A friend of mine posted this article on my page the other day. You can read it here: https://www.edendecoded.com/blog-2/item/yoga. The whole “Yoga and Christianity” debate is annoying but one I’ve tried to stay out of mainly because putting it down on paper has been a challenge. “We all have our convictions” has been my mentality until I read the article and in the comments a young lady wrote “I am so devastated to read that yoga is not for Christians. I had no idea. It was recommended from my Dr. so as to help my illnesses, Chronic Fatigue and migraine, that yoga is gentle and a simple exercise for these illnesses. I have been going for about 10 months and has helped me alot. Now to learn I am displeasing God, I must quit for nothing is worth going to hell for.”
The origin of Yoga doesn’t so much concern me for 2 reasons: 1. It works. 2. The Bible says in Colossians 1:16 “For in Him ALL things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” Satan didn’t come up with anything. He uses the things that God creates and perverts them for his benefit. I believe this is the case for yoga. And I’m taking back what the Devil has used for centuries to confuse people and bringing it back to God’s original plan: to restore balance, to maintain health and to bring glory to His name.
There’s no denying that yoga is an integral part of Hinduism, but so is fasting. Christians also fast. Yoga and fasting are not religions. Hinduism and Christianity are religions.
The word yoga means to “unite.” We are uniting the mind, body and spirit by using Asana (physical postures or shapes we put our bodies into to gain strength and flexibility), Pranayama (breath control) and Meditation (focus). I do not believe any of these things are offensive to God. 3 John 1:2 says “Dear friends, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you even as your soul is getting along well.” (You can google what scriptures say about physical health and meditation and find a plethora of links. I won't list them all here.)
From a clearly practical standpoint: the postures were created to allow for longer “sits” - where they would sit and mediate on whatever to whoever. But it’s like the author of this article thinks that just because we sit like they did, our brain will automatically and forcefully go to what they thought of. The science (or common sense) behind yoga is there: If you warm up your legs and stretch your body before you sit for an hour, you will be more comfortable. But guess what, you have a brain and you can meditate on whatever you want to meditate on. The same concept goes for the breathing techniques. These techniques have been proven to improve concentration and endurance, sends clean oxygen to the brain, releases tension, breaks irregular breathing patterns and the list goes on. Same goes for meditation.
If a Hindi comes up with the cure for cancer are Christians not going to try it? What if he dedicated his findings to some god or even said some god that you don’t believe in gave him the idea. It wouldn’t matter to us. We would be all over that! Then why wont you practice yoga?
There is no doubt that Jesus used yoga to heal me. I knew Him before yoga but something shifted afterwards. This practice allowed me to open up, to be still and to hear His still small voice. He didn’t find it offensive. He met me there. Yoga has brought about an awareness that can only come from a living God. I’m not conjuring up spirits when I practice yoga, I’m doing something that’s giving me more flexibility and strength, not just on the outside but on the inside as well. I’m not opening myself up for evil influences, I’m opening myself up to Jesus.
My God is bigger than any tradition or religion. If a person comes to his/her mat genuinely seeking “something” and is putting in the time to sit and wait, then who’s to say Jesus won’t show up? He says to “seek me and you will find me.” I believe with yoga blowing up like it has that there is an even bigger opportunity for people to hear God speak and feel Him move. The people who wrote this article make it sound like Jesus crosses his arms and snubs his nose to the air when someone gets on their mat. Shame on them. That’s not the Jesus I serve.
Namaste
P.S. I also found the pictures in this article to be a little annoying so here are some different pictures with sarcastic comments. :)
Here I am praying. Jesus probably didn't hear me because my legs are folded like this.
Here I am, face down, honoring Jesus, overwhelmed with gratitude for the practice of yoga. He probably didn't appreciate it, since he can't see into my heart and all.
Here I am in Tadasana. We also do this posture in church. BLASPHEMY!
