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So I Just learned something completely new!

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by MamaCW, Aug 3, 2011.

  1. MamaCW

    MamaCW New Member

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    Okay.. I was in a Christian mommies blog on Babycenter and someone asked what people thought about Yoga, and if its bad to do...
    There were a few "Christians should not be doing yoga because you are opening the door to allow evil in"...

    Now I've never really done yoga other than a few yoga moves in my Insanity workout dvd..and some people mentioned some yoga instructors having you chant things but I've only seen the yoga classes at my gym and I've never seen them chanting..just breathing and doing the yoga stretches..

    Everyone I've talked to at the gym says its like a super great workout to blast fat!

    So I was curious as to what you all would say about this topic :)
     
  2. go2church

    go2church Active Member
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    When I was younger yoga was called stretching. Are there folks who take it to a whole other level of inner peace and butterflies and rainbows, of course, but if you can avoid the crazies I don't see the problem.

    Problem, I don't know if you can avoid them, which for me would put it out of bounce as far as I'm concerned.

    You seem like a smart person, why doubt your own voice? Why not pray about it and go from there? In the end it doesn't matter what I think or what anyone else thinks, what is the Holy Spirit "saying" to you about this matter?
     
  3. mandym

    mandym New Member

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    One can stretch without engaging in yoga regardless of the level of "crazies".
     
  4. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

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    Yoga is bad, exercise is good.
    Yoga (Sanskrit, Pāli: योग yóga) is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India,[1][2] whose goal is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility.[3] The word is associated with meditative practices in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.[4][5][6].
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga

    If Christians want to exercise they should do just that, but they should not be doing it with the name of Yoga attached in any way regardless of what part of yoga they are practicing and what part they are leaving out because of the name "Yoga" and its implication. We are told not only not to sin but to flee from even the appearance of sin (1Thess 5:22) and Yoga is sin and even if it is watered down it still sends an improper message. So no a Christian should not be engaged in any yoga class. Exercise yes, but find one that simply calls it what it is, an exercise class and stay away from any yoga class.
     
    #4 freeatlast, Aug 4, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 4, 2011
  5. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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    http://www.albertmohler.com/2005/11/17/are-you-metrospiritual/

    Albert Mohler "Are You Metrospiritual?"

     
  6. Jkdbuck76

    Jkdbuck76 Well-Known Member
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    I listened to an Eastern Orthodox woman from India comment on the same thing. She is a convert from Hinduism.

    Basically what she said is that there are many types of what we call "yoga".

    The physical type is just one type. But there are many other types of meditational/Hindu-religious types of yoga.

    Long short of it, she said that you need to watch out for several things:
    1) the physical stuff ONLY is OK if taught by the right person, but to STAY AWAY from the spiritual teachings.

    2) just because someone from India is teaching yoga does not make them an authority. She spoke of two examples in England (where she lives and teaches university) that some yogis were having people with high blood pressure to do headstands and handstands for LONG periods of time and some fatalities were involved.

    So that is what she said in her talk about yoga.

    I guess one needs to use some common sense, be a critical consumer, and above all else not cause the weaker brother to stumble.
     
  7. matt wade

    matt wade Well-Known Member

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    Then by that line of reasoning, one should not participate in an exercise class if they do any stretching that could be perceived as yoga. You say we should avoid the appearances of evil, yet then only tell us to avoid it based on the name. If you are true to "appearances" then you should avoid based on appearances, not name only.
     
  8. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

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    No matt I do not says that, the bible does.
     
  9. matt wade

    matt wade Well-Known Member

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    Try to focus for me for a minute. You said:

    I'm simply asking if we should avoid any exercise class (regardless of the name of the class, for this example let's say it is called "Generic Exercise Class") if they do stretches that could appear to be yoga?
     
  10. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

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    Your answer is in the quote that you attached to.
    "Exercise yes, but find one that simply calls it what it is, an exercise class and stay away from any yoga class."
     
