You unroll your mat, we will unwind your body, and god will unravel your heart. Jivamukti yoga, sharon gannon and david life, ballantine books, new york, new york 2002 page 8. A christcentered approach to physical and spiritual health through yoga by susan. Rather, as a christian, what you set your intentions and meditations on while practicing yoga will be entirely different than someone else. When it comes to yoga or anything else, dont simply ask, whats wrong with this. She read an occult book on yoga fourteen lessons in. A christcentered approach to physical and spiritual health through yoga by susan bordenkircher at barnes due to covid19, orders may be delayed. So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of god. Reviewed in the united states on february 18, 2009. The latest contribution to the debate over this topic is a book just. Still others suggest integrating yoga and christian prayer is a dangerous entry point to new age spirituality and syncretism. Welcome to yoga faith, where our 100, 200, 300 hour and specialty training programs will equip and empower you through the practice of yoga, gods word and the power of the holy spirit.
Yoga is a practice that has become very popular in the united states. Practicing yoga, or asana, either has no religious meaning to them, or it actually enhances their christian faith. Many cite its pagan origins they believe the stretching part is ok, but everything else. Sherif michael practiced mantra yoga meditated silently on a supposedly meaningless sound which was really the vehicle that drew him into a hindu deity or really a demon from our christian perspective. The shattering, an encounter with truth, is the incredible true story of how the lord pulled me out of darkness and into light. What kind of worship is the christian presenting and representing to god through his body while in yoga postures. Three reasons christians should think twice about yoga. People often equate yoga witheastern religion, but brooke boonsees it as. Addressing christian yoga and yoga for exercise only most christians today are unaware of the pagan spiritual reality behind the practice of yoga. Yoga tolerates very well with christian meditation. Read on for the 10 best yoga and meditation books, according to 10 top teachers around the country. This book assists christian yoga instructors and students in creating a christian atmosphere for their classes.
Our approach toward history and toward god and toward wellbeing is radically different. This question about christians engaging in yoga is a complex one because people practice yoga in. The bible tells christians to glorify god in everything that we do. Yogayoga and christianity wikibooks, open books for an open world. The bottom turtle, a book by dave driver, insightfully demonstrates that christianity and yoga are beautifully intertwined in their respective pursuits of truth. The modern book of yoga, anne kent rush, byron press visual publications, new york, new york page 3. The question arises whether yoga can be baptized into the christian tradition for use as a christian prayer.
The scripture for we are gods handiwork, created in christ jesus to do good works, which god prepared in advance for us to do. This lovely book is his testament that yoga assisted him not just in his prayer and meditation, but in his whole life as a christian. Yoga faith is a registered master training school, rcyams, with the christian yoga association, an approved educator. Some christians think that yoga worships idols or gods that they dont believe in. It encourages its participants to seek the answers to lifes difficult questions within their own consciousness instead of in the word of god. Christians should not be involved in any meditative methodology that deals with energy balancing, focused energy movement, chakras, etc. Many christians who practice yoga, tai chi and similar techniques do so. I was depressed, but too trapped in fear to change my life, says new york city yoga pro joe miller. It offers advice, personal insight, and daily meditations from the bible to help christians embrace yoga and use their time on the mat for their this beautiful guide reveals the intimate connection that can be made between you and christ through the daily practice of yoga and meditation. Can a christian practice yoga without getting caught up in the religious aspects of it. Yoga has actually helped me develop my relationship with jesus and god. A catholic blogger says christians shouldnt do yoga. Susan guides you through warmups and breathing exercises to the yogic postures themselves, all the while gently encouraging the quiet, reflective, and receptive spirit that can result in a heightened attitude of. Can a christian practice such things with roots in mysticism in good conscience.
Ive browsed through many yoga books over the years, but non of them spoke to me like this one. Yoga is set apart from any other physical activity as a mind, body and spirit practice. Every christian should be informed of the true origins and effects of the practice of yoga and its ungodly roots in kundalini energywhich, literally defined, means an awakening of the serpent power. At yoga faith we believe in complete transformation, body, soul and spirit. In christianity, progress toward wholeness moves from a god who communicates intelligibly through language to be understood. Yoga ministries such as holy yoga seek to practice with our minds set on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy phil. Mohler wrote the post in response to a book entitled, the subtle body. This book has given me another way to worship our father. Finding a yoga class on a christian college campus, workplace, or church is. A christcentered approach to physical and spiritual health through yoga. Christians have a radically different worldview than either of these the view shaped by yoga or the view shaped by tai chi. It teaches one to focus on oneself instead of on the one true god.
