Is Yoga wrong?

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MayYouBeBlessed

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I've recently discovered yoga, and it's been more helpful to me than anything else. I've been a believer for many years, decades, but no amount of prayer, going to church, attending prayer meetings, reading the Bible or doing good works really helped me in my multiple deep issues. I'm talking about inner soul. A few practices of yoga - meditation, poses, Om chanting, and the results have been amazing. So much improvement, it's unbelievable. It totally works! Unlike my Christian faith. Is it wrong? There is nothing religious in Yoga, and Om is simply the name of our God in Sanskrit. Is it anti-Christian or not?

I also find real spiritual Yoga teachers to be so much more sincere and for real than Christian pastors.
 
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ViaCrucis

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I've recently discovered yoga, and it's been more helpful to me than anything else. I've been a believer for many years, decades, but no amount of prayer, going to church, attending prayer meetings, reading the Bible or doing good works really helped me in my multiple deep issues. I'm talking about inner soul. A few practices of yoga - meditation, poses, Om chanting, and the results have been amazing. So much improvement, it's unbelievable. It totally works! Unlike my Christian faith. Is it wrong? There is nothing religious in Yoga, and Om is simply the name of our God in Sanskrit. Is it anti-Christian or not?

I also find real spiritual Yoga teachers to be so much more sincere and for real than Christian pastors. The majority of Christians seem to be phony.

Basically there's two kinds of yoga, there's the religious/spiritual practice known to Hinduism and the other dharmic religions; and then there's the westernized yoga that amounts to little more than deep breathing and stretching.

There's nothing wrong with deep breathing and stretching, and that's what most yoga in the west amounts to.

-CryptoLutheran
 
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MayYouBeBlessed

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Its anti christian because the poses symbolize and worship the sun and moon. For more on why I say it is anti Christian and my source, go to youtube and search for "truthunedited" and watch that ministry's video on yoga.

For somebody it may symbolize smth, but for me it'simply exercise.
 
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paul1149

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I don't think there's anything wrong with the practical side of it, ie the physical exercises and even relaxation. But take a step back and look at your initial post. You seem to have a deep negativity toward all things Christian, while at the same time highly lauding Yoga.
 
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JustRachel

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You are saying it has replaced Christianity for you, therefore you must view it as religion rather than just exercises. That's not good at all.
 
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Of the Kingdom

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Here is a recent thread on the subject: The dangers of yoga . The general conclusion there was that yoga can be risky, since non-Christian religious views are deeply embedded in it.

The fact that you are concerned is a good thing. Perhaps you can reduce the non-Christian spiritual practices, and still keep some of the benefits. Using a Christian affirmation, such as "I am a new creature in Christ" or replacing "Om" with "Yah" would be examples.

I think there will always be some conflict, and some would say, "just quit". But I think it's worthwhile to test the waters a bit. If the yoga instructors you are dealing with are non-religious, then in theory they should not care whether you use Christian or traditional chants. I would hope you consider carefully both sides of the issue, and are successful with continuing good meditation practices while Christianizing them substantially.

My prayers are with you. I have been there in the past, and hope you do not forget that something can be learned from other religions without our becoming dependent on them. I have a great deal of respect for Buddhist morality, for example.
 
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Willie T

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You are saying it has replaced Christianity for you, therefore you must view it as religion rather than just exercises. That's not good at all.
That pretty well sums it all up in a nutshell.

Pushups do more for my body than prayer does, but doing pushups is not a religion to me.

If "Om" is the name "Jesus", why not say "Jesus" instead... since you don't speak Sanskrit?
 
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ViaCrucis

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I also find real spiritual Yoga teachers to be so much more sincere and for real than Christian pastors. The majority of Christians seem to be phony.

I disagree, but this largely depends on where you're getting your Christian formation from. I would absolutely agree that, as it pertains to modern pop-religion, much of what exists in modern popular Christianity is largely quite shallow.

But if you are willing to dig past the pop stuff, you'll find some very serious material.

If you are looking for spiritual exercises, try something like The Daily Office. A daily set of prayers, Scripture readings, and meditations on the Scriptures.

Here's a website that might be helpful: The Daily Office

You may be hesitant against something like the rosary, but there are Protestant alternatives: Here's a Lutheran take (Just and Sinner: The Lutheran Rosary) and here's an Anglican take (King of Peace - Anglican Prayer Beads).

There is also the Orthodox prayer rope: Using a Prayer Rope in Prayer

There is plenty within Christianity to dig into as far as spiritual exercise goes.

There's no reason to supplant Christian spiritual exercise with practices from other religious traditions--if that is what your desire is.

-CryptoLutheran
 
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tryphena rose

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I've recently discovered yoga, and it's been more helpful to me than anything else. I've been a believer for many years, decades, but no amount of prayer, going to church, attending prayer meetings, reading the Bible or doing good works really helped me in my multiple deep issues. I'm talking about inner soul. A few practices of yoga - meditation, poses, Om chanting, and the results have been amazing. So much improvement, it's unbelievable. It totally works! Unlike my Christian faith. Is it wrong? There is nothing religious in Yoga, and Om is simply the name of our God in Sanskrit. Is it anti-Christian or not?

