Yoga- Prayer to Hindu gods?

[cmujake]

Okay, my friend tells me that Yoga is prayer to the Hindu gods. Does anyone know of any forms of Yoga out there that are acceptable? Yoga was really good for calming my body, but I have not been back since she told me this.

Any (name removed by moderator)ut is appreciated.

God Bless,

Jake

 

[Pani_Rose]

I found this:

T H E C R O S S A N D T H E V E I L

Hear the Editor’s EWTN Interview with Marcus Grodi by visiting the EWTN online library. Purchase four taped EWTN interviews on Yoga, Reiki, Centering Prayer …
www.crossveil.org/page2.html - 25k …

“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.
At the core of the philosophy of yoga are the beliefs in the law of karma, reincarnation, the potential for self-realization or enlightenment without external aid, and a practiced and finally ultimate withdrawal from the world which is deemed to be an illusion or projection.
**The core beliefs of this ancient discipline are, at best, incompatible with Christian doctrine, having been negated by the radical entrance of Christ into human history. Through the Paschal Mystery of His death and resurrection, we and the physical world were redeemed from sin and we were enabled to enter heaven.
** While, doctrinally, yoga is an ancient outdated attempt to attain divine union, practically, this fact means little to a lukewarm laity that is hungry for access to spiritual experiences that they believe (erroneously) their own tradition denies them. Our goal must not only be to point out the hazards of yogic philosophy and practice, but to replace any false concepts and influences by offering seekers the true Living Water that is the gospel and love of Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately, many Christians have experienced some of the beneficial effects of yogic postures, breathing and meditation including extraordinary healing, spiritual renewal and various bliss states. Many have become involved in one of the larger yoga societies or ashrams.”…
crossveil.org/page7.html

 

[LilyM]

I am positive one can divorce the philosophical constructs behind yoga from the physical postures. Look a little and you can find yoga videos or DVDs that do not involve any elements of Eastern philosophy, though classes may be a little more troublesome.

Just as one can divorce the pagan idea of sacrificing humans to propitiate pagan deities from the reality of Jesus Christ - the one perfect sin sacrifice, who was also human - but fully divine with it.

The postures in themselves aren’t troublesome really - plenty of athletes do deep stretching that mimics most if not all of them. If the thought of doing yoga again is uncomfortable for you then you might want to try a class in Pilates, which is similar enough for most people without any links at all to Eastern religion.

 

[PauloFreire2]

My wife is a big-time yogi, and yes, there are times when I get concerned about the guerrilla-style introduction of Hinduism in her video workouts. She attended a yoga clinic for three days in Austin which was held at a Hindu religious site. It doesn’t phase her, but it bothers me a little bit. Of course she’ll always be Catholic and doesn’t even pay attention to the Hindu undertones of her workouts. Interesting.

 

[MargieOh]

I came across a yoga alternative which appeeled to me and plan on ordering the DVD’s after Christmas.

They are calles “Praise Moves” and are developed by a Christian lady.

I think her website is www.praisemoves.com or just do a Google search.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I found this:

T H E C R O S S A N D T H E V E I L

Hear the Editor’s EWTN Interview with Marcus Grodi by visiting the EWTN online library. Purchase four taped EWTN interviews on Yoga, Reiki, Centering Prayer …
www.crossveil.org/page2.html - 25k …

“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.
At the core of the philosophy of yoga are the beliefs in the law of karma, reincarnation, the potential for self-realization or enlightenment without external aid, and a practiced and finally ultimate withdrawal from the world which is deemed to be an illusion or projection.
**The core beliefs of this ancient discipline are, at best, incompatible with Christian doctrine, having been negated by the radical entrance of Christ into human history. Through the Paschal Mystery of His death and resurrection, we and the physical world were redeemed from sin and we were enabled to enter heaven.
** While, doctrinally, yoga is an ancient outdated attempt to attain divine union, practically, this fact means little to a lukewarm laity that is hungry for access to spiritual experiences that they believe (erroneously) their own tradition denies them. Our goal must not only be to point out the hazards of yogic philosophy and practice, but to replace any false concepts and influences by offering seekers the true Living Water that is the gospel and love of Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately, many Christians have experienced some of the beneficial effects of yogic postures, breathing and meditation including extraordinary healing, spiritual renewal and various bliss states. Many have become involved in one of the larger yoga societies or ashrams.”…
crossveil.org/page7.html

This article has to do with yoga when mixed with Hindu spirituality.

I’ve been doing power yoga for about 10 years, and on it’s own, there is nothing spiritual about it, unless you want to make it such and you can use Christian spirituality, if that’s your desire. But on it’s own, it’s nothing more than physical exercise.

