Should Christians Practice Yoga?

If this question concerns you, this book will not only tell you why you should, but also how Jesus himself did, in ways that you may never have heard.  Recent research by independent scholars has uncovered many details about what Jesus taught, which when compared to the teachings of classical Yoga, indicates close similarities both in what he practiced, and what he realized.  For example, we know that Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness, in meditation, which is what yogis do when they practice "tapas" or intense austerities, in order to transcend the ordinary ego based consciousness. An examination of the gnosic Gospel of Thomas reveals that Jesus "initiated" his closest disciples into spiritual disciplines which involved self purification and meditation so as to enter higher states of consciousness, known as "samadhi" or Self realization in Yoga. The advanced practices of Yoga involve similar initiations and spiritual disciplines recommended by Jesus in his "sayings" and parables.

 

- Marshall Govindan

Comments

[yoga schools]

Regarding Acronym77 saying "Y.O.G.A. to me stands for 'Yoga Offers Godless Asceticism'": That is not an accurate description of Yoga.Everyone can do it,because there is no religion for yoga.But,there is no proof regarding this Christian practice yoga.

[Premium Yoga Mat Man]

I second what Yoga Schools said.
Yoga is practiced in order to clean the mind, and control the thought-stream. Once a man achieves that, he can pray a real prayer, not just mumble to himself thinking its enough. Creating a real connection with the creator, by NOT ALLOWING the mind to shift from one thought to the other, staying focused and clear-minded, intent on the love of the creator. It's defeating Ego and becoming one with the creation. Those who practice real yoga are doing that. If you interpert yoga any other way, it is o.k, but it is simply WRONG...
Thanks, and god bless.

[Generic Risperdal]

Undisturbed calmness of mind is attained by cultivating friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous, and indifference toward the wicked.