Stretching the Truth: Why Yoga and Christianity Can Share a Mat

Journey of Faith and the Irony of Yoga
(Based on a real thread with names changed to protect the individuals involved)

Yoga—an ancient practice that combines movement, breath, and mindfulness—has long sparked curiosity and contention, especially within faith communities. Sometimes referred to as the "Bible of Yoga," the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali is a revered text that provides foundational wisdom for achieving mental and spiritual states, offering insights that resonate across diverse belief systems, including within faith communities. Patanjali outlines that truth can be known through direct experience, testimony, or inference. He also mentions that untruths can be experienced, and both truth and untruth can lead an individual to experience pain or pleasure, happiness or sadness, freedom or imprisonment. He later emphasizes surrender to a higher power—whether a chosen object or deity—as the most direct path to yoga.


We will explore these ideas in this authentic thread in order to inform and enlighten. If this article can help illuminate at least one person and inspire them to do, be, and live with more acceptance, tolerance, peace, and joy, I've done my job at sharing the light of yoga wisdom. A wise being once said that one candle can light a thousand. Be the light, travel light, and spread the light!
​

Can yoga serve as a bridge to deepen Christian faith, or does it fundamentally conflict with such beliefs? This article captures a lively, thought-provoking thread initiated by Nancy, a "recovered yoga addict," with commentary by Ricky and others with diverse viewpoints. Names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved. To ensure authenticity, the original posts and comments are presented here in full.


Nancy’s Initial Post: Turning Away from Yoga for Jesus
Hello, please allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Nancy and I’m a recovering yoga addict. It’s been 100+ days since my last flow. I feel compelled to share my story in hopes that it may help at least one person.


I discovered yoga at 18 when I was fresh out of high school looking for a way to stay active. What drew me to yoga was how similar it was to dance. On the surface, it seemed safe.
I rolled my first mat out at a hatha-raja studio and bit the bait hook, line, and sinker. At first, I practiced for the pre-conceived health benefits, and I must admit it was fun to learn new poses and feel strong doing them, but the good Lord has opened my eyes. There is more to yoga than meets the eye. There is another side that is deeply spiritually rooted. It’s so much more than a workout. In fact, many studios will tell you it’s a work-in.


By 2018, yoga caught me in its snare. I received my certification to teach and I did so in my community up until I was 7 months pregnant with Ellie.


Yoga means “to yoke” or to join with the divine. I have come to realize each contortion is honoring a Hindu deity… “g” god. Could this be what we are yoking with? I encourage you to do your own research and to live your own truth. For me, this is concerning… this is idolatry.


1st commandment: Thou shalt have no other gods before me.


Why do I say all this? In hopes to repent and undo any harm I may have caused. I regret how many lives I may have inspired to try yoga… It’s not as innocent as it looks. Yoga can open the door to the enemy to come in and have a field day with you. If you practice yoga/meditation to get into an altered state you are compromised. It’s playing with fire. I thank the Most High God for patiently loving me and drawing me away from the practice and giving me strength to resist. With His help, I ripped it off like a bandaid and was able to quit cold turkey.


I hope this testimony resonates with someone and you can walk away as I have and not be deceived. Jesus’s yoke is easy, and his burden is light. I’m yoking with Him.


Deuteronomy 11:16 Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them.


Ricky's Rebuttal to Nancy’s Claims About Yoga
Nancy’s claims about yoga reflect certain misunderstandings and a cautious perspective, highlighting concerns about external influences while overlooking the internal growth that yoga can foster. If the ego—driven by fear, pride, and attachment—is the real adversary, yoga becomes a tool to confront it, not a gateway to harm. Let’s address Nancy’s points, integrating the biblical principle, “Be still and know that I am God,” and the role of conscience.


Claim 1: “Yoga means ‘to yoke’ or to join with the divine.”
Rebuttal: Yoga does mean “union” or “yoking,” but the interpretation depends on context. Traditional yoga seeks unity with higher consciousness, while modern yoga often focuses on balancing body and mind. For Christians, this concept aligns with being “yoked” to Christ:
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me… and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29).
Yoga helps quiet the mind, creating space for God’s presence and deepening one’s relationship with Him. This mirrors Christian practices of prayer and contemplation, where the act of stilling the mind enables a deeper focus on God’s voice and guidance, fostering spiritual clarity and connection.


Claim 2: “Each contortion is honoring a Hindu deity.”
Rebuttal: This is a misconception. While some poses (asanas) are named after mythological figures, they are not acts of worship. Poses are neutral—how they are used depends on the practitioner. For Christians, physical postures can reflect spiritual intention, much like kneeling or bowing in prayer.


