Yoga

[Full Quiver]

I had a martial arts instructor visit my church once. He taught Tae Kwon Do. He assured me that many of the martial arts were steeped in eastern religions but that some Christian folks were teaching strictly for sport, exercise, and defense. He heavily recommended Tae Kwon Do of course and said stay away from Kung Fu altogether because of the religious aspects.
He has a camp at his home for teens where he teaches. It is quite nice.

[Sherry]

1Th 5:22
Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Makes scents to me.

God Bless

Please ....Yoga maybe the only way some maybe able to exercise. It is one of the easiest forms of physical therapy for some, though I am not speaking of the advance forms of Yoga! So your statement doesn't make sense to me.

As with anything else, if you choose to make more of it, then it's your choice. It's called free will! If your statement were accurate in this, then I suggest you stay away from all you can eat buffets!

[Full Quiver]

The appearance of evil is in the eye of the beholder just like beauty, in my opinion. We all have perspectives based on where we stand and how we are viewing things and situations. Depending on how much info and insight we have determines what we think about a given subject. If Bibleman finds that this instructor teaches yoga strictly as relaxation and exercise and the class in no way is worshiping a false god in their exercises and meditations then he could easily relay this to his congregation, overseer, etc. so that they do not view it as evil.
One thing I have learned you will never prevent people from drawing up false conclusions and therefore Bible man in this situation should focus on his congregation and such and not the casual passerby, gossiper, etc.

[Jennifer Smith]

I would have questions for them regarding whether or not they are part of the mystical practice of yoga. Then also of course make it a matter of prayer.

I am cautious with regard to exposure to false religions for myself, my family and other people in my care. I have seen even minimal exposure to false teachings have a great effect in people's lives that I have counseled.. responsibility for any problems resulting would fall to you!
If they are simply teaching yoga as exercise without any emphasis on its origin or the beliefs and practices associated with each movement..I suppose that may be different. I would still make it a matter of prayer. You are a steward of God's house, I'm sure He has entrusted you with that for a reason!

[one love]

I would have questions for them regarding whether or not they are part of the mystical practice of yoga. Then also of course make it a matter of prayer.

I am cautious with regard to exposure to false religions for myself, my family and other people in my care. I have seen even minimal exposure to false teachings have a great effect in people's lives that I have counseled.. responsibility for any problems resulting would fall to you!
If they are simply teaching yoga as exercise without any emphasis on its origin or the beliefs and practices associated with each movement..I suppose that may be different. I would still make it a matter of prayer. You are a steward of God's house, I'm sure He has entrusted you with that for a reason!

AMEN

I would pray and find out as much as I can. Yes there is yoga that is exercise based alone, yet there is still much religious backround in some of it. SO based on the fact that we ourselves are not sure you should be able to understand oletimer's response. We can not say ourselves the motives and also agree some of it are false religions which would be evil. SO by him saying abstain from the very appearance of evil by his thought and perspective he is correct. Now my thought leans toward the above post and also that of full quiver. Pray about it , find out what they are about if it is exercise alone present it to your congregation. The last thing you would want is someone passing out some religious yoga meetings going on in your church. But if it is innocent it could be a good thing. Brother bibleman just do your homework and pray. I was asked if someon could use our place for some music productions, when I found out what it was my entire church said no. SO I would lean toward this.

[Mister Ed]

Biblemanryan:

Anyone familiar enough with Yoga to be an instructor in such, and wants to use your facilities to teach a class would, in all probability, know the following:

(Taken from LARSON’S BOOK OF CULTS)

Yoga is much more than a series of muscular maneuvers designed to relieve tension. It is a Hindu tradition going back nearly 5000 years and is based on mystical doctrines. Yoga, taken from the Sanskrit word yui meaning “to join” literally means “union with God.” Which God?
A major text on yoga states “The aim of all yoga is realization of the Absolute Braham.” This abstract concept of God is hard for the western mind to understand…. The God of yoga is an impersonal deity who pervades the universe as an energy force. Hindu belief teaches that God (Brahman) is unknowable, inexplicable, and at the same time, present in all living things. Sometimes, Brahman is referred to as the Universal Being, the Supreme Absolute, or Pure Consciousness. Whatever the name, his manifestation to men is known through the Hindu God “Shiva” And it is Shiva, known as the Hindu godhead of destruction , that plays an integral role IN THE PRACTICE OF YOGA.

Yoga believes that the spiritual body is held in bondage by the physical body. Consequently, the posturing positions are intended to manipulate the skeletal and muscle structures in such a way as to release the spiritual for its goal of Yoga, union with God…..

