RE: YOGA is not for Christians! (Full Version)

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abraxas -> RE: YOGA is not for Christians! (4/8/2008 1:06:21 PM)

Yoga is Great. If the Hindu aspects of it bother you, roll your eyes or ignore it like some people here said. I've seen very few yoga instructional vids that place any emphasis on Hindu mysticism. Or look at it like visiting another church, to understand more about people from other faiths.



Focusing -> RE: YOGA...... (4/8/2008 1:46:25 PM)

I've done yoga for years. While there are various types of yoga practiced, some more focused on the spiritual aspects, I have done hatha yoga - which is nothing more than stretching, breathing and some strengthening exercises for concentration and endurance.

First and foremost, we need to keep in mind this: what is our mind focused on when we do anything? Anything at all can be manipulated into something to be feared and cause for avoidance. There's no need to be ridiculous about it. Personally, I think it boils down to ignorance. Ignorance breeds fear - such as in doing yoga. "If you do yoga you will become a Buddist." Um, no, that is completely untrue. Becoming another religion would require an intent. However, educating ourselves and being intentional in our thoughts and actions will keep us focused on what we need to stay focused on.

What do I do when others are meditating? I meditate too ....... on the Word of God. God instructs us to meditate on His Word. Not only that, when another person asks you how you can stay focused on your meditations, or what do you meditate on - you can witness to them by sharing that you are meditating on a Bible verse. Voila! It's a beautiful thing! [:D]



Sun_Tzu -> RE: YOGA...... (4/10/2008 9:18:10 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dancre

I use the YogaBoogieBAllet DVD for excercise. It has a lot of Buddist junk at the beginning and the end...



This is what I don't get about so called "Christians". If people would be willing to open their eyes and ears to other people's ideas you would realize that God exists in all religions but it is up to you to sort out what you know is right or wrong. People assume it is "junk" because a) the techniques were discovered by people of another faith and b) it is different to them so they fear it.

The Buddhists did extensive research into anatomy and human physiology and so a lot of their exercises and beliefs work to better the body. Even the "ohm-ing" at the start is starting to gain scientific attention. If I can find the article I will post it because it was really incredible...anyway it has been suggested that the sound of "ohm" tends to create a resonate frequency in the body which is believed to help ease tension and relax surface muscles. Also they think it helps regulate you're breathing. Of course this is all preliminary theories, however if you know anything harmonic frequencies and sound you understand that there might be merit to it. Their meditation techniques are also being linked helping with things like ADD and other focus related issues.

Don't be so quick to judge what is "junk".



Sun_Tzu -> RE: YOGA is not for Christians! (4/10/2008 9:27:20 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: onemorebetts

Yoga is basically Hinduism. The most comprehensive site that I have seen is: http://www.praisemoves.com/ChristianAlternative.htm. It explains what Yoga is and also provides a Christian alternative to Yoga. By doing Yoga, you are woshipping the idol god of Hinduism. Go to the site and see for yourself.


You might want to check your sources because that is a load of garbage.



Sun_Tzu -> RE: YOGA is not for Christians! (4/10/2008 9:30:32 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: RCooper

While it is true that practicing yoga will no tmake one a Hindu, it is also true that yoga was developed as a spiritual discipline designed to bring one into union with the Hindu gods. In early phases, it may be possible to divorce the physical exercises from the the spiritual; later on however, this may not be the case. This makes it different from the martial arts which were origianlly developed for physical defense against a stronger and better armed adversary (my understanding is any spiritual aspects were added later).

Here is a link to a good article written on the subject. The author has spent much time studying the Hindu religion. http://www.sdmin.com/soundingboard/200012.htm


So what, Christians celebrate Christmas, Easter, New years, thanksgiving, etc etc and they were ALL pagan celebrations for their own spirituality. Does that make the entire Christian world pagan? No. Things are what you make them. Simple as that.



JimboFletch -> RE: YOGA...... (4/10/2008 9:32:29 AM)

quote:

...anyway it has been suggested that the sound of "ohm" tends to create a resonate frequency in the body which is believed to help ease tension and relax surface muscles. Also they think it helps regulate you're breathing. Of course this is all preliminary theories, however if you know anything harmonic frequencies and sound you understand that there might be merit to it. Their meditation techniques are also being linked helping with things like ADD and other focus related issues.

It's been a lot of years, but I did some reading from someone teaching yoga in a book and my understanding of the "ohm" was to clear and open the mind up to some cosmic consciousness. The primary difference in such meditational techniques and Christian meditation is that Christian meditation is active, not passive. It is an intense focusing on God and intentional consideration of passages from the Bible.



stellaluna -> RE: YOGA...... (4/10/2008 9:46:44 AM)

It's true that "ohm" does have physical benefit. I've read some research on that as well.

I think something important to consider is that many...practices...of eastern religion do have a basis in medical science. Because many of these practices are ancient, they were attached to religion, not science. I think too often the Christian community throws the baby out with the bathwater instead of digging a little deeper. Western medicine is not necessarily the best way of maintaining your body and treating illness, but too many people won't consider other ways of being healthy because they are afraid it means they are practicing another religion. It's kind of silly.



Sun_Tzu -> RE: YOGA...... (4/14/2008 8:52:45 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: stellaluna
Western medicine is not necessarily the best way of maintaining your body and treating illness, but too many people won't consider other ways of being healthy because they are afraid it means they are practicing another religion. It's kind of silly.


I agree. Western medicine is too reliant on pharmecuticals and invasive procedures. Excercise is the best prevention you can do.



csl7037 -> RE: YOGA...... (4/14/2008 12:01:40 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: stellaluna

It's true that "ohm" does have physical benefit. I've read some research on that as well.

I think something important to consider is that many...practices...of eastern religion do have a basis in medical science. Because many of these practices are ancient, they were attached to religion, not science. I think too often the Christian community throws the baby out with the bathwater instead of digging a little deeper. Western medicine is not necessarily the best way of maintaining your body and treating illness, but too many people won't consider other ways of being healthy because they are afraid it means they are practicing another religion. It's kind of silly.


You could certainly make the argument that we've created a religion in and of itself around medicine/psychology in this country as well. I see a great deal of danger in that! We just need to be discerning. The enemy would love to make what's going to harm us or distract us or distort the Truth look appealing and to make what we could learn or grow from look evil. If there's no discernment, we take things at face value (or worse, on someone else's "wisdom") and end up all turned around - explains a lot doesn't it?

BTW, meditation and chanting or the "ohm" is really not common at all in Western or Fitness-based yoga...that would be a smidge over the line for me. Not sure if it would be over the Hindu line or just over the cheese-factor line but either way, wouldn't be an effective class for my goals.



thinnerthani -> RE: YOGA...... (4/17/2008 8:49:05 AM)

A Christian is suppose to avoid ANY type of inproper act so we can set a good exampl for others. If a Christians practices yoga, he or she is telling the world that it is ok. We as Christians need to be leaders and start leading by example and not give the devil any foothold.



stellaluna -> RE: YOGA...... (4/17/2008 10:09:47 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: thinnerthani
he or she is telling the world that it is ok.

Where is the case made that yoga is not okay?



GroupW -> RE: YOGA...... (4/17/2008 10:54:06 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: thinnerthani

If a Christians practices yoga, he or she is telling the world that it is ok.


Exactly. Because it IS ok (my opinion).

BT



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