Part Two of Four

It’s highly popular among our culture. We have studios devoted to teaching its practices, and there are new developments incorporating animals, drinks, and even the Holy scriptures into its practices.

But is yoga, in any form, permissible for followers of Jesus Christ? Is it just exercise? Is it just stretching? Does ones motive for participating in yoga matter? What if one participates in “Christian” yoga or “Holy” yoga, repeating God’s Word rather than the traditional mantras?

I seek to help answer these questions for my fellow believers.

If you haven’t done so already, read Part One of this series before proceeding.

Is Yoga Just Exercise?

Before we get to the nitty gritty of comparing God’s Word to the practice of yoga, it’s important to address this questions: Is yoga just exercise?

I have personally heard several followers of Christ tell me that yoga “is just exercise” and that I am reaching too far. These same believers say that because their practice of yoga postures and mantras are focused around God’s Word, it separates the traditional practice of yoga from their “Holy Yoga” or “Christian Yoga.”

But is this reflective of Truth in God’s Word? We will get there.

Yoga has different names and practices-Vinyasa Yoga, or Flow Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Anusara Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Bikram Yoga, or Hot Yoga, Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga, and more.

The western culture has even modernized practices such as Goat Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Aerial Yoga, Naked Yoga, Cat Yoga, Wine Yoga, and so much more.

Remember when I quoted from the Himalayan Yoga Institute that yogis acknowledge that the purpose of yoga is to transform and awaken one’s inner self and to channel that which they are paying homage to in their mantras and postures?

By nature, is mankind good? No.

I recall a passage of scripture that states how one sin from a man and woman caused all of humanity after them to be cursed. And because of this one sin, evil overcomes the body, or flesh, of all mankind and the only way for reconciliation is not by manifesting or channeling a higher power or awakening an inner being, but is given by the One who sent His one son to be born, live, die, and rise again as our pardon to sin. When a person is born again by faith in Jesus Christ, they receive a new spirit within them, the Spirit of Christ, and the old spirit of the person dies. That spirit of man is spiritually put to death, but the Spirit of Christ lives in them, teaching and nourishing them in the things of God’s Word as they grow and mature with “spiritual milk.”

When I think of the depth of this Truth, I have no desire to awaken my inner, evil self… would you?

Yoga, in its purest foundational principles, is more than just exercise.

Satan’s Counterfeit of God’s Peace

Did you know that Kundalini Yoga, though a blend of practices, is taught to “intentionally arouse the sleeping Kundalini Shakti from its coiled base through the six chakras that reside along the spine and crown”?

What do we know is coiled? A serpent, a snake. Kundalini is a serpent, and this particular yoga practice is charming a snake out of slumber, and awakening the energies, and clearing out stagnancy of the mind, body and spirit along the way. Once it reaches the crown, it is believed to release supreme consciousness and ultimate peace; also referred to as the third eye.

Furthermore, yoga practitioners warn about awakening Kundalini! It is not something to ignorantly participate in.

“Without proper cleansing of the negative energies before Kundalini, it could cause great danger” to the one practicing it.

Aaron Abke, a teacher of ancient yoga practices, likens this process of cleansing as “crucifying all your negative karmas, or energies, to the cross…”

Are you seeing the counterfeit parallels of yoga’s spiritual practice and God’s Holy Word?!

Yogis warn people about their Kundalini Awakening, saying if they aren’t spiritually ready, awakening the serpent can actually cause great havoc on the mind and body. This is due to not clearing out the chakras along the spine beforehand, and essentially trapping the serpent in that area to wreck havoc instead of reaching the crown and freeing that person.

Praise God we don't have to get ourselves cleaned up before coming to Him! Amen? For it is by grace we are saved, through faith-not from ourselves but the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works... [Ephesians 2:8-10]

Calisthenics Vs Yoga

Yoga and Calisthenics are different. Unfortunately “Yoga” has hijacked names of movements but as Colossians 1:16 says, “all things were created by Him and exist through Him…” He created us to move. He created us to steward our bodies well for His glory and to be able to serve Him by moving, feeding, stretching and strengthening well.

“Criss-cross applesauce” may look like the lotus pose, but it’s not yoga. You hear what I’m saying?

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Up to this point in our study of Yoga and Christianity, we have discovered the contradicting parallels of achieving peace between the practice of yoga and walking with Jesus. We have compared the counterfeit practices between yoga and Christianity, and next week, we will look more intently at whether or not “Christian Yoga” or “Holy Yoga” are better.

Join me for Part Three in this four part series next week.

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What are your thoughts so far? I’d love to hear. Comment below.