  11. matt wade

    matt wade Well-Known Member

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    So, as long as we call things something else, they can still appear to be evil? Would it be OK if I called adultery something other than adultery?

    The point that I am making, which is either flying over your head or you are purposely ignoring, is that on one hand you said to avoid the appearance of evil and on the other hand you said that if we simply call it something else it is OK.
     
  12. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

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    I am afraid this must be over your head. I never said to ignor the appearance of evil, God did. You can accept it or reject it. Makes no differene to me.
     
  13. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    My wife has gone to a yoga class twice a week for ten years. She hasn't been possessed by an evil demon (yet) and is a vibrant Christian. The exercise is wonderful for her and it provides opportune moments to relax and a safe place to exhale from life.

    We have a number of friends who do it and enjoy it. Generally I find people who object to it don't understand it and have never done it.

    It is harmless exercise.
     
  14. sag38

    sag38 Active Member

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    MamaCW the best thing to do is to use your spiritual discernment. Some here clearly are unable to differentiate the difference between different disciplines of yoga and associate it with evil. My advice would be not to practice non meditative and spiritualist yoga. As far as our judgmental friends here, don't practice anything they perceive to be evil around them.
     
  15. Gershom

    Gershom Active Member

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    When I did P90X (excellent workout program), included was YogaX, but I always skipped that and replaced it with another exercise. I skipped over it not because it was Yoga, but because I found it somewhat boring a little difficult to hold those positions for extended periods.

    If you are simply implementing the stretches as exercise, I see no problem with it. Especially since it is not a formal class per se, but a home work out.

    BTW, how are you doing with it? Insanity is a highly intense work out that keeps your heart rate at a max level. Currently I am doing the RushFit. It's also a good workout program.
     
  16. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    Some people look for demons under every rock..

    Physical Yoga is OK..
    NOw if you are tempted to chant to Buddha.. then stop! LOL

    BTW.. I have heard of Insanity and P90X and I'll tell you I'm tired just thinkin about them!... LOL
     
  17. matt wade

    matt wade Well-Known Member

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    God said to "ignor the appearance of evil"? Can you quote some Scripture on that?
     
  18. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

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    Do an etymological study of the Greek and let us know how it goes.
     
  19. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
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    As a long time missionary to Asia and a long time practitioner of the Asian martial arts, I recommend against yoga for a Christian.

    There was a previous thread on yoga here (http://www.baptistboard.com/showthread.php?t=40192&), and there I wrote:

    As a missionary in Asia and a practitioner of various Asian martial arts, I think I can help you here. I may not be able to post much after this for awhile, though, since I am currently out of town. I believe I can get on again tomorrow night if you have questions for me.

    The physical moves of yoga alone are not dangerous spiritually. Physical movements in themselves never are. However, there are two dangers in Yoga as it is usually practiced.

    (1) The meditation that is done with yoga has its basis in Hinduism, which is a really nasty form of idolatry. If the yoga teacher teaches traditional Hindu meditation, it may open you up to demon influences. Christian meditation is positive, meaning you meditate on God and His goodness as shown in the Word of God. Asian meditation is usually contentless, meaning you open your mind to outward influence, which is very dangerous.

    (2) Asian religion and philosophy, particularly as taught through yoga and some martial arts, usually teaches something called monism, which is the belief that you can unite your physical (body) and unseen parts (soul, spirit; usually refered to as mind in Asian thought), and thus become more powerful. This is unbiblical and dangerous, since it teaches human methodology for spiritual power. It is also ultimately impossible, since the Bible teaches that body and soul/spirit are separate parts of the person (especially at death, until we receive our resurrection bodies).

    To sum up, if a person were to take yoga, I would not immediately condemn it. But I would urge that person to question the yoga teacher extensively about the meditation and philosophy being taught in the class, because it can be spiritually very dangerous.

    I hope this helps.

    God bless.

    John
     
  20. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    Maybe we should all "ignore" the appearance of evil here on BB!.. and not post judgmental and legalistic posts.... lol
     
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