The Deeply Disturbing Truth About Yoga

Yoga is not what most people think it is…

These days, a lot of Christians are turning to yoga as a way to relax, lose weight, and become more flexible.

So... What’s wrong with that?

The truth is that everything about yoga is wrong…

Practicing yoga is the polar opposite of Biblical Christianity. Eastern religions teach that the source of salvation is found within and that the fundamental human problem is not sinning against a holy God but ignorance of one’s true condition. These worldviews advocate meditation and higher forms of consciousness as a way to discover one’s secret inner divinity. Christianity, on the other hand, teaches that salvation is possible only through Jesus Christ. As humans, we are in no way divine and, instead, much in need of repentance for our sins.

Yoga is deeply rooted in occult Hinduism. It means to be “yoked” with the divine. Yoga’s postures, breathing, and chanting are not designed to bring better physical health and well-being. Instead, they act to come into oneness with Brahman, the Hindu word for the “absolute being that permeates everything”.

Yoga is nothing less than pagan worship of one or more false gods…

The Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs describes yoga as a philosophy embracing every aspect of life, including its spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical.

Closely associated with yoga is transcendental meditation, another form of Hinduism that claims to be a religiously neutral method of relaxation and rejuvenation. It is not. Beginners in transcendental meditation receive a mantra to repeat while sitting in yoga postures and engaging in yogic breathing. The goal is to find God within their own beings since their god and the self are really one. This is, of course, NOT what we believe as Christians. We are not God, nor can we ever be like God.

The Oxford American Dictionary defines yoga first as a Hindu system of meditation and self-control designed to produce mystical experiences and spiritual insights. Then, only secondarily does it consider yoga as a system of physical exercises and breathing control. Most people think of yoga only in terms of the second definition... and that is a lie from the pit of hell.

Ask just about any secular practitioner about stress, and they’ll tell you to meditate. To them, meditation means things like Zen, visualization, or mindfulness, all of which have origins in New Age and Eastern religions.

Yoga postures have definite spiritual significance that originates in the occult. One example is the sun salutation posture, usually done at the beginning of most classes. It is a posture that expresses “reverence” for the life-giving solar energy.

In other words, it is outright pagan sun worship…

Kundalini yoga involves chanting, singing, breathing exercises, and repetitive poses. Its purpose is to activate your “Shakti”. This spiritual energy is said to be in the form of a coiled serpent located at the base of your spine.

Wasn’t it a serpent tempting Eve in the Garden of Eden?

Some might argue, “But I’m not using these other forms of yoga or meditation for worship.” However, whatever we do in life should be to glorify God. Anything that does not glorify God should immediately be eliminated from our lives.

Sadly, many so-called churches not only turn a blind eye to yoga or even foolishly encourage or sponsor it. Any time we mix Christian discipline with any other religious practice, we anger God. Consider this from the book of Deuteronomy…

When the Lord your God shall cut off the nations from before you, where you go to possess them, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, take heed to yourself so that you are not ensnared by following them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you not inquire after their gods, saying, “How did these nations serve their gods? Even so I will do likewise.” You shall not do so to the Lord your God, for every abomination to the Lord, which He hates, they have done to their gods. They have even burned their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods. Whatever I command you, be careful to do it. You shall not add to it or take away from it (Deuteronomy 12:29-32).

Throughout the Bible, God describes Himself as a jealous God. He has commanded us to keep our worship pure and undefiled by the worship of other gods. Ankerberg and Weldon put it this way in their Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs... “The public perception of yoga as a spiritually safe and neutral practice is false. It is difficult, if not impossible, to separate yoga practice from yoga theory. The one who engages in yoga practices for health purposes may also find himself converted to an occult way of life. Yoga literature is replete with warnings of serious physical consequences, mental derangement, and harmful spiritual effects.” *

The dictionary defines occult as “hidden, secret and mysterious knowledge, particularly pertaining to the supernatural.” Examples of other occultic practices are astrology, witchcraft, mysticism, Wicca, spiritism, parapsychology, and yes, even Satanism!

When you examine yoga’s occultic influences, one can easily see why it has absolutely no place in the life of anyone who calls themselves a Christian. Share this with your pastors and elders if your church sponsors yoga classes. If they ignore it, it’s time to consider leaving…

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* Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs, John Ankerberg and John Weldon, Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon. Pages 593-95.