Yoga

[Hellooo]

From what I'm gathering, there are a lot of strong opinions on practicing yoga and whether it plays a role in your spiritual walk. Granted, its not unwarranted criticism, given that the roots originate mostly out of Hinduism.

Is it possible to completely separate the spiritual, new-agey components of yoga from the physical aspects?

 

[Sirk]

Yes....greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world.

 

[oldthennew]

a really good question'

my myself, because of the association to Hinduism, it is unappealing -
but creating exercises on your own is very easy,
I don't do many 'jumping-jacks anymore, but I can do some crazy
stretching for Jesus even at my 'advanced age' -
plus I have found that the exercise-ball is amazing for stretching out
the spine and has many other benefits.



just remember, we each have to 'work-out' our own _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

 

[blue_ladybug]

i sure the heck can't do yoga..i can barely even walk right now.. :/

 

[Reborn]

Yeah.... I think it's just stretching isn't it?
Then posing while stretching?..........then holding both for 10 secs or so?

"Yoga" and it's association to Hinduism/Buddhism.....
...ruined it for people who once just liked....to stretch....and apparently hold that pose for 10 or so seconds.

It's the thoughts running through your head while your stretching I'd think would be the biggest issue?
If it's on the Lord, then does it matter if you stretch and pose and hold both for 10 secs or so........?

If anyone questions you if you are practicing Yoga,......
...say "no, no....I'm not doing Yoga....I'm just stretching and holding a pose for 10 secs or so."

See?

 

[mar09]

Oh, just noticed previous threads below, like on the dangers of yoga. You May get some idea of what others here previously thought.

 

[G4JC]

Yoga's religious roots are very deeply tied into it's methods and efforts to enter meditation.
See also: YOGA and Christianity – Are They Compatible? — Spiritual Research Network

And a video discussing this:

[video=youtube;dOJ213wnsaQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOJ213wnsaQ[/video]

I have heard Pilates can be done without Hinduism, but you still have strange breathing and some instructors will make an effort to get you into a state of altered-consciousness.
What is the Christian view of Pilates?

 

[Jeff_56]

From what I'm gathering, there are a lot of strong opinions on practicing yoga and whether it plays a role in your spiritual walk. Granted, its not unwarranted criticism, given that the roots originate mostly out of Hinduism.

Is it possible to completely separate the spiritual, new-agey components of yoga from the physical aspects?

no. that's like trying to mock god and say you're okay because you're not mocking god, while mocking god. it always brings a curse, just like gambling, horoscopes, idols of mariology, and others not so dramatic.

the best exercise available to most people is to
get a small 4' wide 6" tall trampoline instead and something to hold on to while gently jumping on it, (if this is doable and feasible in your condition). do twenty minutes 3 times a week. nothing else you can do is as good an exercise as this, physically. (and spiritually 'safe').

 

[didymos]

...

Is it possible to completely separate the spiritual, new-agey components of yoga from the physical aspects?

That's what I do when I practise and teach it. Food for thought: the Olympics were originally dedicated to the gods, does that mean christians should boycot them too? Yoga doesn't NEED to be about spirituality at all, if you don't want it to be. Then it's just a good work out, for both body and mind.