Should Born Again Believers Practice Yoga
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Should a Christian practice yoga?
What exactly are the origins and the purpose (besides the physical benefit) of yoga? I have heard that yoga can open Christians upwards to spiritual dangers. Why and how so?
Analyze • Share • Study • Asked June 10 2013 • 
Anonymous
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Yoga practiced as originally taught, seeks "outside" spiritual contact with the "universe" which of course is replacing seeking God to bring healing and health which is what yoga is meant to give which was something created by Indus of the Indus Valley. The yogis encourage spousal relationship with the finite jiva (transitory self) and with the space Brahman (eternal cocky). Brahman is a term used past the Hindus to mean "God." So, what are we supposed to unite with? Yogis usually call back of God equally an impersonal, spiritual substance, coexisting with all of reality. This doctrine is called pantheism which is the view that everything is God. In the Bible, God reveals Himself as the personal Creator of the universe. Past researching the history of yoga, we larn that it is not safe spiritually. Yoga teaches united states of america to focus on ourselves instead of on the one true God. It encourages us to seek the answers to life's difficult questions within our own conscience instead of in the Bible. It as well leaves 1 open to deception from Satan, who searches for victims that he tin can plough away from God (1 Peter five:8). Isaiah viii:19 And when they shall say unto you lot, Seek unto them that take familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
Anonymous
Re: the question of Christians practicing Yoga (for exercise just, the spiritual component is very plain sin) I really recollect this is similar the meat effect spoken of in ane Corinthians, where it is a matter of the conscience. Even before becoming Christian, I hated the spiritual component of Yoga (I plant it very boring and a waste of fourth dimension) and only sought yoga out because information technology is extremely difficult to find affordable and consistent developed gymnastics classes, and I wanted flexibility and a certain kind of forcefulness that does not come from grooming with weights. Based on what Paul says about our liberty in Christ, it seems right and fitting to treat the exercise portion of yoga as they were treating meat in 1 Cor. 10:23: "23"I have the right to practise anything," you say—simply not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to practice anything"—but not everything is constructive. 24No one should seek their own good, only the expert of others. 25Eat anything sold in the meat marketplace without raising questions of conscience, 26for, "The earth is the Lord'southward, and everything in it." 27If an unbeliever invites yous to a meal and you want to go, swallow any is put earlier you without raising questions of conscience. 28But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then practise non consume it, both for the sake of the ane who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29I am referring to the other person's conscience, not yours. For why is my liberty being judged past another's conscience? 30If I take role in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? 31So whether y'all eat or drink or whatever you do, practice it all for the glory of God. 32Do not crusade anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33even as I attempt to delight everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the skilful of many, so that they may be saved." Is your yoga teacher clearly promoting the spirituality associated with the exercise? If and then, then refrain from participating for the sake of the instructor'southward censor. We are aiming to direct people to Christ and obey Him ourselves. We can't practice this while seeming like nosotros are participating in and like-minded with a sinful practice in our bodies (whatever nosotros may exist praying on the inside). I call up the points to go on in mind and practice when discussing and thinking near how to handle these greyer issues are obedience, love and glory to God, and love for our neighbor... "Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never consume meat again, and then that I will not cause them to fall." (1 Cor. 8:13)
Stephen Chiliad
Brusk respond is 'NO'. There is no such matter every bit 'christian' yoga. The word yoga is a sanskrit word significant 'union'. It is a practise used past hindus to bring them into a spousal relationship with hindu gods. How can a christian have union with other gods? Information technology is forbidden equally in the first commandment. Go to a gym and piece of work out at that place with stretching exercises if you must, merely steer clear if yoga and its ilk.
Shamarion Dow
Larn the origin of yoga...concord it up to the word....ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the TRUTH since He (Holy Spirit) is the revealer of TRUTH. The word promises u.s.a. that He (Holy Spirit) volition lead & guide us in all TRUTH. So be willing to take the TRUTH Holy Spirit reveals. Yoga is not just a physical act but a spiritual ane also....then 1 must exist careful not to open themselves up to spiritual warfare in ignorance. God said "My people perish for lack of noesis." & He also said "In all your getting get understanding."
Ben Ting
Yoga is not okay as it is a class of Hindu worship. Information technology really doesn't thing how "harmless" or "beneficial" Yoga is to our own understanding when the Word of God warns nigh such outcome. Deut 12:29-31 "When the Lord your God cuts off before yous the nations whom you go in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their country, take intendance that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed earlier you, and that you exercise non enquire about their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? —that I also may practise the same. ' Y'all shall not worship the Lord your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the Lord hates they have washed for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods.
