Yoga postures and stretching

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I’m fairly familiar with some Yoga poses, a lot of them are poses you would automatically fall into in certain situations when doing exercises or could do so accidentally. So if someone does they may attract demons in just as a result of that, that strikes me as well…a wee bit silly.
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Again, it’s not all of them or even most of them. I really have not idea which poses are the bad ones. I only know what I have been told by the co-founder of SoulCore and what I’ve heard speakers like Susan Brinkman say.
 
What, do mean this post below?
phil19034 said:
NO, you don’t see “Yoga poses.”

Most poses in Yoga are totally harmless, they are just stretching. However, SOME poses are specifically used to invite the Hindu spirits (aka demons).

The Catholic alternatives all know which poses are 100% religious in nature and do NOT use them.

In other words:
  • Yoga uses some religious poses and some poses that are simply stretching. Not every Yoga pose is religious.
  • The Catholic alternative knows which poses invite/summons the demons and does NOT use them.
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TheHolyTrinity said:
I have read all his comments, they are related to the spiritual risks of practicing yoga.
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Right. Let’s look at the OP:
amaxiner said:
I was curious to see if I could do one of the poses purely out of wanting to know my flexibility, and she flipped out. I told her I was just seeing if I was flexible enough and didn’t have any of the intent of it being spiritual
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So… whose posts are off-topic and “blurring” the discussion, then?
🤔
😉
phil19034 said:
I was NOT talking about standard stretches.
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That’s my point. You’re off-topic and are obfuscating the issue.

No worries… but that’s sure how it looks from here.
🤷‍♂️
 
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Gorgias said:
That’s my point. You’re off-topic and are obfuscating the issue.
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No, the title is “Yoga postures and stretching”

Standard stretching poses are ok.
Yoga specific postures that were created specifically to help the person gain enlightenment and “clear the mind” are dangerous. Which poses they are, I don’t know. I don’t even know if every stretching class that uses the name “yoga” in a gym uses them.

HOWEVER, I do know a lot (not all) yoga instructors ARE very into the spiritual side of Yoga. Even if a specific class is not with candles, vocal mantras, etc. the instructor might be doing the mantras quietly themselves, as most of them are into the spiritual side of Yoga.

I think just think it’s dangerous to participate in program that uses the name “Yoga” because chances are the instructor is trained in the spiritual side of that practice.
 
As someone that’s non religious and also getting old and arthritic, yoga is one of very few exercises I can do. It keeps my joints loose and prevents me from overstressing those joints. There are some I can’t do…my body just doesn’t go that way anymore.

I’m sure that if some specific poses were demonic inviting, the church or one of her representatives would have published what those poses are…especially as so many elderly do yoga…Catholic or otherwise.

And I’ve never had a yoga session have me feel anything supernatural was happening…and I do the breathing as well as the poses. I suppose if someone felt they were inviting demons while doing yoga then it could happen but if you don’t…it just doesn’t happen. Please don’t try and condemn the only exercise remaining for old arthritics.
 
If no intent to worship is present none of them do anything, intent is required for worship to have any meaning.
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But you are forgetting about the intent of the Yoga instructor.

When an atheist attend a Catholic Mass, that atheist is present when priest consecrates the Bread and Wine into the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. The atheist may not believe it, but it’s still happening and they are still present.

If a Yoga instructor (who are typically trained in yoga in order to call their class “yoga”) is leading a class, they are often meditation and opening themselves up to the spirits while leading the group. So if the instructor is summoning the Hindu spirits (aka demons), you are present when that’s happening. Even if you don’t believe it.

At least that’s the way I understand it from listening to Susan Brinkmann and reading what exorcists (in good standing with their bishops) have said on the subject.
 
I know, right! There are certain poses that invite demons but I can’t let you know what they are or find them to avoid them…so let’s condemn the entire practice of yoga, of which there are a variety and most aren’t spiritual, they are for keeping limber. If you accidentally do a pose that knows what it is, however, demons will enter. I could make that claim about any exercise routine and let everyone obsess over which exercise it is!
 
Fantastic standard of proof being assembled there…
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You don’t want to listen to me, fine. I’m just some guy on the internet. But go to the sources yourself.

