The dangers of yoga

bibletruth469

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Yoga stems from Hindu and Buddhist beliefs. It has become a common practice in today's society, even among Christians as a form of stretching and exercise. However, yoga also practices a type of meditation, such as clearing the mind and deep concentration and the power in the body. This is a very dangerous practice. As a Christian, we should never clear our mind. Instead, we should always fill out mind with scripture , the worship of God and prayer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I have a Christian friend who attends all types of yoga classes. She recommended that I try it because my balance is way off because of a car accident years ago when I broke my femor bone. One leg is shorter than the other. Anyway, I decided, by her advice to attend a yoga stretching class to help my balance. It was not at all what I expected. It turns out that each stretching pose stood for something mystical in their belief system. I also was not expecting the meditation after the exercises. It felt very dark . I prayed the whole entire meditation time to God and scripture in the Bible instead of what the instructor wanted us to do.

Recently, I heard of a church advertising ' Christian' yoga classes. How can darkness and light occur at the same time, it can't!!

I wanted to get the word out about this deception and my experience with it and how dangerous it can be. I am very thankful that I have the holy spirit living within me, being a born again Christian and a Christ follower. I am also thankful that I realized right away what it was and was not deceived. I immediately ask God for his forgiveness . I love Him and do not want anything to come between my relationship with Him.

I am posting this to help others through the direction of the holy spirit prompting me.. Thank you and God bless you!
 

Pepper77

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Yoga stems from Hindu and Buddhist beliefs. It has become a common practice in today's society, even among Christians as a form of stretching and exercise. However, yoga also practices a type of meditation, such as clearing the mind and deep concentration and the power in the body. This is a very dangerous practice. As a Christian, we should never clear our mind. Instead, we should always fill out mind with scripture , the worship of God and prayer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I have a Christian friend who attends all types of yoga classes. She recommended that I try it because my balance is way off because of a car accident years ago when I broke my femor bone. One leg is shorter than the other. Anyway, I decided, by her advice to attend a yoga stretching class to help my balance. It was not at all what I expected. It turns out that each stretching pose stood for something mystical in their belief system. I also was not expecting the meditation after the exercises. It felt very dark . I prayed the whole entire meditation time to God and scripture in the Bible instead of what the instructor wanted us to do.

Recently, I heard of a church advertising ' Christian' yoga classes. How can darkness and light occur at the same time, it can't!!

I wanted to get the word out about this deception and my experience with it and how dangerous it can be. I am very thankful that I have the holy spirit living within me, being a born again Christian and a Christ follower. I am also thankful that I realized right away what it was and was not deceived. I immediately ask God for his forgiveness . I love Him and do not want anything to come between my relationship with Him.

I am posting this to help others through the direction of the holy spirit prompting me.. Thank you and God bless you!

I do understand your concerns. I do yoga occasionally on the beach where I live. It is really focused on stretching, strength and relaxation. The closest it comes to anything spiritual is the end when people bring their hands together and say Namaste to the teacher. I never say that. I go for the stretching and strengthening. Many of the stretches are those done on a regular basis in the gym. I know there are other yoga classes that get much more into the mind- spiritual connection. All we do with that is at the beginning lay on our towels, relax and focus on the sounds and beauty of our surroundings at the beach. That is God’s creation so that is a good thing. We need to be discerning with what is brought into the church for sure.
 
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Akita Suggagaki

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Namaste simply honors the other person. We need more honor. For some people the world is filled with nothing but danger. I happen to do yoga once in a while for my back and I also play the Indian Bansuri flute. That has certain scales for each time of the day and mood and some for referencing hindu gods. It doesn't bother me. Music is music. You cannot reverence or honor someone or som god unless you intend to. That is what honor is. You cant do it accidentally.

Bibletruth468, I think you are a little too extreme in your fear of things outside Western Christianity. Christ is everywhere. It is his creation.
 
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Pepper77

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Namaste simply honors the other person. We need more honor. For some people the world is filled with nothing but danger. I happen to do yoga once in a while for my back and I also play the Indian Bansuri flute. That has certain scales for each time of the day and mood and some for referencing hindu gods. It doesn't bother me. Music is music. You cannot reverence or honor someone or som god unless you intend to. That is what honor is. You cant do it accidentally.

Bibletruth468, I think you are a little too extreme in your fear of things outside Western Christianity. Christ is everywhere. It is his creation.

Many things in our culture, such as days of the week have pagan roots. Of course most know that our religious holidays, such as Christmas and Easter have pagan roots. It goes to the intent of the heart and what you believe about them I think. We do have much more liberty than most of the church acknowledges. Romans 13 and 1Cor 8 speaks to this. Everyone needs to be convinced in their own minds and respect each other for differing convictions. There has been an influx of Eastern religious practices and beliefs coming into the church in the last 50 years or so, and that is not good. I do agree with the Poster on that warning.
 
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Akita Suggagaki

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There has been an influx of Eastern religious practices and beliefs coming into the church in the last 50 years or so, and that is not good.

Could you give some examples?

I think there has always been a valid interest in the interior life. Embracing cultures can be a welcoming of brothers ans sisters in Christ around the world.
 
