(photo by MeditationMusic.net)
The first time I took a yoga class was over a decade ago. I was a new mom looking for ways to re-center, and it was something that I’d always wanted to try. When my parents gave me some money for my birthday, I decided to treat myself and sign up for a class. It was nothing fancy… just a basic beginner class at the same Y where I took Mommy and Me classes with my son, but I will always remember it fondly as the class that introduced me to what would become a lifelong passion.
The day after my first class, when I was still feeling that loosy-goosy, super relaxed, post-yoga “high”, I mentioned to a friend that I’d started doing yoga and how much I loved it. She just looked at me for a long time, before she finally asked,
“Isn’t it a bad idea for Christians to do yoga?”
I couldn’t answer her. I mean I literally couldn’t answer her. I had never heard that before, and I couldn’t imagine what might have been wrong with what I’d done the night before. Plus, to be honest, I was a little bit irritated that I’d shared something I was excited about and she’d promptly rained on my parade.
I did the only thing I could think to do on the spot: I changed the subject.
I finished out that 8 week class, and spent the next several years just practicing on and off (mostly off) at home. Then about three years ago, I was called to become a yoga teacher. I have no other words to describe it. I was called. I fought it too, with lots of excuses. Too much money… too much time… my kids were too young… I’m too much of an introvert… I don’t like getting in front of people. But the more I resisted, the more strongly it was laid on my heart. I felt like I had no choice but to eventually answer, “All right, all right, I’ll do it!”
As I went through the 250 hours of training this year, I finally learned – with great clarity I might add – both the answer to my friend’s question so many years before, and the concerns that may have prompted her to ask it.
Yoga originated in the Hindu religion – I begin with this one simply because it’s the easiest to answer. This is false. Archaelogical findings show that yoga actually predates all of the world’s major religions. While Eastern religions did eventually adapt and codify yoga for their own purposes, it did not begin there. This is an important distinction to make, because many Christians fear yoga as something that was born out of another religion… which just isn’t the case.
Yoga is a spiritual practice that is meant to align yourself with Eastern religions, the occult, etc. Yoga itself is a methodology, not a theology. How it’s employed is up to each individual participating. For example, as a Christian, I believe in prayer. But I know that Christians are not the only people who pray! Other religions pray, as well as some people who align themselves with NO particular religion. While the method of the prayers may be similar, our theologies that we bring to the prayers make them different. So it is with yoga. Just like prayer, yoga’s benefits can be used by any (or no) religion at all.
The word “yoga” means to yolk, and join yourself with other Gods. The word “yoga” comes from the Sanscrit word, “yug” which is translated as “to harmonize,” to “bring together,” or yes, to “harness or yoke.” Again, I think it’s important to remember that who or what we’re joining with is up to us. I find the meaning of the word ‘yoga’ beautiful, and think it perfectly illustrates both the coming together of mind, body, and soul; and, as a Christian, the coming together of myself and God.
The postures are meant to praise and worship other Gods. This is where a lot of people get lost, but I promise it’s not that confusing. Many Christians who fear yoga use this as their basis. “The postures were created to worship other Gods. The postures are inviting evil forces into your heart. Etc.” First, as I stated in point one, the postures were not created for that purpose. Secondly, there is nothing inherently spiritual about a downward dog (or a warrior or a sun salutation) either for good or evil, unless you so decide. The meanings of the poses come from the intent and the heart of the participant. Just because one person – or one religion – assigns a certain spiritual meaning to a posture, it does not mean that that meaning then applies to me whether I like it or not. I’ll be completely honest…. when people tell me that Christians should avoid yoga because we might “accidentally” be worshipping a sun god or a hindu deity, or inadvertently joining ourselves with some kind of cult, my first thought is this: Is your faith really so weak that you fear you have no control over what enters your heart, that you have no control over who or what you do or do not worship? Yes, eastern religions have used yoga postures as part of their worship. And I don’t mean to make light of it, because I respect that it’s a genuine concern for some Christians, but… so what? If some crazy, weird cult sprang up, and decided that as part of one of their spiritual rituals, they would sit naked in a circle in a sweat lodge and eat pizza… would that mean that Christians would then need to forever avoid pizza? That pizza would suddenly cease to be crust, sauce, and cheese and instead become a harbinger of evil forces? Of course not. That’s ridiculous.
Yes, it’s ridiculous. Pizza is just pizza.
And yoga is yoga. It is one of the best ways to connect with, stretch, and strengthen your body… while at the same time quieting your mind, calming your spirit, and finding peace in your heart. As a Christian, I’ve never found yoga to be at odds with my faith. Just as importantly, I’ve never worried that it would turn me away from God. In fact, when I’m there on my mat; when I’m finally STILL; when I’ve been able to quiet my mind and actually meditate on something of my choosing (and meditation by the way, is mentioned numerous times in the Bible) what I experience is very much the exact opposite.
It’s like coming home.
