Ever find yourself wondering, “Can Christians do yoga?” It turns out you’re not alone. It’s a bit of a hot topic and one that brings a lot of consternation and debate. To answer this question, we’ll look at what yoga is and then at how it’s used today to help us answer whether Christians can do yoga or not.

What Is Yoga?

I grew up hearing that practicing yoga was sinful. I think a lot of this attitude was based on fear and a lack of knowledge about what yoga is and what it can be. The word yoga means “to unite” or “to yoke.” This uniting is ambiguous and, therefore, interpreted to mean different things by different people. It’s generally seen as uniting an individual’s body, mind, and spirit, as uniting an individual with their higher self, or as uniting someone with a divine or universal consciousness.

The practice of yoga is threefold, and its goal is to improve overall health and wellbeing. Yoga developed as a holistic approach to wellbeing, with a focus on spiritual discipline. Yoga involves physical exercises (called asana), breathwork, and meditation. The earliest examples of physical poses were simple seated positions that could be used to aid in meditation. These poses slowly grew into the dynamic practice we now recognize as yoga.

Asana

Yoga poses, called asanas, are exercises that help to improve flexibility, strength, balance, and coordination. There is nothing inherently spiritual or religious about these physical movements. These movements are very similar to what we find in other forms of exercise, and many of the poses seen in yoga classes today have been adapted from gymnastics, pilates, calisthenics, or other forms of exercise.

There are many different types of yoga poses. From simple seated poses to complex arm-balances. Each pose has different benefits for our physical and mental health.

Breathwork

Breathwork, known as pranayama in yoga, is a practice of bringing your attention and control to your breathing. In our hurried and often overcommitted lives, our breathing is on autopilot. Yoga uses a wide range of breathing techniques to teach us how to control our breath.

Some of the breathwork techniques help to quiet the mind, calm the nervous system, and reduce stress or anxiety. Others help to wake up the body and bring a sense of increased energy and attentiveness. The breathwork taught in yoga can be used both during our practice on the mat as well as off the mat anytime we need it throughout our day. It is a tool that can be used to promote overall wellbeing.

Meditation

Meditation is done by quieting the body and mind in order to attain a state of inner peace, tranquility, and harmony. It aims to help individuals become more self-aware and mindful. For spiritual yogis, the purpose is to detach from the self as part of the path towards enlightenment.

Meditation for Christians is different. Although we use the practice to still our body and mind, our goal is not self-awareness or enlightenment. Our goal is to be transformed to be more like Christ. The practice is about attachment rather than detachment.

The concept of meditation is rooted deeply in the Bible and Christian observances. The practice involves quieting our minds and opening our hearts by focusing on a particular passage, theme from the Bible, or attribute of God. In essence, it’s a form of embodied prayer that cultivates a profound sense of joy, peace, and love all while growing our relationship to and understanding of God.

Where did yoga come from?

Yoga has been around for thousands of years and stems from traditions in India. Although yoga is officially recognized as a part of Indian culture, yoga has grown well outside of those bounds. From the beginning, yoga has included various techniques, traditions, cultures, and belief systems. Today it is a diverse practice that continues to grow and adapt to meet the needs of people around the world.

Before your next yoga class, take a moment and assess why you’re doing what you’re doing. Let your faith inspire your practice rather than the other way around.

Can Christians Do Yoga?

Yes, Christians can do yoga as long as they are careful about what and where they practice. The physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation can all be separated from the spiritual contexts in which they developed and, in many cases, have already been separated.

Christians do need to be careful and may need to avoid practices and teachings beyond the basic trio of poses, breathwork, and meditation. Some things fall under the umbrella of yoga that don’t support the Christian life, and it’s best to avoid these.

The Bigger Question

Perhaps more important than asking, “Is yoga a sin?” or, “Can Christians do yoga?” is to evaluate our motives and desired outcomes for wanting to practice yoga. As Christians, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). And as such, we have a responsibility to take care of our bodies and health. But perfecting our physical form and promoting optimal health shouldn’t be our top priority in life. Our top priority is to glorify God. So we should ask instead, “Will practicing yoga help me to glorify God?”

The answer to that is multifaceted. It depends on the type of yoga you are doing, where you are doing it, and your intent behind the practice.

The Takeaway

So yes, Christians can do yoga. And we can do it in a way that honors God and deepens our relationship with him. But before your next yoga class, take a moment and assess why you’re doing what you’re doing. Let your faith inspire your practice rather than the other way around.