may seem like I’m splitting hairs here… but it’s important. Because the Hindus “laugh” at doing the postures and calling it something else… So, it seems they would laugh very hard at a person doing certain pilates exercises thinking they are doing something that some German Boxer designed… when it’s REALLY a worship of their god, and theirfore, and invitation of a demon to enter your body???

So… HELP ME OUT HERE… What is being said EXACTLY?.. That one can’t assume the posture under any name??? Or one shouldn’t go to a Yoga class, and assume the same posture???

Also, in reading the vatican article… it seems the approach they are discussing has NOTHING to do with exercise, and more to do with ones approach to “spirituality”… Which then is absolutely an issue. Because if your spirituality as a Catholic isn’t based in the church, then it’s ALL wrong…

I am going to try to respond to all this.

I didn’t quote the Vatican article, that was someone else. I didn’t read it either.

Perhaps you are a yoga practioner, or, you are someone that just likes to think things through thoroughly, which is fine. But I am not the expert here. What I stated is that I recognize Benkovich and others as being holier, wiser, and very well informed on the topic and I trust their judgment.

When I read Moira Neuman’s book I was impressed with all she said, except I really wasn’t happy with her suggestion to avoid yoga. So I emailed her, but she stood her ground. Then I noticed others like Benkovich, and others linked here, were saying the same. And they speak from personal experience with spiritual warfare, something that I am much less experienced in than they. So I now I feel compelled to go with their opinions and recommendations. (Even though I balked at first! Yoga is just my kind of activity). But none of them have talked about the need to scrupulously know, study, and avoid the postures. So I am not going there, myself.

I just see that a lot of people here are saying “It seems fine to me” and want to leave it at that. I think* that’s* not wise.

(I don’t mean to ignore your questions (like, “is it the posture?” Those links I gave you should answer that question (As, I am not sure I know the answer. If it was ALL the posture, then maybe they would have reccommened we all know the postures in order to to avoid them…)

 

[Eliza10]

…
By the original poster’s logic, I can only conclude that they are thus opening themselves up to diabolical influence, since it seems to be the actual position of the body that matters rather than anything else associated with the practice…
Heaven help anyone who accidentally contorts their body into a yoga pose while asleep!

I guess any thought can be taken to a scrupulous extreme.

And I suppose that’s a good way to avoid grasping people’s main point. Certainly what you give is *not *the logic of the OP - its just a perversion of it.

 

[LilyM]

I guess any thought can be taken to a scrupulous extreme.

And I suppose that’s a good way to avoid grasping people’s main point. Certainly that is not the logic of the OP, just a perversion of it…

Well, it’s reductio ad absurdam to a certain extent.

And what IS the main point? That yoga is bad?

If yoga is bad WHAT is it about yoga that is bad? IS it the postures? IS it the mental element of Hindu spirituality with which some accompany it (which one can avoid)? IS it merely calling the practice ‘yoga’ instead of ‘Indian stretching’ or what have you?

IS it simply the origins of yoga? I’ve already pointed out many things (eg the title ‘Pontifex Maximus’) that have their origins in pagan worship rites and ceremonies, which Catholicism has adopted without problem.

We need to put a finger on it because there are other similar practices out there as well, we need to know which ones (or which aspects of them) are safe and which to be avoided, and you can’t assess them without a clear idea of what the actual objection is.

 

[faithfully]

Ok… So from one of the link you provided (thank you) is at spritbattleforsouls… I’m clipping a part…

---

Yoga and Theology of the Body

No Christians should not do Yoga because Yoga is part of a Religious system
that is not compatible with Judeo-Christianity and mixing the two is
Syncretism and the Catholic Church warns against that. The Yoga system is to
reach an impersonal God head through manipulation of the physical body and
the Chakra energy centers that it teaches to attain enlightenment. This view
is Gnostic. Christians do not inherently believe that the physical body is
evil and that it will reincarnate many times to reach enlightenment.
Reincarnation is a heresy that the Catholic Church has taught against in
scripture and the Catechism. To a Christian the body is a temple of the Holy
Spirit and will be resurrected with our Lord in Heaven. The Good News of
Resurection is bad news to a Yoga Master whose ultimate goal is liberation
from his body!

Pilates is a form of exercise. The problem is usually the music in the
exercise studio. The music tends to be New Age or chants to something other
than Christian. So while your body may be benefiting, what is your mind
being programmed? . Jesus makes it clear in Hosea " My People perish for
lack of knowledge"

---

So, now… Let’s talk about the YOGA SYSTEM… What’s that? Short of a Bikrim Yoga class, and Ashtanga, I’ve never taken a class that has a system. The instructor does whatever they want. I can’t decipher what the heck she means about Pilates… It’s a form of exercise… The problem with a PILATES? OR YOGA studio plays new age or chants…

That’s an assumption… granted a pretty good one for many. I personally take classes that generally use spa music… ocean waves, birds. I’ve heard jazz, or it’s been silent. And NEVER chants… 'cause Yeah, I’d be out of there in flash. Not into that.

