Yoga--Okay or Not?

Martinius · May 11, 2016

I belong to our local YMCA and participate in various exercise classes for seniors. I generally do aerobic and resistance exercises. Being advised by medical people that stretching and exercising the joints is important for old guys like me I started going to yoga sessions at the Y. I needed some PT last year and many of the exercises they had me doing were like the ones we do at yoga. Then I joined a Y class that incorporates aerobics, some light resistance and some stretches, always finishing with some routines that are straight out of yoga.

I have seen comments, both pro and con, about Catholics and yoga. To me it is no big deal what the derivation of Yoga is, as the exercise routines are good for my body. And there are many yoga classes at my Y, a Christian organization. So why do some people say Catholics shouldn't do yoga?

Paidiske · May 11, 2016

I think there are two levels of argument.

One position is that yoga is part of Hindu worship, and is not able to be extracted from that context (that the philosophy and understanding of the human person etc undergirding yoga are antithetical to a Christian understanding and they can't be integrated without syncretism). I honestly haven't looked into it in enough depth to have a position on that.

Another position is that yoga itself might be harmless, but that even if you do it with a clean conscience, others might see that and conclude that syncretism or Hindu worship practices are okay, and be encouraged into a compromised faith or praxis. (Parallel to Paul's arguments about eating meat sacrificed to idols in 1 Corinthians 10). I have some sympathy with this view and have avoided yoga myself for that reason.

Of course, there are many Christians who practise yoga! So not everyone has an objection. But those are the main reasons I'm aware of that some people object.

anjelica · May 11, 2016

I object to yoga because I fell over whilst trying to get into some rididculous position! That was before I was sick.

Sometimes I too have wondered what the big deal about it was. I know all the arguments and what Paidiske has said, but I guess it depends how deep you take it. It doesn't especially worry me.

But some Buddhist techniques worry me and they encourage those at our local hospice where I go

Mountain_Girl406 · May 11, 2016

I have practiced yoga for a long time, and have been in classes that have ranged from very 'western ' for lack of another word (pop music, no breathing exercises, English words used for poses, no opening or closing meditation etc.) to ones that have more of a connection to eastern spirituality. Most classes though tend towards the former.
I've moved a bit away from regular yoga practice though, because I've found that what are usually described as mobility workouts seem to target the problem areas I was starting to discover. ..low back, knee, rotator cuff, etc. I'm moving better and running faster by adding about 10 minutes a day of this into my routine. So while I still recommend yoga and still take an occasional class, if you chose not to go that route there are other options.

Martinius · May 11, 2016

anjelica said:
I object to yoga because I fell over whilst trying to get into some rididculous position! That was before I was sick.

Sometimes I too have wondered what the big deal about it was. I know all the arguments and what Paidiske has said, but I guess it depends how deep you take it. It doesn't especially worry me.

But some Buddhist techniques worry me and they encourage those at our local hospice where I go

Your falling experience literally "hit" me as well. At one session, where we use chairs for support at times because we are old, the gentleman behind me lost his balance, his chair skidded into me, and he fell against me. No one was hurt. I like yoga for the positions and stretches that make you loosen up joints and muscles. Some of the people in my classes, usually the women, are amazingly flexible. The breathing aspect of it is fine as well, and does seem to help me relax and clear the mind.

Martinius · May 11, 2016

Mountain_Girl406 said:
I have practiced yoga for a long time, and have been in classes that have ranged from very 'western ' for lack of another word (pop music, no breathing exercises, English words used for poses, no opening or closing meditation etc.) to ones that have more of a connection to eastern spirituality. Most classes though tend towards the former.
I've moved a bit away from regular yoga practice though, because I've found that what are usually described as mobility workouts seem to target the problem areas I was starting to discover. ..low back, knee, rotator cuff, etc. I'm moving better and running faster by adding about 10 minutes a day of this into my routine. So while I still recommend yoga and still take an occasional class, if you chose not to go that route there are other options.

I think the most recent group class I have been in is a mobility workout. It seems to be a combo of some yoga moves with more bends and stretches, plus some light aerobics. We use hand held weights for part of it.

Martinius · May 11, 2016

Paidiske said:
I think there are two levels of argument.

One position is that yoga is part of Hindu worship, and is not able to be extracted from that context (that the philosophy and understanding of the human person etc undergirding yoga are antithetical to a Christian understanding and they can't be integrated without syncretism). I honestly haven't looked into it in enough depth to have a position on that.

