Is yoga a science or a religion practice ?

Question

I am asking this because I read that the indian gurus are trying to infiltrate and convert the western world to hinduism by making people believe that yoga is nothing but science and techniques that bring you a healthy happy life.

A European who travelled to India (but also to Mount Athos, in Greece - the center of Christian Orthodox Monachism) wrote is his book that he found in the library of the ashram of Mongyr, India, a few pages book containing the testament of guru Vivekananda who was confessing that there is a systematic effort with the view to reach the political change and, finally, to invade the Western Christian World by the Oriental concepts. The final point of this plan was the definitive destruction of Christianity.

Answer 1

religious practice

Answer 2

Yoga is not a 'type of exercise' (unless your a 25 year old white female from NYC, who drinks lattes). It's a physical, mental and spiritual discipline that includes exercise as a component of a holistic system that should improve the quality of life. The best thing I found in researching it was that it seeks to eliminate dichotomies in the self, which is a cultural plague in the modern world.

Kazilth: No one needs a science lecture.

Answer 3

It provides a way of increasing mind-body awareness. In this way it can be seen as a form of therapy, a philosophical approach to life, an exercise regimen, or if connected to the metaphysical, a religion. Take what you like from it, leave what is not useful. There's no evangelism in the Hindu-Buddhist-yoga tradition.

Answer 4

Science? ROTFLMAO! Do you know the definition of "science?" it's:
1 : the state of knowing : knowledge as distinguished from ignorance or misunderstanding
2 a : a department of systematized knowledge as an object of study b : something (as a sport or technique) that may be studied or learned like systematized knowledge
3 a : knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through scientific method b : such knowledge or such a system of knowledge concerned with the physical world and its phenomena : NATURAL SCIENCE
4 : a system or method reconciling practical ends with scientific laws

Yoga is either a religion or a recreation/hobby, depending on how seriously people take it.

Answer 5

spiritual science


Yog means union. Union with a supreme power which is the source of creation, perfection and destruction. Union with the supreme intellect and the guiding force behind the perfect mechanism of the universe. Yoga is merging oneself with this force that guides the human being to a state of total bliss. A human being is a small universe in itself. When the consciousness of this small universe unites with the energy prevailing in the vast canopy of the universe the union is complete and the light of wisdom starts flowing in the human body. The light contains everything a human needs to evolve. A human is a part of nature and constantly striving for perfection. This is the natural course of evolution because god is the personification of ultimate perfection.

Evolving by flowing along with the universal force or balancing with Nature reveals the truth automatically. Balance is the key to the powers of nature. There should be a balance between two extremes because the Universe is balancing all extremely contradictory forces, day-night, sun-moon, man-woman, God–Satan. No hectic or tortuous way can lead to the truth. Balancing the body and mind and attuning both to Nature is certainly a step towards realization. Nobody can put down any syllabus or a short cut for self-realization. Yog, Jap, Tap , penance and many more so-called ways can help to control and develop self-discipline but certainly not guarantee the ultimate union.

The basic requirement for attaining realization is Truth i.e. to be truthful on the three planes of Mansa, Vacha, Karmana (thought, word and deed). A person who is truthful on these three planes naturally gets guidance from the Supreme. It just flows spontaneously to the person who is balanced in emotions, tolerant, patient, humble, fearless, confident, satisfied, spreads happiness always, has speech full of love and compassion. Such a person becomes a perfect channel for cosmic energy that symbolizes the cosmic Mother. That is why Nature is called Mother Nature. She is the best guru . She just gives and shares her bounties without any commercial calculation. The human body has built-in remote controls for all mental and physical ailments. We only need to know how to operate these. Eighty percent of all diseases are the outcome of mental and physical abuse. Ill-balanced and unnatural ways of life cause the malfunctioning of hormonal glands. Hormonal secretions are the regulators of the body and mind.

These regulators operate properly only if we are tuned to Nature. When we strain our relations with Nature by living an artificial life, there is an imbalance which causes the accumulation of toxins in the body. These toxins are to be removed from the body by thorough cleansing. Yoga helps to detoxify our body and regulate hormonal secretions, thus channelling our life force towards spirituality. Yoga is thus just not twisting the body to perform certain asanas or postures but balancing the mind and body, making it more receptive to the universal life force pouring from the Supreme Self. Hence, be truthful, do your duty and love all, along with a few asanas daily to keep yourself on the path of evolution.

Answer 6

Yoga is a practice of the mind, body, soul and universal connection. It integrates all that is right with the world in you. I hope you find that!

Answer 7

It is a bit of both as the exersises help to align the vital centers of the body. and the centering exersisies do just that they center your soul with the body and the earth.

Answer 8

I believe yoga is an exercise...lol

I don't think its a religious practice.. but I'm sure there are some religions that include that sort of thing in their mind/body relaxation techniques..

Answer 9

yoga is a method of getting more intuned with your body.....not a religious act although some find it spritually uplifting....not a science but some find that yoga can cure body pains and helps maintain an internal homeostasis

Answer 10

YO-- GAH means Yoking with the gods............

kind of looks like a religion.

First tried to be sold as a religion by the maharishi Yoga in the Beatles days.

Answer 11

Yoga is not a religion. It is a spiritual science. A path to enlightenment.