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bekkilyn

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Because we're supposed to cram it with all sorts of more important things, such as political ideologies and nationalism (America first!), capitalism, consumerism, building walls, making money, producing bootstraps, yelling at our neighbors to stay off our lawns both locally and nationally, and of course all the possible arguments here on CF that are crucial to our salvation, such as what color yoga mat to get. :)
 
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Shempster

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Yoga is one of the best practices you can do. I used to think like the OP in saying it is devilish because of who and where it came from. I could not have been more wrong.
BTW, it also saved me from a very painful and expensive surgery and greatly reduces body pain.
 
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As a Christian, we should never clear our mind.


Because we're supposed to cram it with all sorts of more important things, such as political ideologies and nationalism (America first!), capitalism, consumerism, building walls, making money, producing bootstraps, yelling at our neighbors to stay off our lawns both locally and nationally, and of course all the possible arguments here on CF that are crucial to our salvation, such as what color yoga mat to get. :)
profound stuff :)

Not to mention all our favorite imaginings of God and what we want God to do for us.
Of course, God can do more and better than what we might be able to think and wish. Of course, thinking and praying for people to get saved is good. But if my thoughts and hopes are mainly about me myself and I, yes I could use a mind clearing. And then be more into all-loving prayer.

In my case, I do not formally do any known meditation thing, but I in prayer do be quiet in order for God to have me thinking and praying and doing what He has me doing in His peace. So, it is not me . . . hopefully . . . controlling myself to do the meditating, but God drawing me from my own stuff, into how He has me sharing with Him.

This might bring me to do stretches > I do full rotation of joints, while also resisting the rotation motion so muscles can be strengthened and stretched and joints and ligaments can be conditioned, plus bones can be stimulated by force in all directions so they are signaled to stay strong.

And be prayerful > I need to exercise in always sensing for and submitting to God and how He rules us in His peace, all the time > Colossians 3:15. So, this is God-depending, not me thinking and controlling it all.
 
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Pepper77

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Could you give some examples?

I think there has always been a valid interest in the interior life. Embracing cultures can be a welcoming of brothers ans sisters in Christ around the world.
Absolutely embrace other cultures around the world but not their false religions. Our culture has many false religions too. My interior life is Christ in me, the new creation, new heart. Is that what you are speaking of?
 
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Akita Suggagaki

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Absolutely embrace other cultures around the world but not their false religions. Our culture has many false religions too. My interior life is Christ in me, the new creation, new heart. Is that what you are speaking of?

Yes, and I beleive Christ is in all of use though we may call him something different or not recognize him at all.
 
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Akita Suggagaki

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Most yoga instructors are Buddhist so opt for just a regular stretch instructor because stretching itself is okay. What's not okay is the slow movements, the creepy music and the incense.

You just betrayed your bias. You are culture bound. "Most yoga teachers are Buddhist"? What makes you think that? The music is cultural. So you don't like Indian music. Same with incense. Do you have a problem with frankincense also. Or is that ok?

Yoga is not dangerous unless you do it incorrectly.
The music is not dangerous nor is the incense. And slow movements? Are you kidding? What is wrong with slow movement?
 
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Pepper77

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Yes, and I beleive Christ is in all of use though we may call him something different or not recognize him at all.
That’s different that what the Bible teaches. Scripture says we are lost till we hear the truth about Christ, his death on our behalf and believe and trust in Him to save us, and give us new life. He comes to live in us and we are joined to Him. Otherwise we are lost and still dead in our sins. It’s all through scripture.
 
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Pepper77

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profound stuff :)

Of course, God can do more and better than what we might be able to think and wish. Of course, thinking and praying for people to get saved is good. But if my thoughts and hopes are mainly about me myself and I, yes I could use a mind clearing. And then be more into all-loving prayer.

In my case, I do not formally do any known meditation thing, but I in prayer do be quiet in order for God to have me thinking and praying and doing what He has me doing in His peace. So, it is not me . . . hopefully . . . controlling myself to do the meditating, but God drawing me from my own stuff, into how He has me sharing with Him.

This might bring me to do stretches > I do full rotation of joints, while also resisting the rotation motion so muscles can be strengthened and stretched and joints and ligaments can be conditioned, plus bones can be stimulated by force in all directions so they are signaled to stay strong.

And be prayerful > I need to exercise in always sensing for and submitting to God and how He rules us in His peace, all the time > Colossians 3:15. So, this is God-depending, not me thinking and controlling it

does speak of our minds and thoughts. It says we have the mind of Christ. It says to set your mind on things above not on things on the earth. It says to be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of the mind which God does as we place our thoughts on him. To think by emptying our minds we are going to reach some deep inner awareness or peace or wholeness is rubbish. That is if you in Christ.
What was the primary command of Jesus?

Love one another.

Anything impeding from love is dangerous.
What was the primary command of Jesus?

Love one another.

Anything impeding from love is dangerous.
What was the primary command of Jesus?

Love one another.

Anything impeding from love is dangerous.
Without believing and receiving Christ God’s love is impossible. That love only flows from being joined to Him by faith. The people asked Jesus, What shall we do, that we may work the works of God? Jesus Answered, This is the work of God that you believe in him whom God has sent. He also said you cannot come to the Father but through me. He is the only way, the gate. If you want to believe otherwise that’s fine, but don’t say it’s Christianity. That’s exclusive to faith in Christ.
 
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