On Yoga and Christians

Mark Driscoll has an extensive post dealing with the above topic. It's worth the read since Yoga is becoming quite mainstream in our culture.

I have three or four Yoga DVDs that I have used quite extensively in the past. I have found that it is one of the best ways that I can exercise. The instructors seem a bit fruity at times but seem to focus on the physical movements and that is about it.  I greatly enjoy the physical benefits that come from these types of workouts and would highly recommend it.

That being said I appreciated Mark's conclusion. The benefits of stretching and muscle building through isometric holding is just as spiritual (or non-spiritual) as doing 50 pushups. But we may want to watch the words we use to define the workouts we are doing because words have associations that may be unhelpful.  It's all about definitions.  This is an important nuance to this discussion.

He writes:

So, in conclusion, Christians must reject yoga, as defined here. I’d also go so far as to say you should reject the term “yoga,” as it is impossible to divorce it from its historical and spiritual context without much explanation and linguistic gymnastics. Instead, feel free in Christian liberty to stretch however you’d like, participate in exercise, calm your nerves through breathing, and even contemplate the Scriptures in silence. But do so in a way that does not identify with yoga and non-Christian mysticism. Do not seek to negate your mind, but rather renew your mind with the Word of God. Do not seek to empty yourself, but rather be filled with the Holy Spirit. Do not seek to turn into yourself for enlightenment, but rather look out to the God of the Bible. Do not seek to become one with the universe, but rather be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.

Exercise is a gift of God for us to take care of the bodies that he created for his glory. It’s good and important to exercise. But we should never, in our desire to be in shape and be healthy, adopt systems antithetical to Christianity because they make us feel good or have bodily value. Rather, let’s first stay true to God and his Word and work out our bodies to his glory by his values handed down to us through Scripture.

Read the rest.