I also find real spiritual Yoga teachers to be so much more sincere and for real than Christian pastors. The majority of Christians seem to be phony.
Yoga literally translates to "yoke", "bind" or "union". The series of poses preformed in yoga are prayers to the hindu gods. The whole point in preforming yoga and meditation is to achieve "spiritual enlightenment", which is entirely a false spiritual experience. While it may feel good, it is wholly deceptive. Today in western culture, it has become a watered down "exercise routine" to what real yogi's and those in search of this false enlightenment recognize it to be. Regardless of it being watered down or not, it's spiritual entailment already makes it wrong in the eyes of our Heavenly Father.

The Bible says, "And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." 2 Corinthians 11:14.

Also, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1

Yoga is an easy gateway to many more new age ideologies and will most certainly open you up to demonic spirits in your life. I recommend listening to those who have left the new age because Jesus revealed to them that He was the One and Only Son of God. If you've had negative experiences with your church, I also recommend praying that God would lead you to a better one. There are plenty of churches that don't represent the Jesus of the Bible but I can reassure you, there are genuine believers out there who love the Lord and love others as themselves. God bless you brother and I'll be keeping you in my prayers. :prayer:


 
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Pedra

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I've recently discovered yoga, and it's been more helpful to me than anything else. I've been a believer for many years, decades, but no amount of prayer, going to church, attending prayer meetings, reading the Bible or doing good works really helped me in my multiple deep issues. I'm talking about inner soul. A few practices of yoga - meditation, poses, Om chanting, and the results have been amazing. So much improvement, it's unbelievable. It totally works! Unlike my Christian faith. Is it wrong? There is nothing religious in Yoga, and Om is simply the name of our God in Sanskrit. Is it anti-Christian or not?

I also find real spiritual Yoga teachers to be so much more sincere and for real than Christian pastors. The majority of Christians seem to be phony.
So your a Hindu now? :oops:
Becoming an actual believer and not just being a cultural christian, it means becoming a true follower of Jesus, according to scriptures, it has to do with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior & through our repentance, by faith alone in HIM as the Son of God, His being crucified to pay the debt for our personal sins, & faith in His resurrection , by grace we receive a the Holy Spirit and are born again. What Christianity isn't --is a community club that you try out and if you don't meet the right people or find the activities or the people to our liking then moving on and trying another religion.
 
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GospelS

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I've recently discovered yoga, and it's been more helpful to me than anything else. I've been a believer for many years, decades, but no amount of prayer, going to church, attending prayer meetings, reading the Bible or doing good works really helped me in my multiple deep issues. I'm talking about inner soul. A few practices of yoga - meditation, poses, Om chanting, and the results have been amazing. So much improvement, it's unbelievable. It totally works! Unlike my Christian faith. Is it wrong? There is nothing religious in Yoga, and Om is simply the name of our God in Sanskrit. Is it anti-Christian or not?

I also find real spiritual Yoga teachers to be so much more sincere and for real than Christian pastors. The majority of Christians seem to be phony.

It is clearly taking over your soul, body and mind to the effect of even influencing your faith and its significance. You are delighting in yoga more than your faith. This is not a good thing to involve yourself so much deeply into it. Exercise is good. If it's helping you, just do basic stretches.

Anything that is taking priority and the place of God is idolatry.
 
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MayYouBeBlessed

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I don't think there's anything wrong with the practical side of it, ie the physical exercises and even relaxation. But take a step back and look at your initial post. You seem to have a deep negativity toward all things Christian, while at the same time highly lauding Yoga.

I have deep faith in Jesus. It hasn't worked for me, though..
 
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JustRachel

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I have deep faith in Jesus. It hasn't worked for me, though..
What do you mean that it hasn't worked for you? If you have truly accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you have eternal life. What are you expecting from Christianity?
 
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Im sorry Christian pastors have let you down but you may need to learn the word for yourself and learn how to discern according to the bible

I recommend watching this, it helped me alot




As for yoga, i also learned how to do it from youtube videos. Whenever they told me to pray or meditate i ignored that part of it, the stretching and breathing is great. I do my own routines now where i can just stretch for a half hour to an hour, wherever my body is sore

But do not idolize yoga or anything except God and his word. If you fall into tragedy or misfortune yoga will not help you, it will not help you build good character and fruits of the spirit.

Theres lots of things yoga cant do for you that God can, and the simple fact that your alive and breathing is proof of God, not proof of yoga
 
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JM

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Upward and downward facing down saved by back and pocket book. I was buying a lot of Robax to deal with sciatica, other stretches just were not helping, so I tried some sun salutations in desperation and they worked! Now I do the dog after a long day of sitting at my desk to ward off the pain.

Yours in the Lord,

jm
 
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