Barbie and American Girl Dolls Have Gone Yoga

From Barbie to the wholesome looking American Girl, both dolls have now joined the Yoga ranks in children’s toys, once again illustrating how mysticism and the New Age have fully enveloped our Western society.  Toys have not been left behind.

Unfortunately, many parents will buy their daughters and granddaughters these Yoga dolls, opening up another door to this mystical revolution.

In a Yoga Journal article from summer 2012 titled “Yoga Teacher Barbie,” it states:

It was only a matter of time before yoga—approximately a $6 billion industry—hit the toy aisle. Enter Yoga Teacher Barbie, a new version of the stilletto-ready, convertible driving, anatomically impossible doll from Mattel.  Barbie introduced the doll as part of its “I Can Be …” series, which covers a range of aspirations, from architect to dentist to pastry chef.

A 2011 Lighthouse Trails article about American Girl titled “PARENTS BEWARE: American Girl Doll Company Recommends Yoga, Mantras, Meditation, and Breath Prayers” stated:

American Girl has been an  alternative to Barbie Dolls. Once included in American Doll’s mission statement was the goal to “reinforce positive social and moral values.”1 That statement was found on their website in 2000. But American Girl today is reinforcing and promoting New Age practices. American Girl Publishing (a division of American Girl) released a book in 2009 titled Spa Fun.  On the back cover, it tells young readers to try a “yoga pose.” Inside, the chapter called “De-Stress” has sections titled “Balloon Breathes” (instructing readers to sit cross-legged and practice deep breathing exercises), “Mini Meditations” (instructs to sit cross-legged and focus on your breathing), and “Mantras.” In “Mantras,” it states: “Add a mantra to your meditation. A mantra is a sound or a word you repeat to help you focus” (p. 18).

The book also tells girls to practice “Laughing yoga”: “Sit cross-legged and take a deep breath. Exhale a few times with force saying ‘Ha-ha-ha!’ (p. 47). There is also a section called “Morning Yoga” (p. 48). On page 42, it tells girls to “meditate” and “take a mental trip to the beach.”

Presently on the American Girl store website, Yoga Gear for Dolls is being sold. The description says: “Today’s American Girl Doll Dresses for Yoga -Whether practicing poses or finding inner balance, her doll will love this comfy set.

Because Yoga is part of a Hinduistic belief system (and even doing “just the positions” is an entry way into eastern religion), we hope parents and grandparents will not give their daughters and granddaughters either of these two dolls. There may be some pressure from the little girls in your lives to get these dolls (especially if they are watching a lot of television or receiving the American Girl magazine), but wouldn’t this be a great opportunity to give a little lesson on the difference between biblical truth and an age old lie called the New Age?

If you would like to learn how to protect your children from the New Age/New Spirituality that has pervaded our society, you’ll be interested to know that Berit Kjos’ long awaited book, How to Protect Your Child from the New Age and Spiritual Deception  will be released this coming spring.  Whatever you do, do all you can to protect your children. Excluding Yoga Barbie and Yoga American Girl would be a great way to start.

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