Bearding
ane Cor 6: 19-20 Nosotros are to care for the gift of our bodies, and the Concrete practice of yoga is an excellent manner to do it. In that location are DVD'south and books for specifically Christian yoga, only yoga can be "just do", as well. I am a committed Christian who has taught yoga for 11 years. Everything we say and do during my classes is spiritually sound. I work in a health lodge and teach "fitness" yoga; we focus on the benefits of the physical practise: strength, flexibility and improved breath control. It is entirely possible to take a wonderful exercise, improving your health and mental clarity, without ever alluding to matters of alternate spirituality. Near wellness club classes are like this - more than so than at dedicated yoga studios - simply you may accept to look around a bit to find a practiced, fitness-based grade.
Anonymous
I think information technology'due south completely inappropriate to "appropriate" the practice of yoga as "but exercise". There are plenty of stretching regimens out there, including the standard P.E. ones and even those favoured by ballet dancers! But each and every ane of the Yoga poses is a named/divers posture to honor or invoke a particular Hindu deity! Then the vocabulary of Yoga in this way is already compromised. Information technology would be like unwittingly practicing American Sign Language just to limber upward your arthritic hands. You might be communicating something unintentional to your audience, at best! And Yoga's "audience" is the spiritual dimension, no question. The Yoga teachers I've talked to (those that intendance to pursue some kind of certification) all volition admit that it's ultimately "a spiritual path". My problem is that the Westernization of Yoga postures/breathing/mindset and the marketing of information technology every bit a wellness benefit is irresponsible and does a disservice to the Hindu community. Tin can you lot imagine some grouping or teacher being disrespectful enough to promote First Nations dance as a cardio class? "Just do"? I remainder my case.
Steve Stevens
Ask any Yogi, and they will tell you that you cannot separate the spiritual from the physical aspects of Yoga. If you lot profess to be a Christian and yet practice yoga, y'all are worshiping some other god. Woe to those who proclaim Christ, merely appoint in this Hindu worship.
Charlene Lutes
I have done yoga, and I plan to do it once again. What I do is forego the talk most the organized religion, and I worship the Lord instead. In my listen I always get to Him even on a walk, then you can receive the benefits of yoga without selling your soul.!
Joel Bergeron
Reincarnation and karma (Hindu, Buddhist) trials and tribulations as they achieve for their Gods. A Christian'south trial is one life to get it right. John iii:16 says all i need is to believe. Nevertheless my attending is called to the entire Old Testament where the Israelite Kings and Kingdoms were punished time and fourth dimension once again for bowing to pagan Gods. "Now fearfulness the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to y'all, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you lot are living. Merely as for me and my household, we volition serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:xiv-xv)
Therese Jardine
All of the states equally private Christians make up the whole body of Christ. If one office of the torso is hurting, so the whole body hurts. If the church opens up it's doors to the practice of yoga, even if it's just the concrete function, it can open up the doors for spiritual attack on new believers, those who haven't however been discipled in God'due south discussion. Considering of a new believer'south lack of understanding, they could very well be deceived and led away from the Lord. Why would nosotros want to invite even the appearance of evil into the church? We must await at it's roots. If the tree is bad, so the fruit volition be bad. Why eat the fruit off of a bad tree? The teachings of Yoga is so incredibly diametrically in opposition of the gospel of Jesus Christ. So, why have annihilation to do with it at all? The deception is that it helps us to focus on God. It's God's discussion that keeps our focus on Him. 1 Thess. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. I think that by introducing Yoga into the body of Christ, we are inviting deception to come in. Gal five:9 A lilliputian leaven leavens the whole lump.The apostle Paul said it twice, so it must be of farthermost importance. Gal ane:8&9 Simply fifty-fifty if we, or an affections from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what nosotros have preached to y'all, allow him be accursed. Equally we accept said earlier, and so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what y'all take received, let him be accursed. Why would we want to have anything to practice with whatever pagan practices and philosophies?
