Christopher Heffron’s article “Holistic Care: Treating Mind, Body and Spirit,” cited the benefits of yoga. Speakers whom I greatly respect have said that Catholics should not do yoga or Pilates. Does the Catholic Church allow this?
Although some Catholics consider yoga as “New Age” because of its pre-Christian origins in Hinduism, the Catholic Church has not forbidden it because it does not require a single religious meaning. Pilates™ is an exercise program, not a religious statement. Indeed, there are agnostics and atheists who use yoga and/or Pilates™ to improve their breathing, posture, coordination and concentration.
Yoga began among people who believed in many gods and had no contact with God’s revelation contained in the Bible. When Catholics meditate and pray, they do so as members of a faith community that recognizes Scripture as the word of God and that celebrates the sacraments given to us by Jesus.
Possible misuses of yoga and other non-Christian forms of meditation and prayer are addressed in the October 15, 1989, “Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on Some Aspects of Christian Meditation.”
That document cites Vatican II’s Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions that the Catholic Church “rejects nothing of what is true and holy in these religions” (#2). I think most Americans who use yoga or Pilates do so for exercise. There is nothing wrong with that.
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11 thoughts on “What Is the Church’s Teaching on Yoga?”
What is the only approved apparition in the United States and what makes something approved by the Roman Catholic Church? In order for true worship to occur does there need to be sacrifice such as we have in the Roman Catholic Church?
I practiced yoga for 28 years, even became certified to teach but always felt conflicted about it, in Truth, dedicating so much time to the practice and development and workshops and retreats. -a lot of the yoga philosophy and spiritual practices that go along with it as well as the deities associated – in truth learning about those things took me away from my Christian/Catholic spirituality which has so much richness. If I was studying or learning or being open to all of the yoga philosophy, it was inviting other areas of spirituality that weren’t Jesus. Weren’t the Holy Spirit. Weren’t God the Father. I think there’s a fine line between practicing an exercise and embracing another spirituality that takes you away from Christianity. Especially if you are a Luke warm Catholic.
It was beneficial for mindfulness and for exercise and stretching. But you have no way of knowing what the teacher is planning to teach you when you are in a vulnerable position (savasana) and you are open to suggestion.
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I have known no other God except the Christian God. If Yoga is religious I personally dedicate it to this God and therefore cannot be said to worship another. But I see no religion in Yoga.
That’s problematic cause the mere word “yoga” means “to bind”. The mere word “religion” means “to-rebind”. Yoga is made to be a religion, the word itself in it’s own culture is translated and used as we use in english (and latin-derived languages) the term “religion” HOWEVER, to fold like a pretzel isn’t in itself idolatry. It can be just a workout, but let’s face it, most people in the west aren’t actually doing THE yoga. Even New Agers. They take what they like and make a “fast food” version of whatever spirituallity they happen to encounter through what’s fashionable.
I do the poses, because St Thomas Aquinas used to discern like this: if you have a material explanation for the benefit of x practices, then, it simply has natural causes that can be imprinted with superstition, but are good in themselves. However if there are benefits that can’t be explained from nature and matter then wait until that can be clarified or merely discard the practice cause you could be dealing with “demonic benefits” (or Godly healings, like with the rosary that does “rewire the brain” but nobody gets how, but regarding the rosary, we have the discernment of Church to say it is a holy practice). It so happens that the areas of yoga most of us are interested in have ALL natural explanations. For example, twists benefit kidney and vowel health. Joining breath and movement boosts serotonin. Things like that. But yeah, to NOT see religion in yoga, that could only be when we are unaware that “yoga” and “religion” are basically the same word in different cultures.
Can exercise yoga for seniors open one up to other spirits?
Amen 🙏
Thank you for speaking truth. I have known people that teach yoga, practice yoga, wear “spiritual gangster” shirts. They lie, cheat, bare false witness even on their own family members and adultery is nothing to them.
If you are conflicted, ask for the aura of Jesus to surround and protect you from any and all harm.
I once had a very disturbing experience with yoga and associated it with evil afterwards. Asked Jesus fir forgiveness, never did it again.
I am looking for a lay Franciscan order in my area. I live in Lakeland Florida. Do you know of any in our area? Thank you!
Kathleen
I am going to review the churches teaching embodied in the referenced “Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on Some Aspects of Christian Meditation.” I asked my local priest about pursuing Yoga for physical benefit and stretching purposes and I was admonished to not participate in the practice. I will obey the directive of my priest and research the position of the Church as detailed and expressed in the referenced letter. I don’t want to be in opposition to church teaching and I want to try to relieve the significant discomforts afflicting my body. However, if this is a cross to bear, then amen.
Hi Brian, You could try Christian Yoga. There are several Jesus-centered schools that certify teachers such as Holy Yoga, Yahweh Yoga, The Yoga Abbey and others. I read the LEtter to the Bishops you referenced. It was helpful to me to make sure that my prayer/worship time on my mat and when I teach holy yoga to others is centered on Jesus. The result is to be closer to him (commune although not always) and then to go outwards and love others because of my time spent.
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