Yoga ?

GlorytoGod

GlorytoGod

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What are peoples opinions of practicing hatha yoga ?

I have done yoga on and off for years but since being born again I dont think I will touch it again.

As far as I am concerned yoga and even hatha yoga is a hindu spiritual practice and therefore as a christian its not something I am will to partake off, all my spiritual needs should be met by my faith Christianity and if I have to look outside of that then that would indicate a problem.
 
Acts 15
I recommend reading the whole chapter--regarding requiring the Gentiles to keep the entire Law of Moses:
18 “Known to God from eternity are all His works. 19 Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
The Jerusalem Decree


22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
23 They wrote this, letter by them:


The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,

To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:

Greetings.

24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”—to whom we gave no such commandment— 25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.
Farewell.​
I don't think that yoga should be considered among the necessary things, by any means. Does yoga lead to partaking of things offered to idols, blood, of things strangled, or of sexual immorality? Is it used as a cloak for vice? Does it bring harm to your neighbor? If not, than I would consider it to be a matter of conscience--and would come under the category of Christian liberty, imo. If it can bring relief to those who are suffering, then why deny them relief?
 
The objective of yoga as a discipline is to lead a person to the spiritual experience of being "yoked" to or merged with a superhuman spirit.

But which spirit would that be?


Christians
recognize that yoga goes beyond mere exercise and is dangerous? ​



The objective of yoga as a discipline is to lead a person to being merged with a superhuman spirit. Contrary to God’s direction, yoga involves stopping spontaneous thinking. (Romans 12:1, 2) Yoga can expose one to the dangers of spiritism and occultism. (Deuteronomy 18:10, 11)​

​
 
Yoga, yoked, Yoda, and yogurt all start with 'Yo'. Spelled backwards they are: trugoy, adoy, dekoy, and agoy. If you're not getting the picture, then take a look at the international ASCII values of the letters in the word 'Yoga'. Note that the last three letters in Yoga start with Hexadecimal sixes.

Y x59
o x6F
g x67
a x61

666. There's always some way to find it.
 
Dream said:
Yoga, yoked, Yoda, and yogurt all start with 'Yo'. Spelled backwards they are: trugoy, adoy, dekoy, and agoy. If you're not getting the picture, then take a look at the international ASCII values of the letters in the word 'Yoga'. Note that the last three letters in Yoga start with Hexadecimal sixes.

Y x59
o x6F
g x67
a x61

666. There's always some way to find it.
Click to expand...

My individual social security number can be turned into 6-6-6 by simple arithmatic. I used to freak out superstitious fundies by showing them this and then grinning at them.
 
mee said:
The objective of yoga as a discipline is to lead a person to the spiritual experience of being "yoked" to or merged with a superhuman spirit.

But which spirit would that be?


Christians
recognize that yoga goes beyond mere exercise and is dangerous? ​



The objective of yoga as a discipline is to lead a person to being merged with a superhuman spirit. Contrary to God’s direction, yoga involves stopping spontaneous thinking. (Romans 12:1, 2)​
Click to expand...

I would agree that some yoga instructors can be rather rigid when it comes to discipline. (Flexibility of body, but not of mind.) Others might not be. I guess maybe my Zen conditioning, which seeks to develop spontaneous thought, might have counteracted the mental rigidity of yoga. *shrugs*

Yoga can expose one to the dangers of spiritism and occultism. (Deuteronomy 18:10, 11)
Click to expand...
​

​
There might be a danger there.
 
Our minds are only so big, and the fundamental approach is often the only path available. Years ago my own parents believed that Yoga introduced demonic possessors to the individual's body, but a fundamental approach has freed me from that fear. I don't practice Yoga, but I don't fear practicing it. That's why, for me, I associate it with the 666 scare fads that come and go. A fundamental approach is itself sort of like yoga, but instead of flexing the body you're flexing your mind. It looks funny sometimes, but its good for you.
 
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I would have to agree that there is a definite mind/body connection. I like to practice some of the yoga asanas to help counteract physical discomforts, and the frustrations that might arise in the mind because of them. I don't use yoga as a means to a spiritual end, however.
 
mee said:
Yoga can expose one to the dangers of spiritism and occultism. (Deuteronomy 18:10, 11)

​
Click to expand...

Highly debatable.


Deuteronomy reads: Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.

I don't see yoga as fitting into these things at all. Bhakti yoga is devotional yoga. Karma yoga deals with one's karma (surprise).

Have a good day.
 
Yoga, as far as I know, existed much before hinduism. Hinduism came from north-west of South Asia around 3-4 thousand years ago, while yoga postured statues found around lower Indus valley are much older than that.

The usual yoga stuff that includes asanas & pranayama doesnt have anything to do with occultism, esotericism, spells, or even hinduism. If you go beyond the 4th limb of yoga, into sensory depriviation & meditations, thats where esotericism starts. Still it will be wrong to call it spiritism. Tantricks are more into that stuff, not yogis.
 
anything is ok like exercise, martial arts, stretching, etc.. as long as you are not tricked into worshiping false gods and calling it meditation.
 
