There are some misconceptions about the practice of yoga and Christianity. Some critics in the Christian community warn against practicing yoga. On the other hand, some in the Hindu community claim yoga as their own and insist that the two are intertwined.
Most people are in the middle of the debate and yoga is now practiced by people of all faiths. There are vast differences in how Christians approach the practice of yoga. Some focus only on the physical benefits of the exercise and avoid talking of the spiritual side of the practice.
Others embrace the spiritual side of yoga, even practicing meditation. This really is not a conflict, although some would disagree. The concept of uniting with the Divine doesn’t conflict with Christianity, since the concept of God is general and can be interpreted and used by the individual as it works for them.
The union of the body, mind and spirit and the union with the Divine is a belief that melds well with Christian beliefs about finding and becoming closer to God. Each person can choose how to apply the philosophy to their own belief system.
There are some broad ideas within yoga that also exist within Christianity. Ideas such as opening your heart to God, meditation, listening to God and seeking to discover the Divine within yourself and others are completely compatible with the basic concepts of Christianity.
There are literally tens of thousands of Christian denominations and the number continues to grow each year. Although based on the same Bible, the beliefs and level of fundamentalism vary widely from church to church.
Some continue to preach against using yoga in any form and point to differences in the concept of God as the reason for avoiding the practice. They warn that the understanding of the nature of God is different and frequently point to the idea of being one with God, stating that this is a dangerous idea. Some even warn that the practice of yoga can result in people think they are God.
Often, these criticisms come from people who have never practiced yoga and don’t understand that the practice varies almost as widely as Christian beliefs vary, according to the denomination. There are millions of Christians throughout the world who successfully practice both yoga and their own faith without conflict. That’s the beauty of yoga. It is accessible to all.