Google “Susan Brinkmann yoga” and read & listen to what she has to say in articles and videos. She often quotes other areas too.
 
Fantastic standard of proof being assembled there…
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I’m pointing you to the sources. No need to start attacking the messenger.

There are a TON of articles and videos on this subject.

Again: just google “Susan Brinkmann yoga”
 
Yep and the Eucharist has zero salvific grace if a non-believer receives.
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That was not my argument.
  • What I’m saying is that the non-believer would be in the room with God.
  • Just like a it’s possible for a person to be in the room with a demon if the yoga instructor is summoning them.
Personally, I don’t want to be in the room when that’s happening. But that’s just me.

God Bless
 
phil19034 said:
But you are forgetting about the intent of the Yoga instructor.
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I agree with you here, about 40 years ago I attended regular yoga classes for well over a year in my youth and learnt a lot about eastern and new age believes without realising that they were contrary to Catholic beliefs.

Her mode of teaching where along side each yoga pose was very subtle education into eastern spiritual and new age. I do recall much of what she said, much was related to each pose and the spiritual aspects and meaning.

Whilst nothing bad happened to me at that time, though spiritually I was naive as most teenagers can be. What it did do was to develop this different spiritual aspect to my life, with the desire to start seeking more information. There lays the spiritual danger for Catholics.

I now know and would never attend yoga classes now, knowing what I know now.
 
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Perhaps you could start another thread, so as not to further derail the OP’s thread.
 
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BTW - Father Josh Johnson takes a very balanced approach addresses both sides of the argument. He won’t say whether it’s good or bad. However, he talks about both sides and tells people to study this topic on both sides. Father Josh Johnson says he personally does NOT do Yoga, but does SoulCore.
Yoga, Forgiving the Devil, and Mary’s Free Will - Ascension Press Media (at minute 10:58)
 
You have reasonably articulated your concerns and pointed to the source from which you draw those concerns. Best ignore those who try to “attack” you for holding you views, sharing your information and identifying its source.

The only valid further engagement is to critique your source of information or question your interpretation of it. The various sarcasm/ridicule offered as critique of you is childish.
 
Most dioceses have at least one official exorcist for the diocese. The “chief exorcist at the Vatican” is the media’s nickname for senior most exorcist from the Diocese of Rome.

The “chief exorcist” can also refer to the President of the International Association of Exorcists, which while not an officially part of the curia, the Vatican has approve some of their documents.
 
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I’m well aware of that, there is however no such official position within the Church.
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Yes, I know. it’s a nickname. But the they still are the official exorcist for the Diocese of Rome, who’s bishop is the Pope…
 
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I can’t pass up a yoga thread without relating the story of Fr. Jean-Marie Dechanet, O.S.B. He entered the Benedictine order in Belgium in 1924, but suffered from symptoms of epilepsy, which apparently postponed his ordination. He found relief, he claimed, through the practice of yoga, and after he was declared healed of his epileptic symptoms he was ordained to the priesthood in 1948. His study of yoga and its health benefits led him to attempt the “Christianization” of yoga, so to speak, using the exact same poses while explaining how the spiritual teachings of Hinduism that often went along with it could be discarded, reconciled or understood as a Christian.

His first book, “Christian Yoga,” was published in 1960, having received both the nihil obstat and the imprimatur. His second book, “Yoga in Ten Lessons,” followed in 1964. Father Dechanet died in 1992 at his abbey in Bruges at the age of 86.

The work started by Fr. Dechanet is carried on today by Paulist Fr. Thomas Ryan, C.S.P. His book, “Prayer of Heart and Body: Meditation and Yoga as a Christian Spiritual Practice,” was published in 1991, and his instructional video, “Yoga Prayer,” was released in 2004. Father Ryan also has the blessing of his order as he carries out his ministry.

All of that said, sadly I have seen both of these priests essentially trashed on several Christian anti-yoga crusader websites. Yes, I’ve read the warnings and seen the Women of Grace anti-yoga episodes.

Personally, every morning I do a few poses and stretches identical to those I’ve seen in yoga to help keep my worn-out lower back from going into muscle spasms, and this is what sparked my interest to learn more about it in the first place.
 
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