Singapore Moses
Yoga is called meditation. Information technology calls us to be lazy with idle heed. Then they ask you utter the meaningless slogans to invite satan or demons into your mind. The idle mind is the workshop of the devil. When the mind is empty, demons rush to occupy information technology (Mt 12:43-45). Information technology is a kind of heed-control of the satan or demons. Yoga means – Yoke. It yields her or him to the chains of satan or demon. Most of the people don't know is that you are actually beingness yoked to Hindu false god which are satanic or demonic! Yoga was created past Hindus that worship literally thousands of false gods otherwise known as demons. The poses are actually worship poses to unlike Hindu imitation gods! Most are very naive about what they are doing and of course most aren't being told near this. I'grand sure near people that consider themselves Christians would never desire to yoke themselves to Hindu demons but that'south exactly what they are doing if they do Yoga. It was created to do this! At that place is of course merely Ane God in three persons. The God that brought Moses out of slavery/bondage of Egypt – the God that created the whole world and the universe! If anybody talks about other "gods" then they are in fact talking about false gods - fallen angels or demons. Demons are absolutely real and they do have power but anybody that has given their life to Jesus Christ cannot be harmed by these demons. If you are doing Yoga correct now then you lot owe information technology to yourself. Kundalini yoga experts claim that they can walk on water merely like Jesus walked on body of water. But kundalini a yoga is satanic or demonic. Satan doesn't show up with a black greatcoat and a pitchfork, he comes at you with things that might seem completely innocent at starting time. I'm sure some of y'all are maxim to yourself that Yoga is just good do but if you lot are saying that to yourself, you'd exist dead wrong. It is too dangerous. You are playing with your soul. Practice yous want to risk your eternal soul without learning more? Read the Bible and fill your heart with the Scripture (Psa 119:11). As much equally yous slumber during the night, you lot must piece of work during the day. Go actively involved in gardening, jogging, games, etc.
Anonymous
I struggle with stress. I get overwhelmed the business of the twenty-four hour period and I let that stress build in my body. I give the stress to The Lord and pray about information technology, but information technology creates aches and pains in my body (back pain, neck tightened). Yoga helps me to stretch out those parts of my body as normal work and exercise can not. It also allows me to be grateful for the body God gave me, he made my body to move, and be potent! Parts of certain yoga classes and some entire classes are over spiritualized. I plow what the teacher says into prayer to The Lord. I have yet to find a class that my prayers are difficult to relate to and that I don't mean. Yoga helps me to focus on god and salve stress.
Ezekiel Kimosop - Pastor & Bible Scholar
It is piece of cake to notice condolement in substance or religious prescriptions that do not add together true value to our spiritual lives. You cannot divorce yoga from what it stands for. Information technology is like saying I only hang nearly a brothel simply I never appoint in sexual sin. At that place must be circumspection for every believer to keep away from any advent of evil so that they hold their organized religion without contagion of cultic tendencies. Yoga is out of the question in my view. Shalom.
Guel Sugano
My reply to that is "Cheque YOUR MOTIVE." If joining a yoga bothers you peculiarly your spiritual attribute, why insist? If you are a Christian, why don't yous consult your Bible and let the Holy Spirit speak? God requires our love and complete obedience without reservation.
Katherine Rose
I believe the claims of spiritual warfare are valid, considering yoga can teach you to rely on yourself to fulfill the deep yearnings we all accept for safety and security amidst the activities of the mean solar day. The bliss of forgetfulness that yoga teaches tin can empty the heed of stress, just the next step is entirely 1's own: what do you put back in once the listen is empty and free? I have found yoga equally a peachy challenge for prayer practices such every bit breath prayers of the Lord'south prayer, or praying silently for protection confronting the causes of my stress, request the Lord to reveal my weaknesses, so that He may be stiff in them when I leave the studio. I take been practicing yoga for about iii years at present, and I would dear to teach in the future. I come across it as a identify where people get to receive rest. We are disciples who follow Jesus to become more similar Him, and since Jesus has authority over all powers in heaven and on globe, in that location is no place that He cannot go when you behave Him in your middle. Keep your heart fixed on the promise of salvation, pray over your beau yoga members, and see the yoga studio equally the modern day desert wilderness, a identify God can fill with love and lite if you let Him.
Donna NaQuin
Original Mail October 2013:I've been doing yoga exercises for quite a few years now. After many sessions of concrete therapy, I still was outa piece of work because of a dorsum injury. After doing yoga, practice merely, for a few months, I was able to go dorsum to piece of work. Then I began hearing all this hub bub about yoga. I fasted and prayed about it TWICE and got the aforementioned reply, but with more clarification the 2nd time. Back in the late '60's and early '70's, when all the rock Christian music came in, there was a HUGE hub bub near bringing "the devil'south music" into the church. Which is when I, my brother and a LOT of other people wouldn't even darken the doors of a traditional church got saved. Now every 1 is upwards in arms about Christians doing yoga and martial arts WITHOUT the meditation part. The devil is having a hey-day keeping the church building divided over these issues. Music isn't good or bad, it'south the words that arrive so. The devil would honey to see the church building weak, out of shape and divided. I have two friends that are very healthy and alive today because of Chinese herbs recommended by a Chinese Dr. I've heard preachers say that Chinese herbs are of the devil. Should we not eat at Chinese restaurants because they offering food to Buddha? Christians, ship their kids to public school every solar day, unless they have plenty coin for private schoolhouse, where they learn nigh the religion of evolution, homosexuality every bit an alternative life style, how to employ condoms and God forbid they mention the name of Jesus. Then if u really want to not do the means of the heathen, you won't offer your kids to the heathen gods of public school either. And go back to only the pipe organ for worship music. Edit 07.25.14: afterwards much "convincing" from some people in my Bible study about yoga, my Bible study leader sent me a link http://m.praisemoves.com/ This woman has what she calls a "Christian alternative to yoga". I ordered her dvd and basically every single pose is a yoga pose that she renamed with some other name and she quotes Scripture during the poses. I gauge this renaming process redeems the poses.
