Yoga is gaining millions of adherents in the U.S. It tones and relaxes the body and soothes the mind at the end a stressful day, but it also has deep roots in Eastern religion. Thus, some Christians wholeheartedly embrace yoga, others totally reject it and still others hesitate. Should Christians practice yoga? they ask.
One proponent of yoga for Christians is Michelle A. Thielen, an author and founder of YogaFaith. She notes that yoga “encompasses the whole self: mind, body, and spirit” and offers “innumerable” benefits.
“At YogaFaith we practice Biblical principles such as meditation and explore the many postures of prayer found throughout scripture,” she explains. Christ comes first, and yoga is second.
Dr. Laurette Willis, on the other hand, urges Christians to “think twice before starting a yoga practice — please.” She is the founder and director of PraiseMoves Fitness Ministry, which is an alternative to yoga.
She insists that Christianity and yoga don’t mix because yoga postures are actually acts of worship for Hindu gods. Yoga has strong ties to Hinduism, and thus, the words “Christian yoga” is a contradiction in terms, Willis says.
SHOULD CHRISTIANS PRACTICE YOGA? YES!
Let’s look at what the proponents have to say before we look at opponents’ arguments against yoga for Christians.
“If you are not one of the millions of people who practice(s) yoga, you may be one of the very few that ha(s) not experienced its numerous benefits,” Thielen says. She notes that almost 35 million people in the U.S. practice yoga these days, which is an increase of nearly 65 percent in the past decade.
According to Thielen, YogaFaith is Christ-focused. The organization strives “to create a global community of Yoga Faith ambassadors and instructors who will fulfill the great commission of making disciples throughout the earth….
“At Yoga Faith, we want to intimately connect people to Christ; mind, body, spirit and soul….Our teachings are centered on the Bible, the complete and authoritative Word of God acts as our guide in all that we do and seek.”
The author explains that yoga is different from other types of physical activity in that it encompasses the whole self. “Because yoga creates a space for holistic wellness, the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits of yoga are innumerable,” she says.
Breathwork, meditation and spirituality combine with lifestyle, nutrition and “harmony within self” to benefit yoga participants, Thielen says in a post called “The Christian Yoga Myth.”
Yoga’s History in America
The author notes that yoga isn’t a religion, but it has connections to several religions. Its goal is to create an intense union with gods or God, which is achieved through meditation.
“To the Hindu this could be Vishnu or Shiva, to the Buddhist this is the highest self of enlightenment, and to the Christian it would be union with Christ…Yoga can be an act of worship, enhancing and deepening anyone’s faith,” Thielen explains.
A Hindu monk named Swami Vivekananda introduced yoga to North America in 1893 when he spoke at an interfaith gathering in Chicago. He taught yoga from a spiritual perspective rather than a physical one.
By the mid-20th century, an increasing number of Americans were visiting India and discovering yoga. “In the 1980s, the Western world fully embraced the practice of yoga, with a heavy postural focus known widely as Hatha Yoga, more so than philosophy or any spiritual aspects,” Thielen explains.
Misconceptions about Yoga
“There are many misconceptions as to why a Christian can or cannot practice yoga,” Thielen notes. “As with anything, it’s a matter of intentionality and the meditation of one’s heart.”
She founded YogaFaith in 2013 to combine ancient yoga practices with her Christian faith. She says the school is built on “a rich foundation of Christian scriptures and principles.”
She’s also the author of “Stretching Your Faith, Practicing Postures of Prayer to Create Peace, Balance and Freedom,” a book that considers yoga postures as one way to connect with Christ.
Thielen specifically quotes 1 Corinthians 10:31 in her post. It says: “In whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God.” Read her entire article here.
What Are the Physical Benefits of Yoga?
A WebMD post, “How to Choose Between Hatha and Vinyasa Yoga,” reviews some of yoga’s physical and emotional benefits.
“Hatha yoga is practiced at a slower pace, with focus on the breath, controlled movements, and stretching,” WebMD explains. “Vinyasa yoga focuses on connecting the breath to your movements, which tend to be set at a faster pace. In a vinyasa practice, you can expect to stay in a constant flow of movements.”
With continued practice, WebMD says Hatha yoga:
- Decreases anxiety and depression
- Reduces stress
- Increases flexibility
- Strengthens the abdomen
- Improves balance
Vinyasa yoga keeps you moving and “may be a good addition to your cardio routine,” the website says, adding that “it acts as a light aerobic exercise.” It also can:
- Improve strength, muscle tone and endurance
- Help with balance and stability
- Reduce anxiety
- Manage stress
- Help smokers quit
Which Practice is Best?
A comparison of hatha yoga and vinyasa yoga indicates that both practices ease stress, improve fitness and increase flexibility.
“Hatha yoga can be practiced through a wide age range and as prenatal yoga. Vinyasa yoga is good for intermediate and advanced yogis.” (My caution: Expectant mothers should probably talk to their doctors before beginning yoga.)
WebMD says Hatha yoga may be best if you…
- Are new to yoga and want to start slowly
- Want to reduce morning stiffness
- Want to set a relaxed tone for the day
Vinyasa yoga may be a good choice if you…
- Want to be challenged physically
- Want to improve your cardiovascular health
- Are trying to reduce bad cholesterol
To read the WebMD post, click here.
SHOULD CHRISTIANS PRACTICE YOGA? NO!
