Can a Christian be a Yogi?

Spirituality Religion
#11

You may not want to go to the Yoga is Hinduism thread right now. Somehow, I don’t know how, tornadoes got put into the mix. Some people!

But seriously, Flex you make a good valid point. My belief is still that Yoga is universal in its reach. As I’ve told Thomas, I do no preaching in my classes, but we do talk about all sorts of things like Hinduism, God, Buddhism, Christianity, yamas, niyamas, meditation, etc. I do my best to make it as open and comfortable as possible. But in our practice it is just yoga asana’s. Focusing on the breath and what muscles we are using and correct alignment, turning inward, visualizing and things are are yoga, but could be for anything. I don’t slant meditation or shavasana. We chant only at the Zen Center. Everyone seems happy and I have a wide mix in my classes, from Muslims to Jews to Catholics to atheists. No complaints thus far. When we talk of the Yamas and Niyamas I explain them in the context of their practice and everyday life. I see no conflict here and when I do my own personal practice, I can focus on what matters to me spiritually like Buddhism and Hinduism and to be honest, probably a sprinkle of my Catholic upbringing. But it works for me and my students.

#12

80/20 rule: 80% of the yoga studios and practioners out there also hold India and its religions in high regard, and seek to practice and believe in those tenets. They will also try to impart this in their students, but that is a function of their own egos, not of yoga.

I think it’s 99%.

Have you met a yoga teacher who is a practicing Christian? (And not a believer in reincarnation or panthiesm).

I am reading a book about the sutras, and there seems to be much about reincarnation there, though this book is not just Patanjeli, but commentary about his writings.

At any rate, the yoga teacher has her own beliefs, and links those beliefs to her practice. She is so confident of her beliefs she will present them as facts and as something to be taken on faith. It doesn’t occur to her that anyone could believe otherwise.

This is the stumbling block for Chrisitans, and though closed-mindedness and an unwillingness to do a thorough and fair study before ruling out yoga is most unfortunate, the yoga studios and teachers themselves are mostly to blame for wedding religion to yoga, but maybe they don’t care if they turn Christians off.

#13

[QUOTE=thomas;40936]I think it’s 99%.

Have you met a yoga teacher who is a practicing Christian? (And not a believer in reincarnation or panthiesm).

I am reading a book about the sutras, and there seems to be much about reincarnation there, though this book is not just Patanjeli, but commentary about his writings.

At any rate, the yoga teacher has her own beliefs, and links those beliefs to her practice. She is so confident of her beliefs she will present them as facts and as something to be taken on faith. It doesn’t occur to her that anyone could believe otherwise.

Not always Thomas. See my above post.

This is the stumbling block for Chrisitans, and though closed-mindedness and an unwillingness to do a thorough and fair study before ruling out yoga is most unfortunate, the yoga studios and teachers themselves are mostly to blame for wedding religion to yoga, but maybe they don’t care if they turn Christians off.

[/QUOTE]

I think many parts of yoga can be interpreted in many ways. Many things can be discussed and applied without religion attached.

#14

But to be fair, I found a teacher who keeps all that stuff out of her practice. We never do OMs and there is never any philosophy laid on us–just the physical stuff, which is fine with me. I don’t need to discuss religion–even my own–in a yoga class. I’m not there for that. And to my surprise, I asked this teacher about her beliefs once, and she said at this time she’s more of an atheist.

#15

It really depends on the students and the class. My students are curious and want to know. But they know I honor their beliefs and don’t preach. But discussion is good. It gets them to think. It opens such wonderful dialogue and has led to many insightful moments.

Again it all depends.

#16

I have read much on yoga and philosophy. I have paid attention to many views here in this forum. I have also read and re-read the 8 limbs of yoga and there is no mention of reincarnation or other stuff. There is mention of the Divine (or God), but the reference is such that it can easily be God the Father. For me, I prefer to think of the Divine as the power that lives in me and throughout the universe.

Look at this forum.

There is a section just for the “spiritual aspects of yoga.” How much Christian spirituality do you see there? How much does it seem like reincarnation is the standard belief of those who practice yoga?

So there is spirituality connected to it, and though someone outside of a particular faith can be spiritual, someone who already embraces a faith does not need “yoga spirituality,” whatever that is.

Why don’t we talk about the spiritual aspects of pilates, weight lifting, running, or playing tennis?

Seems to me that nobody wants to divorce spirituality from the asanas the way it is from other physical acitivity, but the spirituality that is connected to yoga is 99% of the time one of an eastern flavor and one that would go against Christian spirituality.

In the yoga world, Christians are oddballs.

#17

Would the inner guru appear as a jesus like figure to a christian? If the inner guru is accessable via techniques in yoga, which is true, then why is it a chinese person sees him as a pony tailed Buddha and me a bald Buddha…etc…I dont think the guru would appear the same for a christian with a person who’s lineage is steeped in Christianity…after all, the techniques are the same for everyone yet the guru is seen according to lineage…I think???