Great write up. Have you heard of Yaweh yoga? http://yahwehyoga.com/
It is a bit tiring when well meaning Christians show concern over something like practicing yoga when just about every Sunday morning church service has pagan roots. It must feel great to be moving toward something you feel called to do 🙂
I trained with Yahweh!! 🙂 They are wonderful! And yes, great point about the pagan roots.
Thank you so much for writing this Jen, it’s EXACLY what I was looking for, a simple article addressing the myths for those of us who also feed God is leading is into doing Yoga. All I could find before this was either really extreme anti-yoga articles or ones that did not address the main issues I was concerned about (that the other fear based articles raised).
Oh good! So glad you found it helpful. 🙂
One of my favorite verses is “Be still and know that I am God”…I use this when I do yoga and meditate to center myself, and it never occured to me that I was anything but connected with the holy spirit. Great article!
Just wanted to say – nicely put. Clear, concise and uncluttered. I hope it reassures those who are concerned with such. I especially liked your “Is your faith so weak…”
makes me wish I lived close enough to go to one of your yoga classes. Of course, that would require I find the courage, priority, etc to actually get to ANY yoga class! Loved what you shared.
Thanks Sylvia, I wish you were close enough to take one of my classes too. 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing your yoga experience. I’ve wanted to be able to answer people’s concerns in a clear, concise way for a long time and you’ve done exactly that! And now the idea of being a yoga instructor will pop into my mind more regularly.
What advice do you have for me, For some reason I feel uneasy with the names of the moves e.g Sun salutation. Lets look like and say we are ‘worshiping’ the sun, but think Godly thoughts…
I think it’s all about intention. I do Sun Salutations in every single class I teach… and I never feel like I’m literally worshiping the sun, or that I’m doing anything that’s at odds with my faith. Everyone’s intentions as they do the poses are different, and that’s some of the beauty of yoga!
I often think of Salutations as “hello”. Now granted, the Sun isn’t a person, but it almost feels like being a silly kid saying “hello” to the sun.
I know this post is from forever ago but I’ve trained with Holy Yoga and love that we practice Son Salutations. I salute the One that created the sun. Jesus. 🙂
Aw, I love that!!
I balk at some of it too, probably because I was a pagan for years and did actually worship the “sun god” – I don’t disagree that the intent is important. But for me as an individual its kind of uncomfortable. I’m not really sure how to explain that better.
Well, and there’s also always the option of just skipping the poses you’re uncomfortable with, if you’re not able to reconcile them… and I can totally see where you’re coming from, if you’re coming from a pagan background.
Hi. I’m a Christian and trying to research this subject a little bit. I was just wondering whether you had any good references for the roots of yoga and the path it took through hinduism to the modern day? As you mentioned in your article, most resources seem to be biased either way.
To be honest, most of what I learned I learned through my classes during teacher training, so I don’t have a lot of resources beyond that. The book, “Christian Yoga: Restoration for Body and Soul” by Jennifer Zach is a great place to start…. talks about the origins, the benefits, and the WHY of yoga, as well as taking you through the different postures.
Unfortunately yoga is a form of worship completely foreign to the Bible. Prayer for example is very well described in the Bible, but not yoga.
Yoga opens up portals into the spiritual world, a dark world where Jesus is not Lord.
As Christians we should not practice elements of worship found in other religions, given that those elements are not found in the Bible.
I like your post. The bottom line…is that there is only one true God. This would be the God presented in Bible. If people are stretching to the Universe, Buddha, the Divine, the Transcendent or whatever; that is just silly. The question is this– are you willing to tell your friends at Yoga that there is one God and he sent His son, Jesus, to die for our sins? We are “called” to bear witness to Christ. Today’s Christians are cowards! We love to serve but we don’t like say “Jesus” because we are afraid of people. O sure, mention God or the divine…but don’t mention Jesus as God’s plan of salvation because then people get mad! Sure you can go to Yoga. But if you are “called,” then are you willing to casually tell your Yoga buddies about Christ. Must people are not…we just make excuses, and yet, Jesus has commissioned the Christian to tell the Gospel story! John 14:6….Acts 4:12 (Jesus is the only way we can be saved)
sun salutation what do those words mean? corpse? weak faith – i think not! and now we are going to DO the sun salutation or salutation to the sun …. now lets get into the corpse position or DO / become like a corpse …. now clear your minds of all thoughts-concerns-worries or lets empty our minds — words have meanings as well as sounds like their waves move and images real or imaged have-make-give people impressions of things. it is inescapable or it is simply something one is in denial about …. that these physical – mental – emotional and spiritual impacts are in fact laws of creation and are indelibly written on everything that is – thats why i wrote this in all lower case lettering to have a less intrusive effect, think GOD says in, Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
In reply to Dr Steven J Skafidi . Am so glad I came across this article. Actually it didn’t take me long to find it either I started Yoga two weeks ago and was quite uncomfortable as a christian. There was a strange foreign language being said as well as chant or humming. Within an hour or so of the the lesson I experienced like a message placed on my heart it was very clearly “I am the LORD who healeth thee”. I almost popped off my chair from the easier exercise route as I am a beginner and could not keep up with the others. However, though still feeling uncomfortable I decided to keep focus on GOD. I decided to try the second week for further clarity but it was impossible to serve two masters at the same time by blocking out the chant/hum etc. Ironically I was led to this article the moment I decided to dig a little deeper. I like the lines about words have meaning sounds have wave … all relevant and as you so succinctly put it the law of creation. Hope this be a witness to others what God placed on my heart.
Thank you so much for this. I’ve wanted to try yoga for years just to have some way to stretch and loosen up (destress, ya know?) but without hurting myself. I’ve also heard of people using it for strength and all. Then I heard my pastor say that it was wrong and that it was worshipping other gods… and since then, the question has been “why” in my mind. If I’m using it for my own body health and I’m strong in my own faith, why does an exercise pose dictate how I believe?
You’re welcome! Glad you found it helpful. Happy yoga-ing. 🙂
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
But if you are never to have known or been exposed to people saying that Yoga was a form of worship of other gods, and you were a very devout Christian, then where would there be any difference? If God knows your heart, He knows that it is not your intent on not worshiping Him but to take care of yourself and the body He created.
Firstly, this is a post about how people DO know it is a worship to the sun god, but excuse themselves anyway. Also, the FIRST commandment states to have no other gods before Him– there is no clause about accidentally doing so. You indeed must take care of your body, but not the price of your soul. You must never bow a knee to Baal– but many yoga studios will have a shrine, a statue in it, or another idol in it and you will bow before it. Satan is always trying to trick you, so why also trick yourself?
God knows ones heart and intentions.
Good Analysis
Yoga is not theology – well said
but theology needs yoga – all aspects of yoga –
irrespective of what the particular religion is.
Yoga is practical Pholosophy
The depths of yoga were explored by some who were labeled by onlookers as Hindus
Thanks for your write-up.
But first, let me say that I find this write-up as a justification of your inner battle to the truth.
Let me point out your own writings and then give you a reference for which you find a way to deal with your inner turmoil.
Before that, I believe and I want to believe that as a professing Christian who must be Christ-like and follow the precepts of the Word of God, you believe in the entirety of the Word. If so…….
YOUR WORDS :
“The word “yoga” means to yolk, and join yourself with other Gods. The word “yoga” comes from the Sanscrit word, “yug” which is translated as “to harmonize,” to “bring together,” or yes, to “harness or yoke.” Again, I think it’s important to remember that who or what we’re joining with is up to us. I find the meaning of the word ‘yoga’ beautiful, and think it perfectly illustrates both the coming together of mind, body, and soul; and, as a Christian, the coming together of myself and God.”
MY POINTERS FOR YOU:
Look at the definition you pointed out then read the Scriptures where it says we shall not worship any other God except THE LORD OUR GOD! Jesus also made it clear
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. ”
To yoke or unite oneself with something to declare full belonging to it. Now why not simply it physical exercises? Tell me that uniting oneself is not something you must be concerned about as a Christian.
Well let me add this to your statement on archaeological findings which you may have not included or stumbled upon:
According to Mikel Burley, the first use of the root of the word “yoga” is in hymn 5.81.1 of the Rigveda, a dedication to the rising Sun-god, where it has been interpreted as “yoke” or “control”
As much Yoga is not a theology it thrives on theology now and finds its roots in some major religious practices contrary to Christianity, so in order not to have a turmoil in your acts and being unsure what should you be doing, staying focused to what the scripture says and being mindful of what the ways of the Lord is.
The fact that something has a beautiful meaning does not mean it is accepted by the Lord. However, if one wants to meditate on the word of the Lord whilst doing physical exercises, why not keep it that simple and do so.
As much as our hearts may be clean, our trying incorporate other things into our walk with God is our choice for which we are liable to.
By the way, the Holy Spirit was given to us as a comforter and one to help us harmonize our inner man with the mind and body through our Lord Jesus Christ. So why not implore and employ the Spirit of God in that regard but, yet use yoga?
No where in scripture does it talk about yoking ourselves with anything else but, it talks about yoking ourselves with Christ Jesus. Not everything that seems lawful (allowed) is permissible when it comes to our walk with Christ Jesus.
So again read through your own write and use the Bible as the yardstick to find out what to do. By the way… the worship of the sun was and is abominable to God. And to say Yoga predates major religions of which Worshipping YWHW through Christ Jesus is included, is to deny the fact that one is not ready to fully grasp the precepts of God and walk with them.
My Candid advice, if you want to physical strengthen your body, do exercises but immediately there is a mind, soul and body speech, you must know that it is the entering of the paranormal.
It like a Christian saying I believe the Lord will safe me but, does voodoo and or has dream catchers and justifies it as tradition.
Shalom
YHWH!!! made a typo of the word….