The story of yoga in america by stefani syman where he publicly explored the relationship between yoga and american christian culture. The wisdom of insecurity by alan watts my midthirties were a dark time. Enlightenment is difficult to understand and can be described by. Some questions we ask today would simply baffle our ancestors. Specifically, both books are aimed at christian teachers of. I had grown to loathe christians, believing them to be a tiewearing, gayjoke making, hideously hypocritical, naive bunchwith horrible taste in music. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading yoga for christians. Fitness instructor susan bordenkircher wondered along with other christians whether the practice of yoga somehow compromised christian beliefs. Now 46, christian speaker author laurette willis tells everyone she meets about the dangers of yoga. Written specifically to reach those who are currently involved in new age practices and to equip christians to better understand new age traps that may be unknowingly creeping into their lives.
The book and accompanying dvd take the reader through classic yoga postures but with a christcentred focus enhancing the body so it is fit to be an instrument for god. All the holy books of the world form a whole and complement each other. According to his testimony this was a horrible experience for him. After examining the spiritual underpinnings of yoga and the relationship of the physical aspects to the spiritual teaching, he concludes that christians seeking physical exercise would be wise to consider techniques other than yoga. Each lesson contains a scripture theme designed to facilitate meditation on gods word. Now 46, christian speakerauthor laurette willis tells everyone she meets about the dangers of yoga. There are now christian yoga brands founded by protestant christians, such as yahweh yoga and christ centered yoga. Yoga faith christian yoga instructor certification. The oklahoma resident addresses groups across the country, speaking from personal experience and her knowledge as a certified personal trainer and aerobics instructor. It is a highly debated issue of whether christians could practice yoga. At least 4 million copies of his books have been sold and have been translated into more than 50 languages. Yoga has been a controversial practice among western christians for a while now. For many christians in the west who dont understand the history behind it, yoga is simply a means of physical exercise and strengthening and improving flexibility of the muscles. This past spring, two new books were published for christians who practice yoga.
When christians ask whether believers should practice yoga, they are asking a question that betrays the strangeness of our current cultural moment a time in which yoga seems almost mainstream in. A christcentered approach to physical and spiritual health through yoga kindle edition by bordenkircher, susan. The postures bring deep relaxation and health to the body. Scripture yoga is a useful tool for teachers and students of christian yoga, written by an experienced instructor. After returning to the united states, i began plans to open a center for training in meditation, yoga, and reiki. The third edition was translated into english in 1960 under the title christian yoga, and published that same year. Christians who practice yoga, do so unto the lord, christians who dont practice yoga, do so unto the lord, so regardless of what side of the fence you stand, if you are using your faith to exalt and honor the lord, according to the scriptures, its really no bodies business, but yours and gods. Written in 1956, this book is a bit dated, but it is both an accessible primer to starting yoga near the end of the book and a comprehensive theology of the whole body. The fact that christians are now practicing yoga in increasing numbers is puzzling in view of widely published warnings many by yogis themselves, as well as by former yoga instructors concerning its occult roots and attendant dangers, both spiritual and emotional. Some christians practice yoga and say that all christians can practice yoga. Their suspicions about yoga are shared by many muslims, christians and jews around the world and relate to yoga s history as an ancient spiritual practice with. Emptying our mind is actually a very dangerous thing because it gives the enemy room to fill it with his deception.
However, the philosophy behind yoga is much more than physically improving oneself. Mohler goes on to say, im really surprised by the depth of the commitment to yoga found on the part of many who identify as christians. Michael gleghorn takes a hard look at yoga to determine if the practice is compatible with christian living. He was in bondage to this, in combination with hatha yoga for six years. Yogayoga and christianity wikibooks, open books for an. Shes developed a prominent presence on the internet. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. In holy yoga author and yoga instructor brooke boon has combined her devotion to christianity with her passion for a healthy body and mind to create a fitness book designed specifically for christians. However the hebrew word for meditation actually means to speak or mutter, a practice that actually does the opposite of eastern. Yoga originated with a blatantly antichristian philosophy, and that philosophy has not changed. Biblical meditation fills the mind and spirit with gods word. The website for holy yoga, based in michigan, describes it as a community of.
The rise of yoga has prompted evangelicals to take a closer look at. Max sculleys critique of yoga, tai chi and reiki comes with a timely warning that despite these practices surface appeal for helping fitness, relaxation and health, they are closely linked to underlying eastern philosophies that are incompatible with christianity. Specific bible verses are suggested, along with clear instructions, and beautiful photographs illustrating each pose. Yoga for christians is filled with photographs, detailed descriptions of exercises, and chapters on working with partners and prayer. Through prayer, breath work, and movement brooke teaches you how to worship the lord and savior, physically and spiritually. Praised by many for its calming effect and wellness benefits, yoga. Most teachers in our culture do not even fully understand the spiritual implications of what they teach. Choose from twentyone lessons, each is a mini bible study that will deepen the participants walk with god. Its still making headlines in magazines and on television, its still being touted by healthcare professionals, and its still enticing consumers at local department stores. If you know the origins of yoga, you can see why some christians view it as a controversial practice.
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