#18

Thomas, you have a good point with all this, but it really just comes to do you care? You like yoga. It has helped you with losing weight and gaining strength. So what does it matter who thinks it is Hindu, or that it’s spiritual, or its faith in disguise. What matters most is what is in YOUR heart and mind. You’ve found a teacher who doesn’t do anything but the asanas. Thats great! Don’t worry…be happy. Great name for a song BTW.

#19

The topic for discussion is “Can a Christian practice yoga?”

So that’s what I’m trying to determine.

My answer at this time is “yes and no.”

But I’m working on somthing that’s a little more specific.

#20

I’m still thinking about it thomas x needs thinking about

#21

He/she can practice whatever they wishes to practice.But yoga is about transformation and change and this may involve having some of your philosphical preconceptions & conditioining about the nature of reality and indeed what s[pirituality might mean challenged. Change is usually a challenging process, that’s why it is’nt always straightforward. But i think once you divorce the other aspects, the breath, the state of mind from asana you may end up rather with somethingm like pilates or calisthenics rather than a complete intergrated mind-body-spirit system/science and philosophy.

The physical and the spiritual are like one neighbour and the next.They’re not divorced. That’s what all the philosophy is about.But yoga takes the vailidity and authority of what’s real to be based on one’s own experrience. In that sense if anything it tries to eschew dogma.In yoga they say you can have whatever ishta you like. The hindu’s certainly don’t mind and if you were in India they may likely warm to you more the fact that you had a religion say said you were a christain than say an atheist.There is indeed some expectastion that you are in fact religious because it permeates their culture.

It’s a non-secular science & philosphy that can be practiced by anyone of any religious persuasion or faith. Indeed some religious pre-ocupation or faith may likely deepen and strengthen one’ spiritual explorations and your faith.The biggest demon is your self and alot of it is based on fear.I’m sure this has gone on for millions of years.

You don’t need to buy any dogma. What seems right and real to you matters over what anyone else thinks or does’nt think…

#22

[QUOTE=thomas;40945]The topic for discussion is “Can a Christian practice yoga?”.[/QUOTE]

Can I make a correction here? It may be subtle, but my thought was “can a christian be a yogi?” I may have used the wrong term, as it is assumed that a yogi is someone who practices yoga. I perceive a yogi as one who is well on the way to enlightenment, as someone whose nadis are purified. I practice yoga and in no way are my nadis close to being purified, therefore not a yogi.

If there is a better term for what I mean, please feel free to bring it to the discussion.

#23

But i think once you divorce the other aspects, the breath, the state of mind from asana you may end up rather with somethingm like pilates or calisthenics rather than a complete intergrated mind-body-spirit system/science and philosophy.

I would be ok with that. That’s what I am hoping to do at this point.

#24

Can a Christian be a Hindu?:stuck_out_tongue:

#25

[QUOTE=FlexPenguin;40952]Can I make a correction here? It may be subtle, but my thought was “can a christian be a yogi?” I may have used the wrong term, as it is assumed that a yogi is someone who practices yoga. I perceive a yogi as one who is well on the way to enlightenment, as someone whose nadis are purified. I practice yoga and in no way are my nadis close to being purified, therefore not a yogi.

If there is a better term for what I mean, please feel free to bring it to the discussion.[/QUOTE]

Can a Christian be a Hindu?:stuck_out_tongue:

#26

[QUOTE=FlexPenguin;40952]Can I make a correction here? It may be subtle, but my thought was “can a christian be a yogi?” I may have used the wrong term, as it is assumed that a yogi is someone who practices yoga. I perceive a yogi as one who is well on the way to enlightenment, as someone whose nadis are purified. I practice yoga and in no way are my nadis close to being purified, therefore not a yogi.

If there is a better term for what I mean, please feel free to bring it to the discussion.[/QUOTE]

OK, I thought anyone who does yoga is a yogi. Or a yogini if female?

I’ll have to do a search to figure out what nadis are and whether mine are pure (but most likely, they need a good scrubbing).

#27

Very good intriguing question Kareng.:wink:

In India any religion goes, for the most part at leasst. If you’re religious then that is respected , partly because Hindu culture likes to se sees divinity within everything. If you are a westerner they will say’ so you’re a christain’ and you say ‘yeh, i’m a christain’ and they think that’s really sound & cool,right on…They warm to you.At least that was my experience 1993 when i went on my own.

#28

Is it true that Gandhi was once asked “What do you think of Christian America?”

And that he answered, “I think it would be a good idea.”

That’s very funny, whether true or not that he said it.

#29

Are there Hindu sects that believe similarly to Christian–that you get only one incarnation, and from there go to Heaven or Hell?

And also that God is a personal God, a creator, and separate and distint from his Creation?

#30

[QUOTE=thomas;40959]Is it true that Gandhi was once asked "What do you think of Christian America?"

And that he answered, "I think it would be a good idea."

That's very funny, whether true or not that he said it.[/QUOTE]

It is true...kinda... but it was not about specifically about Christians or America... it was

What do I think of Western civilization? I think it would be a very good idea.
---Mohandas Gandhi

I have tried very hard not to post the follwing but I can no longer stop myself

Can a Christian be a yogi

Sure...why not :smiley: