Yoga and Christianity

I've always heard of Yoga originally being associated with Hinduism, and later with Buddhism as well. However, modern Yoga often has nothing to do with religion at all. Just as many of the spiritual practices related to martial arts were taken out or watered down when those came West, the same happened with Yoga. If you go into a Yoga class, it's very unlikely that you or going to hear or see anything that would be seen as religious. In fact, I know people of just about all religions who practice Yoga. So while it does have religious roots, and I'm sure it still a religious practice for many people of those religions, it has also been sort of detached from religion in most countries.

Things like this make me sad. Because as mentioned before, Yoga may have come from other religions, the modern Yoga classes have nothing to do with religion. It's sad that most who would say it is wrong to practice are Christian because it just proves even further that so little Christians are thinking and researching things for themselves. They hear a little tid bit of information or hear the preacher preach and they just run with it. I think its crazy to be against Yoga because that would mean the person didn't research anything for themselves. Christianity (mind you I consider myself Christian but not in the organized church form) is the next up and coming cult if people don't start thinking for themselves and reading the Bible for themselves. The people you hear saying Yoga is bad - is simply reciting something they were told. That is what happens in cults....The preachers/cult leaders say to do or not to do something - and they follow it to the end. Meanwhile, preachers and priests are sinners like anyone else. This is what happens in cults where people kill themselves because "the mother ship" is coming for them. Forget about those telling you that it is bad. Do not listen to them. I am telling you it is an excellent source of stretching and excerise but I don't want you to listen to me either. Instead, I encourage you to read more about it and either view or partake in a free class to see first hand for yourself. And then you can make a decision either way and that decision will be yours and no one elses. Alot of classes will allow visitors to either watch or take one free trial class to try it out before signing up. Good Luck!!

I'm not familiar with it.I was telling my aunt that i wanted to start doing yoga but she told me its against her religion.So i was like what is it? She told me she is bapitst and a christain.I am to and i didnt know that it was.For that reason i am very hesitant about it.I have to research on it.Its very surprising because i never knew it had to do with religion and thats the honest truth.

Why do Christians have to bring their religion into everything? Can't they just consider yoga a bunch of stretching exercises and be done with it? Nobody is going to force them to meditate or anything if they don't want too.

If you can find an instruction who will not use Yoga as a means of religious instruction, it is a great way to stretch and relax. I am an Born-Again Christian and I do several Yoga exercises to help my back stretch and to relax before going to sleep. I am very tense and it does help a great deal. But, I did learn this stuff before becoming a Christian and very much aware of the negative side. But, there are negatives in almost everything. If you give Jesus the glory and praise while you are doing this positions, I believe He will bless it. I call is taking back from the evil one. Search your heart for your reasons for doing it. Then you'll know what to do. God bless!