Whether yoga is considered a sin depends largely on interpretation, focusing on whether it is treated as purely physical exercise or a spiritual practice rooted in Eastern religions. While many see no issue with yoga for health, some Christians and religious groups advise against it due to its origins in Hindu worship.
Many use the yoga poses for exercise but he Bible says that even our bodies should be used to honor (not dishonor) God. Romans 12:1-2 says, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
Ultimately, our goal as Christians is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). If practiced with this goal in mind, yoga can be one of many tools that help us live out this commandment, honoring God with our whole being - body, mind, and spirit.
Answer: To engage in yoga expressly as part of the practice of Eastern spirituality, or as a way of dabbling with Eastern spirituality or mixing it with Christian prayer, is a problem.
Jesus, like the greatest of Yoga adepts, made his life his Yoga. He overcame all the ordinary limitations of the human existence to reveal his true nature, and more importantly, He admonished His listeners to do the same. "Love your enemies." (Matthew 5.43 with parallel in Luke 6:27-28).
'yoke' or 'union') is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that originated with its own philosophy in ancient India, aimed at controlling body and mind to attain liberation (moksha), as practiced in the Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist traditions.
Whether Christians can say "namaste" is debated, with some viewing it as a way to honor the "God in you" (seeing the divine image in others) and a way to show cultural respect, while others argue it's rooted in Hinduism's pantheistic beliefs, conflicts with Christian monotheism (bowing only to God), and could be seen as idolatrous or promoting false spirituality, suggesting alternatives like "Peace be with you" or "God bless you". The core issue is interpreting the phrase's meaning within a Christian worldview, with some finding it compatible with recognizing the Imago Dei (Image of God) and others finding it inherently incompatible with Christian doctrine.
Accordingly, yoga can be a method that facilitates spiritual well-being and health, spiritual growth, and the development of an integrative worldview. To achieve these benefits, regular yoga practice is essential. Consequently, the practice itself is a key component for spiritual growth.
In Christianity, meditation is a focus on God, His Word, and His ways. Unlike ancient eastern forms of meditation, in Christianity, meditation is a fixation on God and God alone!
Pope Francis said only the Holy Spirit has the power to open our hearts to God and his love and not thousands of yoga sessions or Zen spirituality courses.
Breathwork is associated with eastern religions or new age religious practices. Pranayama or breathwork is not Christian and is done within yoga or in new age practices such as with astral projection (out of body experience) and is also associated with occultist practices.
I have met many Christians who practice yoga for its physical benefits, and not everyone considers its spiritual implications. Usually, if chanting, meditation, sun salutation, and Kundalini yoga are avoided, yoga is considered acceptable for a Christian.
“The nature of yoga is to shine the light of awareness into the darkest corners of the body.” 85. “Yoga does not remove us from the reality or responsibilities of everyday life but rather places our feet firmly and resolutely in the practical ground of experience.
Jesus also taught His followers to not be anxious about their lives, but to instead meditate on God's goodness as demonstrated in creation (Matthew 6:25-34).
While Jesus is known for spending 40 days and 40 nights "praying" in the desert, the specifics of his "prayer" technique are not clearly defined. Some scholars believe that many of those days and nights in the desert were actually spent in meditation, rather than prayer alone.
Scripture speaks of mediation in a number of places (1 Corinthians 6:1-8; Philippians 4:2-3; Philemon). But the most profound illustration of mediation is Jesus Himself. “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and human beings, Christ Jesus, himself human” (1 Timothy 2:5).
This passage tells us that worshipping anything or anyone else apart from the one true God is considered idolatry and should be avoided. Therefore, engaging in activities such as yoga which involve ritualized forms of worship, can be seen as a sin since it takes away from our relationship with Christ.
Drs. Chopra and Simon show how the Seven Spiritual Laws, familiar to millions of readers of the bestselling The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success- Pure Potentiality, Giving, Karma, Least Effort, Intention and Desire, Detachment, and Dharma- play a crucial role in yoga' s path to enlightenment.
Another Christian custom that finds its origin in antiquity is the utterance of mantras. Mantras turn our minds away from incessant chatter and direct our hearts to the spiritual realm.
As we said, “namaste” traditionally symbolizes connecting with and recognizing the divine spark within each person you greet. However, that Western yoga teachers and their students use it as a goodbye instead of a hello can be particularly confusing, and could be offensive.
This was both a hello and goodbye, meaning peace, wholeness, and blessing. After the Resurrection, the Gospels specifically say Jesus greeted His disciples with “Peace be with you” (John 20:19, 21, 26). This reflects the Jewish shalom aleichem (“peace be upon you”).
