Yoga Postures & the Bible?

Question

I do Yoga, simply the streches & poses to help with my back problems. Can anyone tell me how the Bible might be opposed to my doing so? A Christian friend told me that it is wrong to practice Yoga if you are a follower of God's Word. I can see nothing in the Bible which says doing stretches or postures to actually help your body like a chiroprator does is wrong. I am not like meditating on another god when I do them, just using them as excercise and to relax my body.

Answer 1

If you're worried, just stick to the stretching and skip the chanting/praying to foreign idols. I burn incense while stretching out all the time, but I'm never praying to a goddess or anything... It's just relaxing!

Answer 2

The origin of the word “yoga” is related to that of the English word “yoke.” It can mean to join or yoke together or to bring under a yoke, to harness or control. To a Hindu, yoga is a technique or a discipline that leads to union with a great supernatural force or spirit. It has been described as “the yoking of all the powers of body, mind and soul to God.”

Yoga (a Sanskrit word signifying “union of the individual soul with the Supreme Spirit”) consists of physical and mental exercises, postures, breathing exercises and intense meditation and concentration. Originating in India, it has been westernized and used to reduce tension, lose weight and gain energy. Books on the market such as Practical Yoga for Businessmen and Yoga for Parents indicate its popularity. Would you practice yoga?

If so, consider this fact: real yoga is not merely a form of exercise. It is a Hindu religious practice. “The chief aim of the Yoga philosophy is to teach the means by which the human soul may be completely united with the Supreme Spirit,” according to Dr. B. S. Surti. That seems a long way from Yoga for Businessmen, but it is what yoga exercises were originally designed to achieve.

Answer 3

I think your Christian friend is getting mixed up with Buddhist form of meditation and yoga. A lot of people still think meditation and even some martial arts is associated with other religions. I don't have that view but saying that some form of meditation on a higher level opens up your 'third' eye so be careful.

Answer 4

Nothing wrong with stretching or the deep breathing and clearing the mind parts of meditation (Christians should appreciate that as a way to help them be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and answers to our prayers).

Just so long as it's not a part of worshiping some other deity, then I think it's just healthy, and can strengthen your relationship with God, if you use it as a time to listen.

Answer 5

i'm not an fairly non secular man or woman. What denomination is the backside Chapel? i don't decide to debate faith because of the fact maximum of human beings have such different ideals. yet, COME ON!!!! I propose what variety of man or woman is suggesting this? Please don't get indignant by this yet have you ever seen that this church may be of the occult? while i replace into in severe college a chum of mine replace right into a member at a church and each and all of the human beings have been truly astounding. I even went some situations. It grew to become out that they have got been a reasonably super church yet I observed them on the information... human beings I KNEW... and it grew to become out that they have got been close down or run out of city or something for being a cult. They arrested the human beings. i did not stay in a small city, I lived in Cincinnati. You on no account know. perchance you may desire to evaluate finding a church with values which you will not experience obligated to question. there are maximum of churches available, p.c.. a different one and notice notwithstanding if that's from now on advantageous. the element IS TO WORSHIP GOD AND learn THE BIBLE. i think of it is your interest to confirm you prepare sturdy morals and do mind-blowing from incorrect. i don't think the choose arises stay in concern to circulate to heaven. Why be under lots tension? sturdy success... oh, by ways. i don't think that Yoga is of the devil. thank you for interpreting.

Answer 6

Yoga is forbidden if youre a christian because it comes from Buddhism or Hinduism, same with any far east practices including, Martial arts, meditation, candle magic and healing etc.

Answer 7

As long as you keep them on the "exercise" level, you should not worry. But if your instructor does "Sun salutations" or other Hindu yoga prayers....you might want to think twice. That's not a doctrine that a Christian should be involved in.

Answer 8

There is nothing whatsoever in Scripture that is opposed to the practice of hatha yoga. I would say continue what you are doing and don't worry about it. If it does offend your conscience, you can always switch to Pilates.

Answer 9

I think it all depends on intention. I know islam sees things this way. However, there are those who take things too literally and believe we shouldn't do yoga either. They are simply shallow individuals who can't seem to truly understand what God is all about.

Answer 10

The reason you often hear an admonishment to not do such because the movements themselves are part of the choreographed worship of other gods, generally Hindu.