I have heard that many Christians are opposed to the practice of yoga. Can anyone explain to me what are the objections to yoga?
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Unsu...
Re: Christianity and yoga
Tue, January 3, 2006 - 12:51 PMMany evangelical Christians are highly suspicious of yoga and any other practice derived from eastern religions. They view them as reflecting pantheism, which is an affont to the personal theistic doctrine that has characterized much of Judeo-Christian thinking.
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Re: Christianity and yoga
Tue, January 24, 2006 - 12:59 AMProbably only right-wing "Christians". My former Episcopal parish actually sponsored free yoga classes. I am a certified yoga instructor and can tell you that yoga comes in many flavors. Some emphasize meditation and utilize chants, which can raise the suspicions of certain individuals. However, most "Western" practitioners of yoga are in it for the physical benefits of stretching and breathing. Pick and choose elements from the wide variety of yoga elements that you are comfortable with and ignore the nay-sayers. The word "yoga" means "yoke" or "union" - the holistic integration of mind, body, and spirit. Yoga does not dictate which spiritual element you should practice, but rather is a tool to enhance whatever your spirituality happens to be. Of course, most practioners in India, the home of yoga, have chosen Hinduism as their spiritual path. You can choose Christianity, or more specifically, Anglicanism, if you so desire. There is no conflict there. Yoga only requires that you develop a spiritual component along with your mind and body. Sometimes "Western" practitioners leave out the spiritual aspect altogether, but then it isn't really yoga.