Yoga has its detractors among Christians such as Dr. Laurette Willis, founder and director of PraiseMoves, a Christian alternative to yoga. PraiseMoves is a worldwide organization that focuses on Christian fitness workouts, Christian meditation and walking programs.
“You may be surprised to learn that yoga, which many think is ‘just exercise,’ is actually a spiritual practice,” Willis says. In “12 Reasons Why Yoga is Not Good for Christians” on the PraiseMoves website, Willis says Christians should stay away from yoga because it:
- Follows a Hindu god called Lord Shiva
- Steers people away from Christ
- Makes “offerings to the 330 million Hindu gods” through yoga poses
- Is a spiritual practice
- Is “the missionary arm of New Age spirituality”
- Was founded by Hindu leaders
- Is highly sensual in nature
- Dabbles in spirituality that Christians should avoid
- Is a bad influence on new Christians and non-believers
- Opens the door to New Age spirituality
- Teaches people to “empty the mind,” while Christianity tells us to “renew the mind”
- Leaves people in a highly impressionable state at the end of a yoga session
“Yoga is ‘the door’ which led my mother and me into New Age spirituality, as it has done for millions of other unsuspecting Christians, and non-believers,” Willis says.
“The enemy is deceptive. He’s evil, but he’s not stupid. He knows what works.” To read her entire article on the PraiseMoves website, click here.
More Objections to Yoga
John Lindell, lead pastor of James River Church in Springfield, MO, is another opponent of yoga. He warned his congregation to steer clear of yoga several years ago, calling it “demonic.”
According to Lindell, yoga “is diametrically opposed to Christianity. He says that meditation “opens up a person’s mind to demonic influences….
“Yoga positions were not designed by your local fitness instructor. They were designed, they were created, with demonic intent to open you up to demonic power; because Hinduism is demonic. Every false religion is demonic.”
Hinduism & Christianity
Most Hindus believe that all living things are part of a greater whole. Some Hindus worship a deity or being called The Brahman, as well as thousands upon thousands of lesser gods that are manifestations of that one entity. Christians believe in one omnipotent God who created the universe and everything in it. Our God takes the form of the Trinity – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
Hindus and Christians also differ on the idea of reincarnation. Hindus believe a person’s soul is reborn in a new body after the person dies, and the cycle of reincarnation continues until the soul breaks free and achieves union with The Brahman. Christians totally reject reincarnation.
You can find more basic information about Hinduism from the Hindu American Foundation here.
Patheos explains, “(Hinduism) is a complex and multifaceted religion that has evolved over the course of its long history and continues to influence the spiritual and cultural life of millions of people around the world….It understands itself to be timeless, having always existed.” Check out the Patheos post here.
MY THOUGHTS
You don’t have to join a New Age movement or convert to an Eastern religion in order to practice yoga. I’m proof of that statement. I’ve done yoga on and off since the late 1970s and am no less Christian now than when I started. Had I encountered any sign of demons, I would have immediately stopped practicing yoga and contacted my pastor.
My reasons for beginning yoga were quite clear from the outset. I wanted to improve my flexibility, strengthen my muscles and most of all, reduce stress, which was a major problem at the time. I also wanted to clear my mind — at least occasionally — of the things that were causing my stress.
Yoga helped a great deal.
The Importance of Intentions
From the beginning, my intention was to steer clear of yoga practices that conflicted with Christianity. And I had no trouble finding classes that focused on flexibility and relaxation techniques rather than spiritual meditation. If you’re thinking about doing yoga, I encourage you to consider your intentions, as well.
I have never been able to stand on my head, cross my legs in the lotus position or become a human pretzel because of congenital orthopedic problems. But that’s okay. I do the best I can and keep going.
When live classes haven’t been available, I’ve used VHS tapes and DVDs. My current tool is yoga classes for seniors on YouTube. There are no spiritual practices in the ones I have tried.
Realizing New Intentions
Despite its benefits, I stopped practicing yoga about 18 years ago when my health started spiraling downward. Between 2005 and 2015, I nearly died of pneumonia twice and underwent more than half a dozen unrelated surgeries that severely limited my mobility.
Yoga was out of the question despite the fact that achy muscles plagued me when I didn’t do it. Even when I recovered between illnesses and surgeries, I was convinced I could no longer participate in yoga. Consequently, I didn’t try it.
My return to yoga took place earlier this year as a way to relieve back pain. In 2022, I spent several months doing physical therapy for back problems, and I kept noticing that many of the exercises were yoga postures.
The PTs told me to do the exercises every day, and I thought, “Why not do chair yoga instead?” It accomplishes the same goals as PT, is more enjoyable and leaves me feeling more relaxed.
Should Christians Do Yoga?
So, let’s return to the original question: Should Christians practice yoga? It’s a question that each Christian should decide for himself or herself.
If you’re seriously concerned about yoga’s ties to Eastern religions, then find some other form of exercise. If you’re curious about yoga but somewhat reluctant about it, check out a yoga class at your community center or local church, or find one on YouTube.
There are all kinds of yoga classes in the world these days. Many of them minimize or eliminate spiritual elements or substitute Christian prayers for Hindu meditation, while others are non-religious. One class I took ended with participants relaxing their entire bodies, beginning with their toes and moving upward. By the end of class, we felt like limp rags. It was wonderful, and there was no hint of religion.
My conclusion is that yoga is whatever you make of it. If you decide to pursue it, I wish you the best.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In