Swami Vishnudevananda, a foremost exponent of yoga , and author of “The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga” explains the purpose of yoga. He states “The aim OF ALL YOGA PRACTICE is to achieve truth wherein the individual soul identifies itself with the supreme soul of God.” How is this accomplished?

Swami V…. declares “….the supreme power of nature” is a coiled serpent lying at the base of the spine. She is the goddess ‘Shakti’, whom Hindus believe is “the giver of immortality and eternal happiness.” but Shakti can only fulfill her promise by achieving union with Shiva, her consort. (Shiva is one member of the Hindu Trinitarian godhead -- Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva.) Shiva is said to reside at the center of the forehead between the eyebrows. The purpose of yoga is to arouse the serpent power of Shakti so that she rises through the ‘sushumna’, a hollow canal said to be running through the spinal cord. On the ascension, Shakti passes through six chakras, spiritual energy centers. The seventh chakra, her destination, Is Shiva. Once Shakti merges with Shiva, union OR YOGA is achieved. The next goal is permanent union to become a liberated soul and be unlimited by time and space -- at one with God. The person who accomplishes this goal then possesses all powers, psychic abilities, and sinless perfection.”

This article continues to point out the different positions being named from the twelve names of the “Lord Sun” or after other gods (Baby Krishna, Lord Nataraja poses) or animals (lion scorpion, cobra, etc.). And the different types of yoga and states:

“The postures of Hatha Yoga are designed to condition the mind to experience an altered state of consciousness. Each pose is presumed to be tuning the body, glands, and psychic nervous system to a level of spiritual susceptibility and altered awareness. Hindu Yoga teachers have long defined this discipline as religious both in goal and practice. Can it be casually disassociated from its pagan origins simply because a Western teacher redefines its intent?”



There is much more that could be inserted here but I tried to list the main aspects of this pagan practice which is also listed as one of the martial arts.

[Sherry]

Biblemanryan:

Anyone familiar enough with Yoga to be an instructor in such, and wants to use your facilities to teach a class would, in all probability, know the following:

(Taken from LARSON’S BOOK OF CULTS)

As in Bob Larson, right??? Please!

[Mister Ed]

I am not a fan of Bob Larson's present "ministry?". This article was his quotes from The COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED BOOK of YOGA by Swami Vishnudevananda, Bell Publishing; Yoga, Youth and Reincarnation, Jess Stearn, Bantam; miscellanenous texts on yoga and Hinduism.

I have done other studies on the martial arts and see no way to associate them with Christianity.

[Sherry]

I am not a fan of Bob Larson's present "ministry?"

Whew!!....You had me scared there for a second!!!

[Mike Vande]

Hey, if you're gonna do Hatha Yoga, why not get into Tai Chi too? It's excellent exercise, and no more anti-Christian than Yoga. Or Tantric Yoga, to liven up your marital relationship? There can be LOTS of benefits to that Eastern stuff

Watchman Nee wrote a book called "The Latent Power Of The Soul", in which the various disciplines from India and China, including Yoga, are viewed as attempts to tap into the power of the soul that humans were cut off from by God after the Fall of Man in the Garden.

As such, Nee said to stay away from them, they are ways to access a power God doesn't want us to have.

As far as the appearance of evil goes, how evil would a union between Yoga Christianity appear to the church in your community, and what does Paul say about meat sacrificed to idols if it offends your brethren?

[soulsearcher]

1Th 5:22
Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Makes scents to me.

God Bless

I don't know about the rest of you, but I think I smell a rat!

[one love]

1Th 5:22
Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Makes scents to me.

God Bless

I don't know about the rest of you, but I think I smell a rat!

I know im new here but what in the world does that imply? Just curious.

[RamboPreacher]

1Th 5:22
Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Makes scents to me.

God Bless

I don't know about the rest of you, but I think I smell a rat!

I know im new here but what in the world does that imply? Just curious.

i think it's a joke, playing on the misspelled word (highlighted)

[one love]

I did not catch that Sorry , but thankyou Rambo!!!! I just could not make sense of it. God bless..

[Mister Ed]

I am not a fan of Bob Larson's present "ministry?"

Whew!!....You had me scared there for a second!!!

Just another word about Bob Larson; I once liked some of his writings but later it seemed he began to be involved in some of the religious practices he seemed to have opposed in the past. I used this particular article because it seems to describe yoga pretty well.

Anyway; that is my opinion in the matter, and I fully respect other's rights to their own opinions.

(thanks for the response)