Is yoga connected with hinduism? or is it a kind of exercise?

Question

I am a christian, I do not want to do yoga with hindu mantras or anything. kindly someone reply.

Answer 1

Hi!!

I used to be a yoga teacher. I became a Christian, God saved me and I threw away my books, gave up my class, etc. I gave it all up for a long time.... But then after a year or two I realized that I could still enjoy doing the exercises or "postures" without the Hinduistic influences.

I tell people that yoga - the postures - can be done by a Christian with no problem just like other exerecises - as long as they stay away from breathing techniques, meditation, etc. Those things - concentrating on your breathing, trying focus on some "inner light" or something like that, can lead to problems.

I am a grandfather now and I still stand on my head - but I am praying or quoting bible verses when I do!

I always turn the old phrase around and say "don't throw the bathwater out with the baby!" - in other words, get rid of the foundations (the baby) - the Hinduistic beliefs, the mantras, the breathing meditations, - but keep the bathwater - the good relaxing healthful "postures".

make sense?

Try to find a Christian teacher cause most teachers practice and try to promote the watered down, Western style Hinduism that is rampant in things like Transcendental Meditation, etc.

Answer 2

ya yoga is deeply connected with Hinduisms as its created by all those greate yogi who did lots of prayers or sadhana for this mankind,to make this world more peace full and beautiful.But you should understand the real value of yoga.
I want to ask a question that do you ask the medicine shop that who manufactured this medicine a Hindu,a Muslim or a christian,before taking ur required medicine?what i aspect ur answer should be no ,otherwise people will say u r a mad.Similarly YOGA is a medicine for many deceases.So through this narrow mentality.I think I know Jesus more than u.He only said that i am present in everything.wherever u want to see me u can find me.then say me first is Jesus is not in Hinduism.just try to find him,he just change his name to make u confuse.

Answer 3

You need not chant any mantra to learn yoga. It is connected to Hinduism as one of its six main Codes of conduct books.
You can learn yoga at home by getting lessons from Yogoda satsangha asram -Ranchi- India-pin-834001
You can also get the same lessons from Self realization foundation -los angels-USA(you can get correct address from the net). If possible read the book"Auto biography of a yogi"
By sri Parama hansa Yogananda where he has explained yoga in simple words.

Answer 4

Yoga is short for Yogic exercises.

It originated in India and it is has religious over tone at one time, people were interested in living good life in Harmony with nature and the religion, and in the process were trying to achieve salvation.

Russi-munises had their ways or methods, other group lik Jogi had their method ....... and Yogi were following this method. To-day loosely known world over as yoga, they discover that, they were able to derive good benifites by holding certain position for few minute, and thinking nothig but of salvation, they found peace of mind in doing so and at the same time benifited physicaly. Some then stated experimenting, with defferent words or sounds found in nature, from the prevaling language(sanskrite), the main sound used is the sound that you can here in certain places on earth it is a peaceful sound of the rotation of the earth, through the space, negleting all other relative motions we, on earth, are moving at about 1000 miles per hour, there is a cetain hum to it that sounds like "Oommm" this is the basic chant, done by students and the teachers of yoga, in so doing they got extra benifite of puting more air through the lungs, which in turn gave more oxigen to the body(brain) they realised mind clearing effects.

Some Yogi started doing Jup(repeating the words over and and over again, like hail mary prayers) they may hold a position and using a bead string say the same word over and over again, and when they are all the way arond the rosary they may continue for few rounds of rossary and then take new position. The Hindus have 1001 names for the God, they may use " "Oommm" by it self or add usualy santy(it means peace, but they are praying or asking for pease of mind, body and soul). Some may use Isver(a name for god) with "Oommm"("Oommm-Isver) or some other name of god.

Most people engaging in Jogic exsersises do not use mantras(Mantras are few words put together to praise the lord or ask for wish or thank the God). It may or may not have effect but basicaly it is used to keep track of time as far as holding the position, and then taking the new one. You may want to use a stop watch, with a bell, say hail mary X number of times.

I do belive that the position and the breathing exsersises that go with the positions are very benfitial, and if yu are interested then atleast you should try them without chans or mantras. I am not a Hindu but I do not mind even the chants if I have no objection to them and I know the exact meaning of them.

PS
Cercumference of the earth is about 24000 mile and it comes back to same position after 24 hours(one day's time) so 1000 miles per hour.

Answer 5

yes.

"Today in India and across the World, Yoga is a vibrant living tradition and is seen as a means to both physical health and spiritual mastery."

"The goals of yoga are expressed differently in different traditions. In theistic Hinduism, yoga may be seen as a set of practices intended to bring people closer to God - to help them achieve union with God. In Buddhism, which does not postulate a creator-type god, yoga may help people deepen their wisdom, compassion, and insight. In Western nations, where there is a strong emphasis on individualism, yoga practice may be an extension of the search for meaning in self, and integration of the different aspects of being. The terms Self-Realization and god-Realization are used interchangeably in Hindu yoga, with the underlying belief that the true nature of self, revealed through the practice of yoga, is of the same nature as God."

-wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga

yoga is "spritual" depending on how you take it. it can be "spritual" in a sense that you want to be intouch with your "inner self"..like peace within your self; and it is also a good workout. these days people dont do yoga for religious reasons....people do it because its an experiance or they simply enjoy it. practicing yogo doesnt mean your backstabbing your faith. lets say you took a trip to asia and you were a common tourist...and there was a ancient temple...most people would visit the temple because its so different and an experience with new/different culture...just because you enter a temple doesnt mean your denying your religion. if you believe your faith is strong...what are you afraid of?

Answer 6

Yoga is simply an exercise. It is not connected with any of the religion. of course it was started centuries back . It is one of the most important exercise. You can attain strength and Mental flexibility. By doing Yoga, there will be no problems in our old age.

Answer 7

An instance of Jnana/Knowledge Yoga. Buddhi is Intelligence that is crucial to acquire or access knowledge. In fact, Lord tells Arjuna that He will grant buddhi, a divine intelligence, so that Arjuna can behold the Lord/apprehend the totality of Reality.It is one of the pathway for self realization.

Answer 8

If it is nearlly a good thing and if it really shows the way for a good living, and even if it is introduced or practiced by other religion i will accept it with due respects. It is different from excercise and one has to excercise the science what it reaches.

Answer 9

both. but it is more related to Indian Buddhism and is in this way not related to worship but to a form of physical meditation. There is nothing contradictory to Christianity in it in and of itself. There are no Gods involved.
Wikipedia has a very good article on it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga

Answer 10

Dear friend, first study what is yoga, though it was developed by Munies, essentially it is an exercise.