Claim 3: “Yoga can open the door to the enemy to come in and have a field day with you.”
Rebuttal: This claim is fear-based. Yoga addresses internal struggles of the ego, not external threats.
“Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
Yoga practices like breathwork and mindfulness cultivate stillness, closing the door on distractions and helping individuals focus on God.


Claim 4: “If you practice yoga/meditation to get into an altered state, you are compromised.”
Rebuttal: The calm, focused state achieved through yoga or meditation is not dangerous. It mirrors the state Christians seek in prayer and contemplation:
“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:16).
Such practices quiet the mind, creating space for God’s voice.


Claim 5: “Yoga is idolatry.”
Rebuttal: Idolatry involves worshiping something above God. Yoga, as practiced by most, is a tool for well-being, not worship. The practitioner’s intention determines its meaning.
For example:

• Kneeling before a crucifix is reverence, not idolatry.
• Similarly, yoga poses can express gratitude or prepare the body and mind for prayer.

Claim 6: “I regret how many lives I may have inspired to try yoga… It’s not as innocent as it looks.”
Rebuttal: Yoga is as intentional as the practitioner makes it. Millions use yoga to improve physical health, reduce stress, and cultivate peace. For Christians, yoga can embody biblical principles like mindfulness:
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2).
Yoga does not lead people away from faith but can deepen it by fostering calm and focus.


Claim 7: “Yoga is a snare that draws people in.”
Rebuttal: This assumes a hidden agenda, which is unfounded. Yoga is a tool that can be adapted to align with Christian beliefs, helping individuals prepare for prayer or reflect on scripture. Rather than a “snare,” yoga quiets the ego, allowing for deeper connection to God.


Reflection: Can Yoga and Christianity Coexist?
Nancy’s story demonstrates the irony of her journey. Yoga may have served as the boat that carried her across the ocean of confusion and suffering to the shores of faith-based liberation. Rather than appreciating the journey and the tool that brought her there, she has chosen to sink the boat, overlooking the gratitude owed to the practice that likely fostered her spiritual growth and devotion.


Interestingly, yoga likely helped Nancy develop the focus, stillness, and surrender that ultimately deepened her relationship with her chosen deity, Jesus. Burning the boat and judging the journey contrasts with the openness yoga invites, fostering dialogue and self-inquiry.


Yoga and Christianity need not be mutually exclusive. For example, some practitioners have shared how integrating yoga’s mindfulness and stillness into their daily routines has enhanced their prayer lives. By using yoga to prepare the body and mind for reflection, they report feeling more connected to God’s presence, finding a deeper sense of peace and devotion. When approached with intention and awareness, yoga can complement Christian faith, providing tools for stillness, mindfulness, and spiritual growth. Instead of viewing yoga as a threat, it can be seen as a bridge to greater devotion, enabling practitioners to live with clarity, humility, and gratitude.


Follow-Up Post: Comments That Yoga and Christianity Do Not Need to Be Mutually Exclusive


The recent thread on yoga and faith sparked some incredibly insightful discussions, and the comments themselves offer strong evidence that yoga works as a tool for personal transformation—whether it leads to deeper devotion, expanded self-awareness, or open dialogue about faith.


A Christian Student’s Perspective
One comment stood out from a longtime Christian student of mine, Martha, who eloquently shared her reflections on surrendering to Christ:


“Your rebuttal was so right, Ricky. Merry Christmas… If one has surrendered to the light of Christ as Savior, then the Holy Spirit dwells within. The journey of walking with Christ is knowing the Word and writing it on your heart. Nothing can separate a believer from the love of Christ. As a human, you can for sure make anything an idol if you choose to, as we are given free will.


One more thing: where the Holy Spirit dwells, no evil spirit can prevail. We all fall short, but with Christ, there is always forgiveness when we are self-aware and turn from our sin.”


Martha’s comment captures how yoga and faith can coexist beautifully. Her mention of mindfulness, self-awareness, and turning from sin echoes the principles of yoga, which cultivate inner clarity and spiritual discipline.


The Debate: Nancy, Sarah, and Allysa
The comment thread also revealed diverging views on whether yoga can harmonize with Christian beliefs.


Sarah, a former yoga teacher, defended Nancy’s anti-yoga stance with strong convictions:
“Yoga is not a tool for Christians. I quit yoga three years ago after some very deep realizations about the practice and what I was doing. Yoga does not connect us to the same God, Yahweh.”


Allysa challenged Sarah’s assertion, pointing out the importance of intention:
“Were you to dedicate your practice and meditation to Yahweh, you would feel as connected as someone practicing yoga while surrendering to wisdom or peace. Ask God—if I inhale and exhale in Your name, what happens? You think about God.”


