You cannot separate the spiritual attachment from the physical exercise in yoga.
Caryl Matrisciana’s Yoga Uncoiled: East to West touches on the roots of yoga and the dangers behind participating in yoga.
“I think what people don’t understand, is that yoga is the backbone of Hinduism, it is the backbone of Eastern Mysticism,” said Matrisciana. According to the Hindu American Foundation, yoga is a combination of both physical and spiritual exercises, entails mastery over the body, mind and emotional self, and transcendence of desire. The ultimate goal is moksha, the attainment of liberation from worldly suffering and the cycle of birth and rebirth.
The main controversy today with yoga practices, is the fact that it is making its home in the churches. Many people believe that you can separate the spiritual aspect of yogic practices from the pure physical activity. Or they simply don’t understand the roots and practices of Hinduism within yoga.
“In eastern philosophy, the mind, body, and spirit are all one. There is no distinction. A bible believing Christian will tell you that there is a difference between the body, mind and spirit. Our Spirit has been given a body that Jesus can use for His glory,” said Matrisciana. Yoga is a discipline for the Hindus as a way of cleaning up their life so they are better prepared for reincarnation. The practice of yoga gives an individual’s body over to the spirit world so our body can become a conduit for the spirit world.
1st Corinthians 6:19-20 – What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
If our body is not our own, and our Spirit is not our own, why would we divulge ourselves in a practice that aligns our Spirit up with beliefs that are not of God? When we try to justify our actions because of our desire to be involved with something, we are giving room to the enemy in our lives. It is creating an open door for those different spirits into a body that is to glorify Jesus Christ in all matters.
“Some signs that a Christian has opened themselves up to this certain type of spirit power can be seen when a Christian does not have a love for reading the Bible because they have opened themselves up to the principalities attached to yoga. They’ll find that they really don’t enjoy being around other Christians. They have perhaps lost belief in things they once believed in. They don’t see the Bible as literal. They will start to argue about doctrine and try to justify their behavior,” said Matrisciana.
When a Christian opens themselves up to these beliefs, they are compromising their faith. Just because you add the word “Christain” onto something, does not make it biblical.
“Christian Yoga” is still yoga.
UPDATED: June 13, 2014
There is no physical yoga and spiritual yoga. If it is exclusively physical, it won’t be yoga. Yoga is dealing with the entirety; it is a union.” – Prashant Iyengar, son of B.K.S Iyengar
–Yoga Beyond Asana: Hindu thought and practiceYoga is an integral part of the Hindu religion. There is a saying: “There is no Yoga without Hinduism and no Hinduism without Yoga.”
–A Tribute to Hinduism
By: Liz Kaye
image: sattva, FreeDigitalPhotos.net
© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-14. © Mondo Frazier, DBKP and End Times Prophecy Report, 2007-14. © Liz Kaye, 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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