Jim

 

[cmujake]

Thanks, all, for your (name removed by moderator)ut. I have checked out Praise Moves and found it pretty interesting (thanks for the idea, Margie). I may pick that DVD up, as well. While I am interested in the benefits of yoga to develop my martial arts skills, I am simply unable to attend another yoga class knowing what I know. A good friend helped me realize that yoga is incompatible with Christianity and although the yoga that I was practicing is touted as “exercise and relaxation”, I do not need it. I can use other forms of exercise that do not conflict with my beliefs. While I respect anyone’s decision to practice or not to practice yoga, I have made my choice.

God Bless,

Jake

I came across a yoga alternative which appeeled to me and plan on ordering the DVD’s after Christmas.

They are calles “Praise Moves” and are developed by a Christian lady.

I think her website is www.praisemoves.com or just do a Google search.

 

[InLight247]

Thanks, all, for your (name removed by moderator)ut. I have checked out Praise Moves and found it pretty interesting (thanks for the idea, Margie). I may pick that DVD up, as well. While I am interested in the benefits of yoga to develop my martial arts skills, I am simply unable to attend another yoga class knowing what I know. A good friend helped me realize that yoga is incompatible with Christianity and although the yoga that I was practicing is touted as “exercise and relaxation”, I do not need it. I can use other forms of exercise that do not conflict with my beliefs. While I respect anyone’s decision to practice or not to practice yoga, I have made my choice.

God Bless,
Jake

I applaud your decision. You are right. There are other forms of exercise, why not choose a clean form without conflict?

I like to share the following true stories.

Yoga is definitely new age stuff. The movements and gestures are actually the worship gestures to Hindu gods. But the majority doesn’t realize this. I have a devout Catholic friend who used to attend yoga class. She said when the class became more advanced, she couldn’t do certain movement no matter how hard she tried. It was not the movement was too hard and she was incapable of doing it. It was a force she could sense that prevented her doing those movements. This friend is a Holy Spirit filled, tongue speaking, Charismatic Catholic who carries out different mission works. She has daily close communion with God. She said she clearly sensed that Holy Spirit prevented her to do certain movements. In her prayers she realized there was evil force behind yoga, and the Holy Spirit asked her to stop. So she quitted yoga.

Another case was from my young daughter. She took a yoga class in college. She said when she had to do certain movements, she clearly sensed it was against her Catholic faith. Wow! I was impressed when she mentioned this. At the time I had not shared my friend’s yoga story with her. As a young girl, she sensed the truth by herself. She also quitted yoga. I was really proud of her.

Both my friend and my daughter realized the darkness of yoga without receiving any teachings from anywhere. They both sensed the dark side of yoga out of their own spirituality.

If you search online for Catholic teachings, you will find yoga is dangerous. There is no so-called “Christian yoga”. The gestures of worshiping Hindu god are woven all over in yoga. How could anyone justify himself by saying “I am thinking of Jesus even though I am doing the worship movements of Hindu god”??? That is self-cheating.

If we truly love God, love our Lord Jesus, we would not do anything that has any slight possibility to offend God and contradict our faith.

Eastern philosophy and meditation were so attractive to people in the West. Some of them are purely philosophy; some of them really involve spiritual force behind the scene. We have to be very careful.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Yoga is definitely new age stuff

.

That’s funny, I thought it went back a couple thousand years?

The movements and gestures are actually the worship gestures to Hindu gods.

Who told you this?

B

ut the majority doesn’t realize this.

Probably because it’s false.

I have a devout Catholic friend who used to attend yoga class. She said when the class became more advanced, she couldn’t do certain movement no matter how hard she tried. It was not the movement was too hard and she was incapable of doing it. It was a force she could sense that prevented her doing those movements.

Gesh!

This friend is a Holy Spirit filled, tongue speaking, Charismatic Catholic who carries out different mission works. She has daily close communion with God. She said she clearly sensed that Holy Spirit prevented her to do certain movements. In her prayers she realized there was evil force behind yoga, and the Holy Spirit asked her to stop. So she quitted yoga.

She probably did the rest of the class a favor.

Another case was from my young daughter. She took a yoga class in college. She said when she had to do certain movements, she clearly sensed it was against her Catholic faith.

Mind telling us what this movement is?

If you search online for Catholic teachings, you will find yoga is dangerous.

If you search on-line, you’ll find those that say Catholicism is dangerous, and the Church of Rome is the Whore of Babylon, spoken about in the Book of Revelation. Doesn’t make it true.

There is no so-called “Christian yoga”. The gestures of worshiping Hindu god are woven all over in yoga.

I haven’t experience and gestures that weren’t in Christianity.

How could anyone justify himself by saying “I am thinking of Jesus even though I am doing the worship movements of Hindu god”??? That is self-cheating.

Maybe the Christian God and the Hindu God are the same God, just revealed to us in different ways?

If we truly love God, love our Lord Jesus, we would not do anything that has any slight possibility to offend God and contradict our faith.

There’s nothing contradictory in doing yoga exercise, unless you make it so. You can make jogging contradictory if you want to, but it doesn’t make jogging contradictory in itself. This is merely your way of understanding, not what it actually is…

Eastern philosophy and meditation were so attractive to people in the West. Some of them are purely philosophy; some of them really involve spiritual force behind the scene. We have to be very careful.