Another position is that yoga itself might be harmless, but that even if you do it with a clean conscience, others might see that and conclude that syncretism or Hindu worship practices are okay, and be encouraged into a compromised faith or praxis. (Parallel to Paul's arguments about eating meat sacrificed to idols in 1 Corinthians 10). I have some sympathy with this view and have avoided yoga myself for that reason.

Of course, there are many Christians who practise yoga! So not everyone has an objection. But those are the main reasons I'm aware of that some people object.

I am puzzled about "Hindu worship". My understanding is that there is no deity, no supreme being, in Hinduism. So who or what do they worship? It is often described as a "way of life", and not a religion as we westerners define that. As far as I know, there is no organization or authoritative hierarchy in Hinduism. You practice Hinduism rather than believe it. Like practicing asceticism.

My limited experience with yoga, in the Y setting, does not seem to have any overt religious connotations. But I could see where that might be true in some cases. I have a problem with saying something is wrong or bad just because people from another culture or religion came up with it first. If it doesn't hurt me or anyone else, and may actually improve my physical and mental wellbeing, why not use it?

FrancesJames · May 11, 2016

I think it's because they said that it was used as a form of Hindu meditation. It's actually considered to be a philosophical school in Hinduism. The thing of it is, the positions themselves mean nothing without the underlying philosophy so I see no reason why you can't practice yoga.

It could actually be considered by some as sacrilegious. If someone took the standing and kneeling we do at Mass along with the arm raising we do at certain points, turned it into an exercise stripped of its religious significance but still called it Mass ("Hey, man, wanna go down to the Y and do some Mass?") it could be troubling to people who're actual practitioners of the religion. On the other hand, as an exercise, it really is great. Standing and kneeling really does sound like it would make a good exercise.

So does yoga--and I don't see the big deal in it.

Colin · May 11, 2016

For any Christian interested in yoga I recommend Christian Yoga by Fr. Jean-Marie Déchanet........http://www.christianspracticingyoga...an-marie-dchanet-the-father-of-christian-yoga

Martinius · May 11, 2016

Colin said:
For any Christian interested in yoga I recommend Christian Yoga by Fr. Jean-Marie Déchanet........http://www.christianspracticingyoga...an-marie-dchanet-the-father-of-christian-yoga

Thanks. I hoped there was a way to incorporate the benefits of practicing Yoga into Christian spirituality. I think it would be a great combo.

Isaacsname · May 11, 2016

I did Yoga, growing up, and I turned out fine aside from this extra finger that grew out of my neck

Rhamiel · May 11, 2016

for the OP
both stretching and meditating are great things and all of us should probably do more of both

but it might scandalize other people, thinking that you are supporting un-Christian beliefs
and it could be seen as insulting to Hindus to take their practices outside of the spiritual context in which it was developed

FrancesJames said:
I think it's because they said that it was used as a form of Hindu meditation. It's actually considered to be a philosophical school in Hinduism. The thing of it is, the positions themselves mean nothing without the underlying philosophy so I see no reason why you can't practice yoga.

It could actually be considered by some as sacrilegious. If someone took the standing and kneeling we do at Mass along with the arm raising we do at certain points, turned it into an exercise stripped of its religious significance but still called it Mass ("Hey, man, wanna go down to the Y and do some Mass?") it could be troubling to people who're actual practitioners of the religion. On the other hand, as an exercise, it really is great. Standing and kneeling really does sound like it would make a good exercise.

So does yoga--and I don't see the big deal in it.

this is how I kind of feel
it is part of Eastern Spirituality, and it is almost insulting to Hinduism to divorce the practice from the spirituality
I like your analogy of "lets go to the Y and do some Mass"
I used the analogy that it would be like Communion Wafers being a snack food in a non-Christian country
yeah there is nothing wrong with doing stretches, there is also nothing wrong about making your bread to be little white discs

Martinius · May 11, 2016

Rhamiel said:
but it might scandalize other people, thinking that you are supporting un-Christian beliefs
and it could be seen as insulting to Hindus to take their practices outside of the spiritual context in which it was developed

Thanks for posting. Well, there are a couple of hundred people, the great majority Christians, taking yoga classes at the YMCA, and hundreds of other people can observe the yoga classes or see them in the schedule. They are very popular. I don't know anyone who seems scandalized by it.

I would think that maybe Hindus might feel proud that they developed/discovered yoga and that others find it beneficial. If a Protestant or Buddhist started praying the Rosary, I would think it was great, assuming they were sincere.

The way it is done at my Y, it seems to be stripped of any religious meaning, and is a series of stretching, relaxation and breathing exercises. I think most people there know that yoga developed in the East but may not know the Hindu origins of it.

Fish and Bread · May 11, 2016

I think yoga is fine.

