A Personal Opinion About Yoga (Christian View)

A Personal Opinion About Yoga

 


Blogger's note to reader:

It is not my purpose with this blog to shun or disrespect anyone who practices Yoga as a form of medication or exercise or stress relief. I just wanted to share my personal view of this topic and share my personal convictions of why I don't practice it. I hope that the reader will read this blog with an open mind and not judge me because I won't judge them. Thank you for reading :)


Introduction
Yoga is a very popular form of sport, relaxation, stress relief and even to some a religion. It has gained much popularity across the Western hemisphere and more yoga studios are a common establishment in many urban city centers.

The term "Yoga" comes from the Sanskrit word yuj, which means "yoke" or " to unite" as in uniting the body, mind and spirit, and was first used in Hindu texts in 500 B.C. and has been said it was originated in Hinduism and remains a large part of some Hindu practices today.

^{2 Corinthians 6:14}  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

The above verse is from the Bible and it also has the word "yoke" and in this sense of the word it's used as a verb, and it is defined as: to couple or to join with one another, but more importantly the word before yoke is unequally, and so when you put the two words together it is meant to tell the Christian to not be together with non Christians because it might cause problems and that there's not really any sense of togetherness or agreeing points of views when together for there might be conflicts of interest and on specific practices like in the case of meditations.

However, things have changed in the last few thousand years, and most yoga currently practiced in the West only slightly resembles the original practice. In fact, most of what we call here is not truly yoga at all—it is only asana, which are the physical postures, and pranayama, the breathing exercises. I don't know what yoga entails in the East and so I won't be sharing them here. It has been said by some Hindus and yoga enthusiasts believe Hinduism involves yoga; but that all yoga is not Hinduism.

Meditation

Meditation is part of the practice of yoga generally presented in the three broad categories of concentration, mindfulness, and contemplation—are forms of mind training, operating on the fundamental premise that the mind determines the quality of life for the individual who does the meditating. It has been said by anti-yoga believers they believe that meditation is very dangerous because it promotes the purpose of clearing ones' mind until there's nothing and thus it

In my humble opinion, I think as a Christian, we are to meditate only on God and His Word. We are not to focus on ourselves or to clear our minds. The Bible never gave us a prescription to free our mind. But the Bible does have verses that support the view of meditating on Him.

^{Psalm 63:3}         When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

^{Psalm  119:15}        I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.  

Focusing on Him

I strongly believe when one clears their mind, one is opening up to demonic powers and attacks. As a Christian, we are shown in the Bible to let our minds dwell on Godly things and meditate on Scripture and of Him only.

 

In the book of Philippians chapter 4 we are taught the following:

^{Philippians 4: 8} Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

 The Bible teaches the Believer (of Jesus Christ)  also to take care of our bodies because they are the temple where the Holy Spirit resides in. It is very clearly shown in the below verse that I will share with you all too. This verse is just to point a truth and not to say that an individual who is practicing Yoga is wrong, but merely this is what Jesus has shown me when I asked Him if it was spiritual for me to practice yoga and do it as a form of exercise.

^{1 Corinthian 6:19}  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 

As a child of Christ though and belief that He died for my sins, and He rose up from the dead on the 3rd day and I have given my life for Him to control and to be used by Him to do His Will that He has for me. The following verse is a strong reminder that He died in my place for my sins.

^{1 Corinthian 6:20}  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, I think it's a good idea to keep our bodies healthy by eating right, doing exercises, getting enough rest and to take care of it in general. I also think Yoga is dangerous if you allow your mind to go into a deep state of nothing while you are into a deep meditation. I think it's a good thing to believe in Jesus and to have a relationship with Him because He gives us such beautiful things to think about and so we should take care of our temples for His Sake because we were bought with a price. If you haven't decided to follow Jesus yet in your life, what is stopping you? Are you interested in accepting Him in your life? If you have any questions, please feel free to message the Blog owner or myself or even just leave a comment below any post in this blog. I hope that this blog will be a blessing to you too. I love you but Jesus loves you much more. <3 Thank you for reading :)