GlorytoGod said:
What are peoples opinions of practicing hatha yoga ?

I have done yoga on and off for years but since being born again I dont think I will touch it again.

As far as I am concerned yoga and even hatha yoga is a hindu spiritual practice and therefore as a christian its not something I am will to partake off, all my spiritual needs should be met by my faith Christianity and if I have to look outside of that then that would indicate a problem.
Click to expand...

how about if your back hurts?
millions use yoga and yoga derived practice to relax and exercise
it is proven to help in many conditions
it is also very helpful even without a condition
my dad does it sometimes for better bowel movement
i tried it for stress relief but id get distracted

if your spiritual needs should be met by your faith then dont partake of the spiritual in yoga, if any
i dont know what you were doing, but there are so many variants of yoga today, many stripped down to the simple physical exercise and relaxation techniques, you can chose any number of variants and derivates of yoga that have no religious conotation at all

because what you ask is similar to asking if christians should practice karate, as it is clearly a buddhist thing, and as such dangerous, and can lead to ocultism, no?
or football, that foul, pagan, blasfemous practice, how can a christian go to the stadium and partake in it?
 
Mirko said:
how about if your back hurts?
millions use yoga and yoga derived practice to relax and exercise
it is proven to help in many conditions
it is also very helpful even without a condition
my dad does it sometimes for better bowel movement
i tried it for stress relief but id get distracted
Click to expand...

Pilates, Alexander, Technique, Physio etc, in fact many of the postures in yoga are also proven to be dangerous and unhealthy for your body.

if your spiritual needs should be met by your faith then dont partake of the spiritual in yoga, if any
i dont know what you were doing, but there are so many variants of yoga today, many stripped down to the simple physical exercise and relaxation techniques, you can chose any number of variants and derivates of yoga that have no religious conotation at all

because what you ask is similar to asking if christians should practice karate, as it is clearly a buddhist thing, and as such dangerous, and can lead to ocultism, no?
or football, that foul, pagan, blasfemous practice, how can a christian go to the stadium and partake in it?
Click to expand...
all yoga is a spiritual practice IMO even hatha yoga, its opens chakra's or energy centers in your body which can leave vulnerable to spiritual forces that are not of God, and a major part of hatha yoga is the Sun Salutation which is basically sun worhsip and therefore idolatary IMO.

As for karate I never practiced karate so I dont know much about it but many eastern martial arts are demonic in origin and therefore unsuitable and incompatible with christianity.

at the end of the day you make your own choices, but IMO hatha yoga is not merely physical it is also spiritual and the suggestion that it is not is a deception.
 
Don't worry, GlorytoGod, no one is going to compel you to practice yoga. :)
Galatians 5
Christian Liberty

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
Love Fulfills the Law


7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.
11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. 12 I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!
13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
Walking in the Spirit


16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.​
 
Good selection, SG.

1 Corinthians 8:1-4 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." "Knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up. If any one imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if one loves God, one is known by him. Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "an idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God but one."

GlorytoGod,
your concern for others is the most effective power you possess; and it is not despoiled so easily. Idolatry requires more than passive activity. Look at the story of Namaan who met with Elijah. Namaan converted from idol worship to worshipping the God of Israel, yet he continued to bow down at his master's side to the foreign idol yet Elijah sent him out in peace. Namaan merely took a bit of Israel's soil with him as evidence of his change of heart, and his conversion was blessed.(2Kings 5:17-19) He knew that the idol was nothing, so to him it was nothing. Don't worry about your fellow Christians even if they go through movements of the sun, because they are not worshiping the sun. Worry if they lose their love. Jesus alludes to this real problem in the parable of the sower and the seed. Several things could stop the seeds from growing, but even the 'Devil' couldn't take the seeds once they had gone into the good soil. (Matthew 13:3)

Consider the rite of jealously in the Law for the husband who found himself gnawed by jealous feelings. (Numbers 5:14-31) For spiritual purposes this passage teaches us that idolatry is a matter of the heart, because God is the husband and all Israel is the bride. (For practical purposes this law actually provided legal protection for wives against malicious accusations from their husbands, restricting the legal course that a jealous husband could take to following this rite. He could not beat the truth out of his wife, or start openly accusing her. ) This means that if someone appears to you to be in idolatry but they claim to worship God, then there is no way to know otherwise but by the soil of the temple, the soil of Namaan, or the soil of the Seed of the Sower, which grows into the fruit of the spirit. You must also judge yourself by your spiritual fruit and not by mere appearances. You may one day be forced to bow to something you would not or may, in passing, appear idolatrous. You may even one day be accused of demon possession but by your soil's fruit (your spiritual fruit) you can honestly judge yourself.
Deuteronomy 32:9-12 said:
Exodus 34:14 (for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),

For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as
the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her
wings: So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.
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Exodus 34:14 (for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),
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Interestingly, Galatians 5:20 lists jealousies as a work of the flesh, and would come under the Law, whereas there is no Law against the fruits of the Spirit.
 
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