Yoga - It's Not Evil or Anti-Christian

[JacksBratt]

No.
"What it actually is" was fully disclosed earlier this year in one or more threads. It has an evil spiritual origin, and that origin cannot be changed nor redeemed nor made whole or good or right.

I agree.

 

[JacksBratt]

Yoga seems all about self. Think about it, our culture has a bunch of "self help", "the power is within" philosophies floating around with tons of books that frankly have been misleading people down the wrong path. When you focus on yourself too much, you'll get depressed. Actually a famous psychoanalyst was asked this question: " If you were so depressed and could not snap out of it, what would you do?" He said that he would go out and help someone and when he was done, He would find someone else to help. That gets the focus off you and the depression or stress begins to fade and disappear.
In Eastern thought and religion it's all about the power within you and that you need to tap into it to find inner peace. Jesus gives a us peace, not the peace that the world offers ...or yoga.
But let's go back 150 years to a time when the USA was growing, everyone was working towards building towns, their own homes, farming, hunting, trading - all pioneers, rough and tough cowboys. Lets say a Yogi came along and attracted some souls, influenced them to join him. Kids gathered around, started doing these exercises, came home and started to practice. "Mom and Dad, I need to decompress, It's releaving me from stress ... I'll need some extra time during the day alone in my sanctuary to do this." THE Dad looks at the Mom disturbed, then back at the kid and says, " Fat chance grasshopper, get off your butt and do your chores! Chores will naturally stretch the body and exercise it adequately - get to work or don't eat!"
God wants us to work and also enjoy life. He doesn't want us to get self focused, searching within ourselves, He wants us to die to self. There is so much junk inside that's it's best to get off of yourself and focus on things above. He doesn't want us to empty our minds, He wants us to be transformed by His Word.

This post is a winner... Great post.

 

[JacksBratt]

Well if you look it ‘up’ Jacks then you’ll soon have it ‘down’ that there are many types of yoga, and not all to do with physical exercise.

A rose by any other name.. still a rose.

Yoga.. is not just stretching.. That's my point... Soon as you get into the meditation and "mental" aspects of it... you're off track with Christianity.

 

[RaymondG]

I agree.

I agree.

This post is a winner... Great post.

It might be helpful and save on thread lengths if you would use the dedicated "agree...etc..." buttons when this is all that you wish to convey.

 

[HopeInJesusOnly]

Back in late 70's I was involved in Transcendental Meditation. I experienced the kundalini spirit.

What is the kundalini spirit?

 

[Maria Billingsley]

What is the kundalini spirit?

A demonic entity that enters the body during any type of Hindu practice. Most of the time it is not noticed however over time things start to manifest. In my case I suffered many supernatural physical manifestations like involuntary body movements, jerking, shouts, twitching, visitations, sleep paralysis, and most of all violent body movements. Whew! bad stuff! All this was attributed, by the Hindu teachers, of releasing stress in my body. But I know better now! I was the only one out of 3000 participants in the Sidhi program in Iowa. So looking back I believe my mother's prayers and my belief in Christ, though not born again, caused such a violent reaction. Anyway, one of these days I need to write my testimony so that everyone stays far, far away from anything that has to do with Hinduism. The deceiver lures Christians in through the false Holy Spirit and through seemingly innocent practices like yoga.

 

[HopeInJesusOnly]

A demonic entity that enters the body during any type of Hindu practice. Most of the time it is not noticed however over time things start to manifest. In my case I suffered many supernatural physical manifestations like involuntary body movements, jerking, shouts, twitching, visitations, sleep paralysis, and most of all violent body movements. Whew! bad stuff! All this was attributed, by the Hindu teachers, of releasing stress in my body. But I know better now! I was the only one out of 3000 participants in the Sidhi program in Iowa. So looking back I believe my mother's prayers and my belief in Christ, though not born again, caused such a violent reaction. Anyway, one of these days I need to write my testimony so that everyone stays far, far away from anything that has to do with Hinduism. The deceiver lures Christians in through the false Holy Spirit and through seemingly innocent practices like yoga.

