Is yoga against my religion?
“Yoga is not a religion. It is a science, science of well-being, science of youthfulness, science of integrating body, mind and soul.”
Is yoga against my religion?
This is not an easy question to ask or answer for many as it depends on each individual’s perspective and their understanding of their spiritual practice or religion and their basic understanding of yoga. It also depends on how and where they are introduced to yoga - what format (in-person or videos), the instructor(s), or the studio environment itself. All of these things can impact one’s understanding of yoga and its applications on and off the mat.
Yoga allows us to find a deeper connection to ourselves - physically, mentally, and even spiritually - through breathing exercises, meditation, and movement. What this deeper spiritual connection is will completely depend on your personal spiritual beliefs and life perspectives. In my experience, yoga has not been a means of conversion to a specific religion but more of a way to understand myself and how I interact with others and the world I live in.
Spirituality of Yoga
Yes, yoga has ancient ties to Eastern religions (such as Hinduism and Buddhism) as they grew up out of the same cultural understanding of the world. This does not mean that yoga is a religion in and of itself, nor that it is an attempt at conversion.
“Patanjali is not trying to teach any particular religion to you. Yoga is not a new religion, nor does it condemn any religion. Yoga does not teach that if you are Jewish, you should become Catholic, or if you are Catholic, you should become Hindu, or if you are Hindu, you should become Buddhist. All the great religions have come from one source.”
Yoga can also not have possibly originated with a clear “anti-Christian” philosophy as some claim since yoga is much older than Christianity. It cannot inherently be anti-something that did not exist yet.
Yoga in the Modern World
Sadly, I often find it common in the modern (especially Western) world to try and dismiss or discredit things that originated in ancient Eastern traditions. This fear of “other” significantly limits the understanding of perspectives outside of our own limited experiences. And I find this to be very common in how many people in Western culture dismiss yoga practices as having an anti-Christian philosophy, worshipping demons, or other heresy.
This can also lead to cultural appropriation by ignoring the ancient philosophy of yoga in favor of something that is deemed safer, less “other.” Yoga’s history and philosophy are beautifully captured in many texts and can guide us to new and deeper understandings of our own spiritual or religious beliefs without requiring conversion to a specific set of beliefs.
Challenging our views and perspectives does not require us to necessarily change our core beliefs. It does, however, ask us to be open to the possibility that there are other ways of understanding our fellow citizens of Earth and the world around us.
Spirituality in Private Yoga Sessions
While the spirituality and ancient philosophy of yoga are important aspects of my personal practice, they are not an obvious element of how I generally teach yoga. The amount to which spirituality and philosophy come in my teachings is ultimately up to you and what you are looking to gain from a therapeutic yoga session with me though I feel these teachings can be seamlessly integrated into any yoga practice.
I do touch on philosophy and other spiritual aspects of yoga in my private Facebook group Journey to Wellness - Therapeutic Yoga for Injury, Dysfunction, and Pain though I try to break them down in a way that can be relatable regardless of one’s personal beliefs.
Looking to connect? Request to join my private Facebook group for more personal interactions, support, and encouragement on your yoga journey.
