We posted the following article in 2007. It is written by Yogi Baba Prem, who is a Hindu Yogi, a Vedavisharada trained in the traditional gurukural system. Because Yoga is growing in popularity among Christians today, we decided to post this again. We hope that Christians who are considering Yoga will read this. And please read some of our own research and articles (see links below). Please share this information with any believer you know that is engaging in Yoga.
“There is no Christian Yoga.”
by Yogi Baba Prem
“It was quite astonishing to see on the flyer ‘Christian Yoga! This Thursday night. . . .’ I could feel the wheels spinning in my brain. ‘Christian Yoga,’ I thought. Now while Christians can practice yoga, I am not aware of any Christian teachings about yoga. Yoga is not a Judeo/Christian word! It is not a part of the Roman Catholic teachings and certainly not a part of protestant teachings. It is not found within the King James Version of the bible. It is a Hindu word, or more correctly a Sanskrit word from the Vedic civilization. So how did we get ‘Christian Yoga’?
“From this I could conclude that ‘Christian Yoga’ could only indicate one of two possibilities:” Read more …
Some of our research on Yoga:
A Former New Age Follower Talks About “Christian Yoga”
In Hindu “Yoga” means “Yoking”:
Noah Webster’s definition:
2. A mark of servitude; slavery; bondage.
3. A chain; a link; a bond of connection; as the yoke of marriage.
4. A couple; a pair; as a yoke of oxen.
5. Service.
Yoke, verb transitive:
1. To put a yoke on; to join in a yoke; as, to yoke oxen, or a pair of oxen.
2. To couple; to join with another.
3. To enslave; to bring into bondage.
4. To restrain; to confine.
When a person practices Yoga (Yoking) poses, they are worshipping Hindu gods, whether they admit it or not, & joining themselves to those foreign Hindu gods. It’s not freedom, only Christ offers that. Yoga is spiritual coupling/bondage/ slavery & it will separate a person from intimacy with the Holy Spirit. Fear the LORD.
Exodus 20:3
“Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” KJV
“You must not have any other god but Me.”NIV
“Worship no god but Me.” Good News Tr.
“You are to have no other gods besides Me.” ISV
“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1 Thess 5:22
God blesses our obedience. ~ “To obey is better than sacrifice.” 1 Sam 15:22
Yoga and true Christianity are diametrically opposed to each other. There can be no agreement there. I attended an independent Baptist Church in 2001 that we found out was offering Martial Arts classes to its children, calling it a “Christian” form. I had to leave the church because the Pastor stubbornly refused to admit it was wrong. I find it difficult to understand how Christians don’t get this.
I think any time a Christian tries to set up the ‘conditions’ for a ‘spiritual experience’ they are on the wrong track. Jesus already connected us with Himself. We can stop trying now. And every time we try from our side, it’s a show of unbelief.
Yoga means “unity”…with the Hindu god. The Hindu religion is anti-Christ. I’m sure it displeases our Lord Jesus when his followers align themselves with this practice. Most claim it’s just stretching. But words mean something. If we started a popular stretching movement and named it the Antichrist exercise program, I wonder how many Christians would get on board with that.
That’s right. There is NO such thing as ‘Christian’ yoga! The goal of yoga is to ‘realize the deity within’ and since there is no divinity within, it is a pagan exercise. We must go through the cross to have reconciliation, fellowship and union with the Lord. That is the only way.