The
exercise of religion: Yoga
by Susan Brinkmann
CS&T Correspondent
A question that comes to mind for Catholics when it comes to the practice
of yoga is whether it is okay to use yoga as part of an exercise program.
A simple and concise answer to this question was given by the apologists
at Catholic Answers.
“Two factors are relevant here: First, it depends on whether the
yoga is being presented in a manner that is free of religious elements
— that is, purely as a system of physical exercise.
“If it is coupled with elements of Hindu spirituality —
talk about moving kundalini, or energy, around your body — it
is not appropriate for Catholics to use it as part of their exercise
routine.”
The reason for that caution is because, in real life, yoga classes often
go beyond simple exercise routines. They are likely to be similar to
what one blogger describes on Amy Welborn’s popular site, “Open
Book”:
“I have been practicing yoga for two years now and I absolutely
love it!” the blogger states. “ Yes, my teacher drops little
hints now and then about Hinduism and Buddhism, but nothing overt."
Some yoga instructors, themselves, acknowledge that fact.
“There are so many little seeds of doubt and suggestion that you
can plant in a yoga class,” said Laurette Willis, a former Hatha
yoga instructor who left the practice after a powerful conversion experience.
“I used to do it all the time,” Willis said. “That
was my opportunity to proselytize. I’d say things like ‘All
is good — all is God,’ or ‘get in touch with the god
within.’”
This seems to be borne out by Swami Sivasiva Palana writing in the January
1991 issue of Hinduism Today: “A small army of yoga missionaries
… beautifully trained in the last 10 years, is about to set upon
the Western world. They may not call themselves Hindu, but Hindu knows
where yoga came from and where it goes.”
An adult who is firm in his or her faith might be able to go to an “iffy”
yoga exercise class without danger of being attracted to Hindu spirituality,
Catholic Answers advises, but notes that not all Catholics are firm
in their faith.
That is why the best way to approach yoga is to learn as much as possible
about the exercise you are considering in order to make a fully informed
decision.
What is Yoga?
According to Iyengar Yoga Resources, yoga comes from the Sanskrit word
yuj meaning to yoke or unite.
In India, yoga is considered one of the six branches of classical Hindu
philosophy and is referred to in ancient Indian scriptures, the Vedas.
It’s goal is to reach kaivalya — “ultimate freedom”
— by releasing the soul from the chains of cause-and-effect [karma]
which tie the person to continual reincarnation. Yoga uses physical
exercises, powers of concentration and breathing techniques, as well
as meditation, to achieve that end.
Father James Manjackal, a popular retreat master in India, described
yoga to Catherine Maria Rhodes of the Catholic Media Coalition in this
way: It is a spiritual discipline purporting to lead the soul to samadhi,
the state in which the natural and divine become one.
“It is interesting to note that postures and breathing exercises,
often considered to be the whole of yoga in the West, are steps three
and four towards union with Brahman in the East,” Father Manjackal
said.
Ignorance of the non-Christian religious disciplines and beliefs that
underpin the practice of yoga can lead to further variance from Catholic
teachings. In fact, the Vatican document, “Jesus Christ the Bearer
of the Water of Life,” lists yoga as one of “the traditions
that flow into New Age.”
According to Johnnette Benkovic, in her book, “The New Age Counterfeit,”
a number of yoga variations have gained popularity in the United States,
including Hatha yoga, which professes salvation through physical exercise,
and Japa yoga, which employs the repetitious use of a mantra —
often the name of a Hindu god — to create an altered state of
mind called pure consciousness or transcendental consciousness. More
bizarre forms of yoga include Tantra yoga, which means salvation through
sex, and Kundalini yoga, which means salvation through the serpent [life
force].
‘Christian’ yoga?
Many Western yoga practitioners claim yoga transcends religion and can
be practiced independent of its Hindu roots — or that it can even
be “Christianized,” becoming, in effect, “Christian
yoga.”
But many experts don’t believe such a thing is possible.
“Yoga renamed is still Hindu,” said Subhas R. Tiwari, a
professor at the Hindu University of America, who holds a master’s
degree in yoga philosophy.
Tiwari finds “Christianizing” yoga suspect, as well as wrong-headed.
“This effort to extricate yoga from its Hindu mold, and cast it
under another name, is far from innocent. Newly minted ‘Christian
yoga’ is really yoga,” he said.
“The simple, immutable fact is that yoga originated from the Vedic,
or Hindu, culture,” Tiwari added. “Its techniques were not
‘adopted’ by Hinduism, but originated from it.”
Attempts to ‘Christianize’ practices such as yoga that are
fundamentally incompatible with Christianity are never successful, says
Archbishop Norberto Carrera.
“The result is always a hybrid form with a slight Gospel basis,”
the archbishop writes in “A Call to Vigilance: Pastoral Instruction
on New Age.”
“However much proponents insist that these techniques are valuable
as methods, and imply no teaching contrary to Christianity,” he
writes, “the techniques in themselves … in their own context,
the postures and exercises, are designed for their specific religious
purpose.
“Even when they are carried out within a Christian atmosphere,
the intrinsic meaning of these gestures remains intact,” Archbishop
Carrera said.
Contact Susan Brinkmann at fiat723@aol.com or (215) 965-4615.