I have an uncle with a lot of health problems who practices yoga and is almost evangelistic about trying to get others to try it.

It's not an option for me because I have health problems of my own, and my body seriously doesn't bend that way. One pose and I'd be laying on the floor unable to move the rest of the day. A short slow dogwalk (as in walking around the neighborhood with my golden retriever- that's not some yoga pose

) is more my speed, and then I'm nearly blacking out from the pain and can collapse afterwards and lay down and I'll see the world in a few hours after my medicine kicks in.

Anyway, yoga is something that is catching on a lot. I know former professional wrestler Diamond Dallas Page (DDP) has a program he calls "Yoga for Regular Guys", which is sort of a macho take on yoga that presumably strips out any religious overtones or "girly" elements, I would assume. A lot of other current and former wrestlers use it regularly, or use it when recovering from injuries, and highly endorse it. I've never tried it because of, well, see the paragraph above.

Here's the website for that:

http://ddpyoga.com/

This doesn't constitute an endorsement, because I've never tried any of his methods or DVDs or whatever, and I don't know anyone who has (My uncle I mentioned does yoga, but not this brand of it). I'm just throwing it out there in case it's up anyone's alley. Use at your own risk.

I did enjoy DDP's character some in his wrestling days, but that doesn't mean much in terms of how good his yoga program is or isn't.

Anyway, I'll admit, me saying I think yoga is okay probably should be thrown in with the disclaimer that one of my favorite stories to tell people I meet is that I meditated with Buddhists monks for a few sessions.

So, you know, if I like mediating with Buddhist monks, who knows.

Yoga isn't Buddhist, though, so it only compromises my opinion in so far as I'm obviously open to learning about the practices of other religions, much like Thomas Merton.

I think Thomas Merton would have been cool with yoga.

Julie.S · May 11, 2016

I took yoga at my Catholic University. It was wonderful and gave me the relaxation I needed at the end of the day.

RKO · May 11, 2016

Seems to me that you have to have the intent to worship any God or it doesn't count. So yoga wouldn't bother me. I don't do it but I do a daily zen meditation. I've yet to see a demon or 8 armed goddess

tadoflamb · May 11, 2016

I'm of the mind if it's good it's from God. I used to do a few sun salutations warming up before playing Ultimate. It made me breath better, run better and I didn't feel as beat up afterwards, hence, I think it might of helped prevent injuries. My wife does a little yoga every day. She also meditates and practices an Eastern healing art called Jin Shin Jyutsu. The obvious positive influence it has on herself, as well as others, makes her practice hard to argue with.

Martinius · May 11, 2016

RKO said:
Seems to me that you have to have the intent to worship any God or it doesn't count. So yoga wouldn't bother me. I don't do it but I do a daily zen meditation. I've yet to see a demon or 8 armed goddess

you missed the part where you have Jack Daniel sippin' Whiskey instead of a water bottle. With beer chasers.

Martinius · May 11, 2016

tadoflamb said:
I'm of the mind if it's good it's from God. I used to do a few sun salutations warming up before playing Ultimate. It made me breath better, run better and I didn't feel as beat up afterwards, hence, I think it might of helped prevent injuries. My wife does a little yoga every day. She also meditates and practices an Eastern healing art called Jin Shin Jyutsu. The obvious positive influence it has on herself, as well as others, makes her practice hard to argue with.

It is hubris to think that all good things can only come to us via Catholicism or even Christianity. Whatever route it takes, it comes from God. There are many ways that we can use to comnect with our inner selves (soul?) and with God. We each find and use the ones that are best for us.

Great posts. Thanks to all.

Paidiske · May 11, 2016

Martinius said:
I am puzzled about "Hindu worship". My understanding is that there is no deity, no supreme being, in Hinduism. So who or what do they worship? It is often described as a "way of life", and not a religion as we westerners define that. As far as I know, there is no organization or authoritative hierarchy in Hinduism. You practice Hinduism rather than believe it. Like practicing asceticism.

I think you've confused Hinduism with Buddhism. Buddhism has no deity and is considered a way of life. Hinduism has a pantheon of deities, (some schools of Hinduism see these as manifestations of one supreme deity), and while it's true that Hinduism is not structured or organised the way many Christian churches are, praxis and belief are both aspects of it.

I was talking about the practice of yoga with a Hindu recently, and she said that for her, yoga is part of her religion's celebration of the body. And that she can't understand how westerners can separate the asanas and breathing (and chanting, for those who do it) from what you are trying to achieve, which is a state of mind and a being at peace (a religious state, for her).

Again, I'm not trying to condemn anyone for practising yoga, just to give it some context.

Yoga--Okay or Not?

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