Pope John Paul II said that all religions have germs of truth in them. We can learn about other religions without rejecting our own, if your fait is strong enough.

Jim
Jim

 

[water]

stay away from Yoga and alike
Just put on your running shoes and jog on the street.

 

[aimee]

Jim,

Please share more of your experiences with Yoga.

Do you know of Rodney Yee and his type of yoga?

 

[InLight247]

.
If you search on-line, you’ll find those that say Catholicism is dangerous, and the Church of Rome is the Whore of Babylon, spoken about in the Book of Revelation. Doesn’t make it true.
Jim

When searching online for Catholic teachings, the best place is the Holy See webpage.
vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/interelg/documents/rc_pc_interelg_doc_20030203_new-age_en.html

There are lot of readings here if you really want to follow the Church’s teaching. If Catholics don’t want to follow the Holy See and insist their own positions, there is really not much else can be said.

 

[scapularkid8]

I was looking into Tai Chi for a while, but then I decided it wasn’t for me because of my faith. Good choice to reject Yoga (I’ve always had a funny feeling to stay away from it, even before I knew it had anything to do with Hinduism.)

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Jim,

Please share more of your experiences with Yoga.

Do you know of Rodney Yee and his type of yoga?

I’ve seen Rodney Yee on FitTv, but that’s about it.

Myself, I do power yoga from the Yoga Zone. I’ve never taken a class, however, I use to study martial arts and knew Tai Chi, so following a video tape isn’t difficult for me.

Like I said before, if you separate yoga from the spiritual aspects, it’s no different than doing push ups or sit ups, only it’s more fun. Also, you hit every muscle group and you don’t need weight training, because you use your own body weight in the postures.

Jim

 

[thistle]

I was looking into Tai Chi for a while, but then I decided it wasn’t for me because of my faith. Good choice to reject Yoga (I’ve always had a funny feeling to stay away from it, even before I knew it had anything to do with Hinduism.)

There is nothing wrong with Tai Chi. I know a 70 year old priest who still practices Tai Chi every morning. It is very good exercise.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Tai Chi and Yoga is nothing more than exercise, unless you make it more.

Heck, if we’re to avoid doing things that pagans invented, we could do most of the common exercises, because for the most part, they came from the Greeks.

Also, one thing about yoga, anyone who does it will tell you, if you observe a baby playing on the floor, you’ll see them doing all the postures in Yoga. I was amazed when I saw my grandson doing downward facing dog, and screaming pigeon pose. It became apparent to me, that the postures in yoga were part of our natural movements, but as we grew older, we lost the flexibility to do them.

Jim

 

[jlcasey]

It’s always best to take your que from the Vatican. Here is a document from the Vatican well worth reading on the New Age which includes Yoga.

Maybe the Christian God and the Hindu God are the same God, just revealed to us in different ways?

Jim, there is no such thing as the Hindu God. There are over 300 million gods in the Hindu pantheon.

 

[LilyM]

It’s always best to take your que from the Vatican. Here is a document from the Vatican well worth reading on the New Age which includes Yoga.

Jim, there is no such thing as the Hindu God. There are over 300 million gods in the Hindu pantheon.

Geesh - I’ve done yoga on and off for a few years now. And looked at the Vatican’s documents about new-age-ism.

There is a very clear distinction, which some people who have no real experience with yoga don’t seem to appreciate, between DOING THE MOVEMENTS of yoga and BUYING INTO THE PHILOSOPHY.

Let me pose a simple question to those who so strenuously object to yoga. Imagine that a Hindu who either knew nothing about Catholic beliefs, or knew of them but didn’t believe in Catholicism themselves, wandered into Mass at a Catholic church one day.

Imagine that they said the words of the Mass prayers without understanding or belief, stood sat and kneeled at the appropriate times, and went up and received Communion, again all without understanding or belief. Would they then be worshipping our God? Of course not.

One cannot worship either by accident or against one’s will.

Everyone who objecst to yoga as exercise should read some of the threads here that accuse us Catholics of paganism because we have Christmas trees or of Mary worship because we kneel in front of her images. And think long and hard about whether their attitudes to yoga are truly make any more sense. To me they don’t.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

It’s always best to take your que from the Vatican. Here is a document from the Vatican well worth reading on the New Age which includes Yoga.

Jim, there is no such thing as the Hindu God. There are over 300 million gods in the Hindu pantheon.

If you’re saying that Hinduism in polytheistic, you wrong.
Hinduism is monotheistic, they believe in one God.
However, they believe in God’s many manifestations, which we Catholics also believe. We see Christ in others as He is in us,
i.e, not I but Christ who is in me.

Keep in mind that just like the New Agers distort Christian beliefs, the also distort Buddhist and Hindu beliefs as well. So if you use New Age teachings about religions, you’ll most likely be misled.

Jim