Exploring Christianity and Yoga

As someone prone to sciatica, I discovered that regular exercise at a local gym kept my sciatica at bay. But in March 2020, local gyms closed due to Covid. I asked a friend who was a physical therapist: “Now, what am I going to do?” He suggested finding YouTube videos of Yoga. 

Some videos were too advanced for me as a beginner, but others were very doable and enjoyable. It was not long before I was rolling out my mat five days a week, looking forward to my daily Yoga practice. I even joined live Yoga classes via video. Eventually, I started to attend in-person classes, too. I not only enjoyed the physical benefits, but I discovered spiritual, mental, and emotional benefits as well. I was not just stretching physically, but spiritually and intellectually as well. That is what makes Yoga so special.

Some Christians Feel Unsure About Yoga

Whenever I find a tool that helps me to deal with life, I like to share that with others. So, in my role as a Christian pastor, I often encourage people to try Yoga when they face physical challenges. I also encourage people experiencing depression and anxiety to try Yoga. Members in the Christian community would tell me that their doctors had recommended Yoga, but they could never do Yoga as a Christian. I did not understand this common refrain at all. In my Yoga class experiences, I never came across anything that opposed my Christian faith. In fact, practicing Yoga has deepened my Christian faith.

Fear of Yoga Based on Misinformation and/or Unfamiliarity

So why was I hearing so much opposition from Christians? Misinformation and/or unfamiliarity. 

One of the leading concerns Christians express to me about Yoga is its roots in Hinduism and the concern that it conflicts with Christianity. In fact, some of our Christian holidays began as pagan practices. Therefore, the origin of the practice of modern-day Yoga should not prevent Christians from embracing the benefits of a regular Yoga practice. 

I also discovered people assume things about Yoga when they have no experience with it at all. Some are afraid that they are going to be asked to meditate on things that oppose Christianity or chant words that they do not understand. The truth is that when you walk through the doors of a Yoga studio, you bring your God-given free will with you. If someone asks you to meditate on something that makes you uncomfortable, you do not have to do it. You can choose the focus of your meditation. If chanting makes you uncomfortable, do not chant. Instead, you can choose to silently repeat a Bible verse or a prayer while those around you are chanting. In other words, exercise your free will as you use Yoga to exercise your body.

Personally, I have never been to a Yoga class where I was forced to do anything. Every good Yoga instructor offers suggestions on poses, meditation, breathing techniques, and/or chanting. You choose how to respond to the suggestions. If a particular class or instructor causes you to feel discomfort, you do not have to return to that class or that instructor. Again, exercise your God-given free will.

What Yoga Is – A Very Brief History

Here’s some historical background on Yoga so that you become familiar with this ancient practice. The practice of Yoga is several thousand years old. We first find the term “Yoga” in ancient Indian spiritual texts dated between 1700 – 1100 BCE in the ancient language of Sanskrit. The root of the word “Yoga” in Sanskrit means “to yoke” or “to unite.” Some yogis interpret this to be the uniting of breath to movement. Others interpret this to be a uniting between one’s self and the divine. 

While the practice and philosophy of Yoga is thousands of years old, it has significantly evolved over time especially as it spread to western cultures. Today, many people practice Yoga primarily as a form of physical exercise and stress relief without any religious or spiritual connections. Hatha Yoga, for instance, focuses primarily on holding physical postures for about five breaths while Vinyasa Yoga moves at a faster pace connecting movement with breath. 

Biblical Support For Your Yoga Practice

Now, let’s turn our attention to what the Bible tells us about our physical bodies:

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him” (Rom. 12:1).

“…the Lord cares about our bodies… Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself…so you must honor God with your body” (1 Cor. 16:13, 19).

“I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should…” (1 Cor. 9:27).

These passages remind us that it is our responsibility to take care of our physical bodies, not just our spiritual selves. Caring for our physical bodies is therefore not a suggestion, but an encouragement, as an expression of our Christian faith. It can be one of many ways we worship and honor God. 

Benefits and Blessings of Yoga for Christians

I firmly believe that all Christians can benefit from Yoga and receive its blessings in these ways:

Physical Health.

First, there are blessings to your physical health. Yoga can improve flexibility, strength, and balance. Regularly practicing Yoga can help prevent injuries, improve posture, and enhance your overall physical well-being. When we give this kind of care to our physical bodies, we are honoring God and becoming better equipped to serve Him and others.

Stress Relief.

Second, there is the blessing of stress relief. The combination of physical movement and focused breathing in Yoga can significantly reduce stress. By reducing stress, we may find ourselves being more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and able to practice self-control. By developing these qualities, we learn to face life’s challenges in a way that honors God.

Mindfulness.

Third, there is the blessing of mindfulness. As we learn to connect our movement with our breath, we create space on the mat that allows us to be more in tune with God’s presence and His quiet guidance. This mindfulness on the mat can then become a practice that transforms how we live off the mat. 

Community.

Fourth, there is the blessing of community. Yoga classes can expose you to people that need your unique perspective as a Christian faithfully honoring God as you exercise physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. And you can learn from their unique perspectives, too.

In Closing

As a Christian Yogi and Yoga instructor, I encourage people of faith to honor what God tells us in the Bible by caring for our bodies and caring for one another. Yoga Haven is all about welcoming and loving anyone that opens the door to the studio. That philosophy perfectly aligns with everything God teaches us in the Bible!

Merry Kendall (CYT 200)