Arun Kumar
Whether to or not to do yoga is a matter of cocky conviction and it has nothing to practice with whatever religious context. It involves stretching the trunk and deep breathing which cleanes the blood and the trunk. Deep breathing pacifies the heart and mind and cures many middle bug. I dont see any ample reasons to mix it with the Bible. To explicate this, I would have to explain the origin of christmas. In fact, it was a pagan festival. Simply if a christian which celebrates christmas in remembrance of Christ, does information technology hateful he is celebrating a pagan God? In the same way does yoga apply. Yoga was founded past bang-up ascetics of Republic of india pretty long earlier the days of the gospel. They researched the stretching techniques of animals. They good information technology for themselves and finally found it was working. This is what happened in Republic of india. These ascetics diligently worked in those areas and by living a pure life and a good for you life concluded that they could have salvation for thier souls. That was not their fault, since they were non exposed to the scriptures of the jews. Yoga and meditation works for me. Information technology works for everyone which practices it. Hence it has no connectedness with the and so chosen "idolatry" or even with the Hindu forms of worship. The Hindus never had such forms of worship. To make information technology clear "Yoga" is not a class of worship at all. People merely blame it because they were taught then. The rational pattern of western mind is refusing the the metaphysical pattern of eastern minds. That is what I understood from all the comments regarding yoga, acupuncture, reiki etc. First of all, I want to make clear what the term "Hindu" means. Hindu does not mean a person which worships an idol, although we call idol worshippers every bit hindus in India. The whole nation of India, during the ancient times, was named by the river Sindhu. The land of Bharat was called the "Plain of Sindhu". Later, during the persian rule, when they capture the north western parts of India (Esther 1:1, 8:7), they called information technology as "Hindu" since the letter "Si" does non appear in their vocabulary. Even the tamil Bible calls Bharat as the "Hindu land" in Esther 1:1 & 8:7. Hence hindu is someone which lives in Republic of india. That'south all. Archaeological facts and researches conclude that the Indian worshipped the nature equally Gods and by giving sacrifices to them. They did never worship God through Yoga. Yoga is a course of practice which was primarily skillful by the ascetics of India to live a healthy and a pure life which they thought which might lead to salvation, even though the give-and-take "Yoga" would mean matrimony with God. It all depends upon the motive with which a person performs it. Motive is the crucial thing which God looks upon. I am certain that Christ is the just mode for salvation and likewise know that yoga does nothing to my salvation. Merely I accept freedom in Christ to choose the way to keep my trunk and listen healthy and then that I could lead a more fruitful life in Christ. I am non bound to any gyms. No one tin say thay "If you want to stay healthy, you accept to go to a gym" because that is not the only manner. There are many others. Pick between them lies with the i which chooses.
Catherine Livingston
Every bit Christians we must discern that black is black and white is white. There shouldn't be any greyness areas in our walk with Christ. When nosotros become too shut to the line, so we are getting off the path. If something has a lilliputian leaven it destroys the whole loaf. My philosophy is that if there is a question nearly a certain practice, then I shouldn't accept anything to do with it at all. Some things that look expert or feel good, peradventure are not skilful for us. Information technology isn't that hard to requite something up, especially if nosotros are doing it for Christ. Later all, isn't that the goal? To live for Him should be forefront in our minds and living.
Rick Jardine
Jesus is coming back for a church that is without spot or wrinkle..a powerful church! Eph five:27 Yoga is a blemish on the body of Christ. It is a tool of the enemy to h2o down the gospel of Jesus Christ. There'south already too much of the earth'due south kind of thinking going on in the church building. Rom 1:sixteen For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for information technology is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. All nosotros need in the church today is the preaching of the gospel. Accepting yoga into the church is just another tactic to get more people i.e. everyone to come in to the church whether they are born again or non. Col 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you lot through philosophy and empty deceit, co-ordinate to the tradition of men, according to the bones principles of the world, and not according to Christ.The church building needs to get dorsum to the simple gospel and seek to fully empathise what Jesus fully accomplished for u.s.a. with His death and resurrection! Once yous realize that, y'all won't want to borrow anything from the world or Hinduism.
