If you thought that yoga was harmless exercise offered by your local liberal church and/or the YMCA/YWCA in your town, think again, biblical Christians. Similar to the degrees of Freemasonry, yoga is an introduction to a deeper involvement in Hinduism, the emptying of the mind via contemplative (Catholic) mysticism, the worship of other gods and demons, deceptively leading one away from the Word of God and possibly ending in demonic possession. There are various types of yoga including yoga re-packaged for Christians (so-called "Christ-centered alternatives to yoga"). These are supposedly safe for Christians, but is the risk worth it, when there are so many other forms of exercise?
For example, Brooke Boon's "Holy Yoga" http://holyyoga.net, offered at Rick Warren's Saddleback Church, http://www.saddleback.com/events/eventdetails.aspx?id=52061, or the "Praise Moves" of Laurette Willis, http://www.praisemoves.com, and "Atoning Yoga" of Lauren Terwilliger, http://www.atoningyoga.com.
Holy Yoga: Jesus is the Guru:
Praise Moves video:
Atoning Yoga video:
The following resources refute this mixture of yoga with Christianity from a biblical point of view. There are many other resources on the internet to prove that yoga in any of its forms or mutations is to be avoided for your spiritual health.
"The Yoga Boom: What are Christians to Do?" video by Elliot Miller, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFRPLzZ7pA8, (1HR/21MIN).
"Yoga Exposed" video by Scott Johnson, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Nzxv327fYA,(1HR/36MIN)
Scott Johnson's 2 part article with audio at Contending for Truth.com on Rick Warren's "New Health and Wellness Initiative": http://www.contendingfortruth.com/?p=2511 and http://www.contendingfortruth.com/?p=2506
Chris Lawson of Spiritual Research Network (SRN), http://www.spiritual-research-network.com/home.html, has three excellent videos on Vimeo: "Calvary Chapel & Purpose Driven Pastors Doing Yoga?", http://vimeo.com/53131997 (11MIN), and "New Age Teachings Influencing Your Church, Your Children & You", http://vimeo.com/53145537 (6MIN)(yoga at 5:45min mark), and "'A Time of Departing' (book by Ray Yungen) & New Spirituality Terms", http://vimeo.com/53127158 (7MIN).
Lighthouse Trails Research has articles on yoga, http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/yoga.htm and a new article, Barbie and American Girl Dolls Have Gone Yoga at http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=10533
Mike Oppenheimer interview on video, "Labyrinths (1st half) and Yoga (2nd half) Used by Christians" below:
Test everything by the Word of God!
