Yoga & Christianity - Keleah, what do you think?

WOW! If I had a nickel for every question I have had about the recent comments in the media about yoga being evil & non-Christian, I could retire from teaching it. OF COURSE, I would never do that! Regardless of comments from the president of the Southern Baptist convention or any other well intentioned pastor's views, I weigh all things (including Yoga) by THE Bible- the word of God. I firmly believe all things were created by him, for him and for his glory (including Yoga). Yoga is simply a vehicle, a tool, a method, a system....call it whatever you want.... to experience a deeper walk with God (for some!) Of course, not all people experience God in the same way. Example, some are not musical - thus hymns or praise and worship isn't the way they choose to experience him the deepest. Some read. Some have an elaborate prayer life. And, some, YES some, mediate....during Yoga or even without the Yoga. I think I am making my point. How I really feel is SAD for those who cannot / will not ever experience this healing gift from our father. They are truly missing out!  I am doing a new certification in the new year and this post I have copied and pasted below is from a peer within this program. I could not have said it better myself. Her views so closely parallel mine, I just had to share it. I feel like she wrote from MY heart....particularly with:

"I've wrongly used exercise in my past. But Jesus- my Savior, Redeemer, and lover of my soul - is allowing me to worship Him in HolyYoga.  He meets me on my mat, in my chair or during my runs TO HIM and For Him.  I am no better than that prostitute woman... but I am grateful for the Freedom to Love Him with my whole heart soul mind and strength. 

It is and always has been about the focus of the heart.  So, as for me and my house - my body - I will worship the Lord God Almighty with HolyYoga as a tool for worship because Christ has set me free."

JeanneAnne Copleston R-HYT, CPT- NASM

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TO READ THE ENTIRE POST:

Does Yoga open you up to the demonic?

A well respected pastor attempted to answer the question: Does yoga open us up to the demonic.  We are called to test/check everything with Scripture.  Here is what the HolySpirit revealed to me.
Ps 22:3 " But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. "
If I am praising God, He welcomes and receives this praise so intimately that He inhabits me - makes a home in my heart.  Where ever and when ever we are praising Him with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength I am opening myself up DIRECTLY TO my KING... not the Prince of Darkness.
1 John 1:5    God is light; in him there is no darkness at all."
Is 61:3 "  that beauty should be given unto them instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of the spirit of heaviness"
Putting on the garment of praise 'repels' the spirit of heaviness... oppression and darkness.
Is there the possibility? Sure.  Anything we do with out inviting God to be in the midst is dangerous. Adam and Eve got in fatal trouble when they didn't invite the Lord to their first snack.   God told Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree of Life... He didn't say 'dont eat of the tree of life or attempt Tree Pose.  '

John 8: 31  "The Truth Will Set You Free" So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples"

  We are called to worship in Spirit and Truth.  Holy Yoga weaves the Truth in this 'mind body, HolySpirit ' workout.  Did we not leave our Mother Country England to worship our Savior freely? 

CAN YOGA BE USED AS A TOOL FOR WORSHIP?

          Yoga indeed has been wrongly used.  Alcohol, and Food have been wrongly    used/abused.  Children and women have been abused... do we get rid of them? The stars have been wrongly worshipped.  Martin Luther said" do we then pluck them out of the sky?"

  Luke 7:38 "and knelt at his feet. She was crying and washed his feet with her tears. Then she dried his feet with her hair, kissed them over and over again, and poured the perfume on them."

I've wrongly used exercise in my past. But Jesus- my Savior, Redeemer, and lover of my soul - is allowing me to worship Him in HolyYoga.  He meets me on my mat, in my chair or during my runs TO HIM and For Him.  I am no better than that prostitute woman... but I am grateful for the Freedom to Love Him with my whole heart soul mind and strength. 

It is and always has been about the focus of the heart.  So, as for me and my house - my body - I will worship the Lord God Almighty with HolyYoga as a tool for worship because Christ has set me free.

JeanneAnne Copleston R-HYT, CPT- NASM