Sarah later brought the concept of objective truth into the discussion:
“If you don’t believe in objective truth, Yahweh and the Bible being THE TRUTH, we are not going to see at the same level. Not a huge deal. Take care!”


My Response: Truth vs. Belief
I felt it was important to clarify the distinction between belief and truth in my response:
“Sarah, I appreciate your perspective and the sincerity behind it. However, I’d like to highlight an important distinction: belief and truth are not the same. Truth exists independently of belief—it is universal and self-evident, requiring no faith or perception to validate it.


For example, if Yahweh and the Bible are the ultimate truth, they remain so whether someone believes in them or not. Truth simply is. Psalm 46:10 captures this beautifully: ‘Be still and know that I am God.’ Notice it does not say, ‘Be still and believe that I am God.’ Knowing implies direct experience and certainty, while belief often operates within the realm of assumptions and unexamined convictions.


The direct experience of correct yoga and meditation takes us to this place of knowing—a state beyond belief, beyond perception, and beyond the distractions of the mind. These practices quiet the ego, still the fluctuations of thought, and create space for an encounter with truth as it is. This is not about adopting a new belief system but about experiencing a deeper reality that transcends belief altogether.


Far from being opposed to God, practices like yoga and meditation align with biblical principles. They encourage stillness, mindfulness, and humility, preparing the mind and heart for a deeper connection with the divine. The journey is not about what we believe but about what we know through direct experience—a truth that transcends words, perceptions, and beliefs.


Thank you for engaging in this discussion. I hope we both continue to seek truth with openness and sincerity, exploring what lies beyond belief in the quiet stillness where truth resides. Take care!”


A Final Reflection


The differing views shared in this thread illustrate a common challenge: balancing personal conviction with openness to new perspectives.


Martha’s comment reflects the beauty of integrating faith with mindful practices like yoga. Her understanding that "nothing can separate a believer from the love of Christ" aligns with the foundation of Christian faith, while her recognition of mindfulness and self-awareness mirrors yoga's principles.


Sarah’s stance reveals the difficulty some face when reconciling deeply rooted beliefs with practices they once embraced. Ironically, Sarah’s own yoga journey likely fostered the discipline, stillness, and focus that deepened her faith in Yahweh. Yet, her current rejection of yoga highlights how judgment can cloud the broader understanding of tools that help spiritual growth.


Allysa’s response points out a critical truth: intention matters. Yoga is not inherently tied to one religious framework—it is a tool for physical, mental, and spiritual alignment, adaptable to personal faith. By dedicating a yoga practice to Yahweh or using breath as a prayerful focus, the practice can deepen one’s connection to God.


The irony lies in how yoga, which often cultivates openness and clarity, has been misunderstood as a "threat." This perspective stems not from yoga itself but from preconceived notions about its origins or associated symbols.


Yoga and Christianity, as Allysa and Martha demonstrate, can coexist harmoniously when approached with intention and awareness. It is not about replacing faith but about complementing it—preparing the body, mind, and spirit for a deeper connection with God.


My Takeaway
In conclusion, the debate highlights the need for open dialogue and personal discernment. Faith is a personal journey, and tools like yoga can serve to enhance spiritual clarity rather than detract from it. For Christians, yoga offers a means to "be still and know" God, aligning the heart and mind with biblical teachings through practices that foster humility, stillness, and surrender.


I invite everyone to reflect on this topic with openness and curiosity. Can yoga and faith walk hand in hand, or do they diverge irreconcilably in your view?


Merry Christmas, Happy Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noël, Buon Natale, Frohe Weihnachten, Feliz Natal, God Jul, Glædelig Jul, Vrolijk Kerstfeest, С Рождеством! (S Rozhdestvom), Καλά Χριστούγεννα! (Kala Christougenna), 圣诞快乐 (Shèngdàn kuàilè), メリークリスマス (Merī Kurisumasu), 메리 크리스마스 (Meri Keuriseumaseu), Happy Hanukkah, Chag Sameach, Hanukkah Sameach, Gut Yontif, Happy Kwanzaa, Habari Gani?, Happy New Year, Feliz Año Nuevo, Bonne Année, Buon Anno, Frohes Neues Jahr, Selamat Tahun Baru, Yeni Yılınız Kutlu Olsun, С Новым Годом! (S Novym Godom), Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu, Happy Holidays, Season’s Greetings, Warm Winter Wishes, Joyous Festivities, Festive Greetings, Peace and Joy, Joyous Yule, Blessed Solstice, Happy Winter Solstice, Happy Bodhi Day, Diwali Greetings, Happy Festivus, Happy Hogmanay, Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon.


Ricky Tran
December 2024