Your testimony would be very interesting to read! How did you overcome it? Prayer was enough?

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Your testimony would be very interesting to read! How did you overcome it? Prayer was enough?

I was regenerated by His Holy Spirit. I became Born Again. Instantly.

 

[renniks]

A rose by any other name.. still a rose.

Yoga.. is not just stretching.. That's my point... Soon as you get into the meditation and "mental" aspects of it... you're off track with Christianity.

What if all you do is stretch? I have never practiced yoga per say. I sometimes do a series of stretching exercises for my wrists, specifically to open my carpal tunnels, because I have a lot of issues with them. On the DVD I have that describes how to do the stretches, he mentioned in passing that they originally came from a yoga instructor. When I do them, I certainly don't practice any meditation, etc. It's the only thing I've found that helps my wrists.

 

[RaymondG]

I was regenerated by His Holy Spirit. I became Born Again. Instantly.

How was this experience different from the kundalini experience you had with yoga?

 

[chilehed]

Exercise, meditation and maintaining flexibility aren't necessarily advocating "reincarnation"... nor is Eastern thought a threat to Christians or the West.

Neither of which has anything to do with what I said, so I gather that you agree with me.

 

[JacksBratt]

It might be helpful and save on thread lengths if you would use the dedicated "agree...etc..." buttons when this is all that you wish to convey.

Sorry.. but cannot do that.. That "privilege" has been taken from me by the mods... So... this is how I will compensate.

 

[JacksBratt]

What if all you do is stretch? I have never practiced yoga per say. I sometimes do a series of stretching exercises for my wrists, specifically to open my carpal tunnels, because I have a lot of issues with them. On the DVD I have that describes how to do the stretches, he mentioned in passing that they originally came from a yoga instructor. When I do them, I certainly don't practice any meditation, etc. It's the only thing I've found that helps my wrists.

I stretch all the time. Especially after a light warm up, before playing hockey.. Never stretch cold muscles.

Yoga is much more than stretching... even though it is very much a part of it. Every "pose" is related to some deity.

 

[JacksBratt]

Neither of which has anything to do with what I said, so I gather that you agree with me.

I like this post.

 

[JCFantasy23]

I get bored doing yoga by learning the steps, but I have learned some stretching exercises and routines I need to get back to - some of it is yoga moves, some other random, I find it enjoyable and excellent for the health of the body, longevity for the system, peace of mind, stress relief, which helps with spiritual health and soul calmness.

 

[RaymondG]

Sorry.. but cannot do that.. That "privilege" has been taken from me by the mods... So... this is how I will compensate.

Wow, didnt know that was possible...... Now I know why you never give me any winners ratings. Thanks to the explanation.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

What if all you do is stretch? I have never practiced yoga per say. I sometimes do a series of stretching exercises for my wrists, specifically to open my carpal tunnels, because I have a lot of issues with them. On the DVD I have that describes how to do the stretches, he mentioned in passing that they originally came from a yoga instructor. When I do them, I certainly don't practice any meditation, etc. It's the only thing I've found that helps my wrists.

Did you look into, read about, research, the other long proven natural, normal, healthy remedies for your wrists ? (i.e. not surgery ever, nor toxins, except if indicated for reasons that cannot be delayed....)

 

[Maria Billingsley]

How was this experience different from the kundalini experience you had with yoga?

Different? It has no similarity. So completely different.

 

[renniks]

I stretch all the time. Especially after a light warm up, before playing hockey.. Never stretch cold muscles.

Yoga is much more than stretching... even though it is very much a part of it. Every "pose" is related to some deity.

So if you do a stretch that is sometimes used in yoga, which I would guess is about every stretch you can do, some are going to say you are doing yoga. That's where it gets silly.

 

[renniks]

Did you look into, read about, research, the other long proven natural, normal, healthy remedies for your wrists ? (i.e. not surgery ever, nor toxins, except if indicated for reasons that cannot be delayed....)

Not sure which ones you are referring to. Eating gelitin or bone broth is supposed to be good for the joints. The stretches loosen the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. My work requires a lot of wrist strain.