Christianity and Yoga: Can Christians Practice Yoga Part II

In 7 Biblical truths about yoga and Christianity (part I) we explored the first four Biblical principles that helped me to answer the question, Can Christians practice yoga?  

As I mentioned before, it is not my intention to convince you to share my conviction. Here, I simply share my research about Christianity and yoga and my experience as a yoga teacher who is also a follower of Christ. I encourage you to seek God’s Word and godly counsel on the subject of practicing yoga as a Christian. 

Let us continue our exploration of yoga and Christianity.

* Throughout this post I will be using the term “Christian” yoga to describe the practice of yoga from a Christian perspective. Yoga is not merely a form of exercise but is meant to be a spiritual discipline. I firmly believe that yoga is a spiritual practice for all, regardless of faith.  Much like prayer and fasting, yoga can be practiced by Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, or atheists. (For more see the course, Defining Yoga: through history, philosophy, and worldview.) Though yoga was birthed through a culture steeped in Hindu and Buddhist philosophies, I believe that the practice has much to offer followers of Christ. Here, for purposes of clarification, not appropriation, I will differentiate yoga practiced from a Christian perspective with the term “Christian” yoga.  

5 “Christian” yoga cultivates “ears to hear” and “eyes to see”

“Go, and say to this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed. Isaiah 6:9-10 

Jesus referenced these words of Isaiah when He was questioned about his use of parables as a teaching tool. He responded, “This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand (Matthew 13:13; ESV).” But this begs the question, what does it mean to “eyes that see” and “ears that hear”? 

Most of us have fully functioning eyes and ears but we do not always use them to learn what God is trying to teach us. God’s ways are not our ways. God’s thoughts are not our thoughts. We MUST learn to see and to hear God. Yoga teaches us how to “get still” in order to listen and seek God’s wisdom. 

As a yoga instructor, one of my goals is to help my students to develop a spirit of inquiry and the skill of watchfulness. While these skills are important in a postural yoga practice, they are even more valuable as we step off of our mats in order to live out our yoga. 

As followers of Christ, these skills of watchfulness and inner-listening are key to helping us understand our faith and can be tremendous tools for our spiritual growth. They can help Christians to cultivate “eyes that see” and “ears to hear” as we look to God, seek his wisdom, and listen for his still small voice.

6 “Christian” yoga purifies the mind and heart and gives us an eternal perspective 

Yoga helps us to set distractions aside in order to live our lives from an eternal perspective… We are citizens of Heaven walking in this world, but not of the world.

While we are living here on earth for now, our earthly lives are nothing but a vapor in comparison to eternity. Scripture tells us that “This world in its present form is passing away”. In this life, we will have trials, pain, and suffering. But the gospel reminds us that we are “not of this world,” and that these things are temporary.

This “good news” is meant to give Christians bright hope even in the face of darkness. This world, with all of its brokenness, is not where we ultimately belong and it is not where we will stay. Followers of Christ have been established in eternity and are “receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken”. Through Jesus, we have been set free from the power of sin and death! (James 4:14;1 Corinthians 7:31;1 Peter 5:10;1 Peter 1:6 –9; Hebrews 13:14 & 12:28; Romans 8:2)

Throughout Scripture, the people of God are referred to as stiff-necked and double-minded. The sad truth is that we are forgetful people who are easily distracted. The pain and suffering of this life cause us to forget God’s promises. Troubles and trials distract us from the good news we have been offered in Jesus Christ. When we are distracted by these things, we lose our focus on Jesus and step out of the freedom that we have been offered in him. (James 4:8; Matthew 14:22-32)

Because we are forgetful people, Scripture commands us repeatedly to meditate on God: his Word, his nature, what He has done, and what He promises to do. The traditional practices of yoga include purifying the mind through various levels of focus including: concentration, meditation, and absorption. As Christians practicing yoga, mastering these skills of meditation can help us to set earthly distractions aside in order to set our minds on the things above. We are given an eternal perspective when we fix our eyes on the glorified Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith! (Joshua 1:8; James 4:8; Colossians 3:2; Romans 12:2) 

7 “Christian” yoga is a powerful spiritual practice that helps us to live a life yoked to Christ

The practice of yoga has been used for centuries by various religions to build strong, flexible bodies, to create clear, focused minds, and to nourish and deepen one’s spiritual life.  

The term yoga refers not only to a state of being, but also to a spiritual practice which originated in Southeast Asia thousands of years ago. Much like the disciplines of prayer, fasting, service, and study of scripture, yoga is practiced as a spiritual discipline and is a means of enhancing one’s spiritual well- being. Though birthed through a culture steeped in Buddhist and Hindu philosophies, the practice of yoga is not specific to any one religion. The word yoga, from the Sanskrit root yuj, literally means to “yoke” or “to unite” the body, mind, and spirit in a quest to unite the individual soul with the divine soul of God.

Christians who practice yoga seek to yoke, or to unite, the body, mind, and spirit. Even more, they seek union with Jesus Christ; communion with God through the Holy Spirit; and to yoke their lives to the perfect will of God. Yoga, or yoking, for the follower of Christ involves remembering our identity in Christ- a beloved child of God. Jesus invites us to a new way:

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

To take on the yoke of Jesus is to turn from our old ways and to follow Jesus in faith, laying down the heavy burden of trying to earn God’s love and to work our way into heaven. Unlike other works-based faith traditions, Jesus assures us of God’s favor and unmerited grace. We are already deeply loved. Through Christ, we have already been given eternal life.

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Yoga, or yoking, for followers of Christ helps us to take off the yoke of this world, a yoke of works, legalism, and self-righteousness. Working in our own strength, we will experience weariness, exhaustion, and burnout. Instead, we are offered the yoke of Christ- communion and a partnership with him. Jesus does not promise us rest from work, but tells us that we do not need to work alone. He promises that God will send us a helper in the Holy Spirit who will allow us to rest and find refreshment for our souls. (John 15:26-27; John 14:16)

As we lie on our mats at the end of a yoga practice, we are reminded of our need to surrender our own efforts and find rest in God. If we are paying attention, we can feel God breathing his life giving breath in us and through us. We know that we are held. We sense the Holy Spirit quietly sustaining us. We recall the invitation of Jesus. As we step off of our mats, we are invited to go with Jesus, we take on his easy yoke, and we know that we do not walk in this world alone.

Want to learn more about “Christian” yoga? Get your FREE guide here, grab your spot in my signature course Yoga for Christians, or join me for a Christ-centered yoga class in my online studio and get started learning today!