Now over at crossevil.org they describe yoga: I’m bolding

---

The eight stages of yoga include five external preparations and three internal aids to this ascent of the soul, as we would understand it. The two ethical preparatory stages of yoga involve detailed practices of renunciation, restraint from evil and religious observance. The next two steps, the most popularized and emphasized in the West, are physical postures and breath control techniques designed to open, cleanse and fortify variously described physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the human person. These aspects are referred to as bodies accessed via the seven chakras (wheels) or psycho-spiritual energy centers located throughout the body. The fifth stage is withdrawal of the senses. The next three stages involve deep concentration, deep meditation and lastly the state of samadhi or self-collectedness, in which the mediator and the object of meditation become one. This is the final stage before union with God or with the Self (as others believe) and the final release from the cycle of rebirth.

---

Now, I suspect there are MANY that get into the sprituatlity of yoga… but for those exercising… Like myself, it more like… get into the muscle… feel the belly of the muscle, ok, deeper… deeper, ok hold… As I said, I’ve used Yoga as a counter balancing workout to ballet. I am not, however a yogi or financially invested in said practice. It ranks with my treadmil, kettlebell, and zoomba workouts!

I can see however, if a person had zero clue about their spirituality, and was in the midst of a search… they could get more into yoga and then into Hinduism. But in all honesty, I’m not even lured by other Christian religions, knowing full well that being Catholic is all that I’m cut out to be.

I can see that perhaps, I will have to contact some of these people that make such blanket statements about it.

As a religion or spiritual practice, I can see how it would be a big no no. But if it’s just a position that you are putting your body into, and that you might do with MANY OTHER, seemingly SAFE/seemingly approved forms of exercise … Then I can’t see how it’s dangerous to our faith or our souls… other than, you need to re-name your workout!

 

[LilyM]

Ok… So from one of the link you provided (thank you) is at spritbattleforsouls… I’m clipping a part…

---

Yoga and Theology of the Body

No Christians should not do Yoga because Yoga is part of a Religious system
that is not compatible with Judeo-Christianity and mixing the two is
Syncretism and the Catholic Church warns against that. The Yoga system is to
reach an impersonal God head through manipulation of the physical body and
the Chakra energy centers that it teaches to attain enlightenment. This view
is Gnostic. Christians do not inherently believe that the physical body is
evil and that it will reincarnate many times to reach enlightenment.
Reincarnation is a heresy that the Catholic Church has taught against in
scripture and the Catechism. To a Christian the body is a temple of the Holy
Spirit and will be resurrected with our Lord in Heaven. The Good News of
Resurection is bad news to a Yoga Master whose ultimate goal is liberation
from his body!

Pilates is a form of exercise. The problem is usually the music in the
exercise studio. The music tends to be New Age or chants to something other
than Christian. So while your body may be benefiting, what is your mind
being programmed? . Jesus makes it clear in Hosea " My People perish for
lack of knowledge"

---

So, now… Let’s talk about the YOGA SYSTEM… What’s that? Short of a Bikrim Yoga class, and Ashtanga, I’ve never taken a class that has a system. The instructor does whatever they want. I can’t decipher what the heck she means about Pilates… It’s a form of exercise… The problem with a PILATES? OR YOGA studio plays new age or chants…

That’s an assumption… granted a pretty good one for many. I personally take classes that generally use spa music… ocean waves, birds. I’ve heard jazz, or it’s been silent. And NEVER chants… 'cause Yeah, I’d be out of there in flash. Not into that.

I’m sorry, when I was into yoga there was NO mention whatsoever of ‘reaching an impersonal Godhead through manipulation of the physical body and the chakra energy centres to attain enlightenment’. Not at any stage.

And I simply do NOT believe one can do such things, or somehow be sucked into a ‘system’, unless one is at least open to the idea of it happening, if not actually wanting or desiring it to happen.

One cannot be hypnotised if one is resistant to the idea of being so - countless experiments by psychologists have proven this. Neither, it stands to reason, can one be induced into any ‘system’ of belief to which one is mentally completely closed.

 

[faithfully]

By the way… I like to analyze things deeply. I may be almost 40, but I’m still like a kid… Why? Why? Why???

 

[faithfully]

I’m sorry, when I was into yoga there was NO mention whatsoever of ‘reaching an impersonal Godhead through manipulation of the physical body and the chakra energy centres to attain enlightenment’. Not at any stage.

And I simply do NOT believe one can do such things, or somehow be sucked into a ‘system’, unless one is at least open to the idea of it happening, if not actually wanting or desiring it to happen.

One cannot be hypnotised if one is resistant to the idea of being so - countless experiments by psychologists have proven this. Neither, it stands to reason, can one be induced into any ‘system’ of belief to which one is mentally completely closed.

Yeah… that’s my experience too! Granted I’ve only done yoga in a gym or dance studio…
I really suspect that the problem with this discussion is that one side (not mine) seems to state that YOGA is a religion, and nothing about the religion can be broken into parts and basically made secular. It’s all or none. This does not make any sense to me. And it’s because those that speak out against yoga do not seem to take issue with the poses that are designed specifically to worship false gods being done under the name of another exercise. Seriously, if you call a yoga class Stretch and Relax… is that ok??? What if you’re playing hymns? What if you’re chanting the Hail Mary through out?

The logic is missing for me… I completely understand the Vatican’s Warning… One thing can certainly lead to another. HOWEVER, you can’t be tricked into becoming a practicing Hindu inviting evil demons.