Jadah Pleiter
I take seen people delivered from demonic spirits that came from yoga- kundalini spirit I think it is called- and take delivered people from them. Some were yoga instructors others only people who skillful it regularly. They all manifested in the same fashion- trunk undulating like a snake up the spine. I had participated in yoga previous to condign a Christian for stretching exercises merely certainly wouldn't now. The people who were delivered don't anymore either. I'm not saying everyone who practices yoga has a demon, only that I take seen evidence that yoga has demonic associations and can open people upwards to such things. Circumspection advised.
Walrus theCat
It really matters what you in your middle of hearts think about the practice. Can you stretch and put your body into any position you lot like? Absolutely. The world is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. Yous can declare your victory over whatever principalities or powers might be trying to interlope on your freedom. They don't own stretching. Jesus does. Should you be participating in Hindu demon-worship services? No. If that's what it is to y'all. In whatever you exercise, glorify God. I retrieve information technology's very important for a Christian to be very free in Christ, and each should exist very honest with his own censor and the Holy Spirit and obviously non harm his blood brother'south censor in whatsoever way, simply Romans 14:16 says "do not allow your adept be spoken of as evil" and Galatians 5:ane says "stand business firm in the freedom for which Christ has fabricated you free." You tin eat meat from the shambles (i Corinthians 10:25) because information technology'southward just meat (though sacrificed to idols), but you may not become a partaker of the loving cup of demons (ane Corinthians x:21.) The very days of our calendar week are named afterward demon gods. Nosotros are commanded to work to support ourselves, but to do so in a covetous manner is the sin of idolatry. My point is, if done in a clean conscience in the Holy Spirit, many things need not be unclean to us, but if done in a guilty conscience, our inner life is defiled. Notice that I don't make the conscience the absolute standard. It is necessary, but not sufficient. I's censor must be submitted to the truth. Nosotros stand up every bit lights in the world before the powers of darkness and our freedom from needless restriction (Colossians ii:twenty-23) is very important in that respect and for our joy. Don't permit anyone have that away from you, merely practise refrain from exercising your freedom for the genuine sake of others when necessary.
Rhonda Mcpherson
I did yoga and don't know anything about the spiritual attribute of it or that in that location was i. I knew they said namaste. I didn't know what information technology meant right away. But I knew that was something I would non be proverb. And when I found out I wouldn't say information technology. A lot of people don't know virtually the spiritual office of yoga. And have dissimilar thoughts thinking it is something like a culture says and non a spiritual matter. I volition non say anything or practise annihilation intentionally against God. And so if its wrong to do yoga, don't exercise it. Pray near it. But God knows your heart. And if you stand up for your belief, then that is what'south important.
Cassius D'Souza
I feel yoga is like tapping into the power of God without his permission, its like stealing from him without knowing him or thanking him. And even worse, during this process you betrayal your heed and tin very hands autumn prey to idolatry. The Omnipotent has already fabricated it very clear near idol worship. Our Lord Jesus Christ has not taught us meditation, trance and other things considering he knows this torso and its needs are temporary and will i day decompose he was more concerned with the soul which tin can be immortal if we choose the path show past him. There are other alternatives to live a wellness life but that would involve hardwork and dedication which are hard to follow in these times.
Simplicius Pereira
Yoga every bit we hear and witness is the concrete preparation for the amend functioning of our bodily tissues (both internal and external). These exercises have to exist scientifically guided or with pure professionalism. Otherwise we might damage our tissues and may cause more harm than benefits. Animate in and breathing out exercises are good since they give u.s. more oxygen and more oxygen improves our health and overall bodily performance. When in Seminary I had passed Yoga Exercises in A + course and did benefit some concrete fitness and wellness. Only I received more benefits when I had to walk 6 miles distance and back again for 3 years during my high school. I had wonderful wellness and that is why even at the age of 54 I can walk miles after miles today without any fatigue. You tin can never experience the immortal pleasures with the mortal bodies and nosotros tin never equate the Spiritual supreme existence with the perishable human body or its consciousness. Nosotros can train ourselves and our children by going to practiced concrete training, gyms, merely never do the divinization of concrete training as to run across God in it. If we accept a clear conscience and regular concrete exercises, outdoor games, swimming, cycling, jogging, etc we tin can keep our listen and body fit and healthy by Simplicius Pereira
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