Through the influence of celebrities and social media, yoga has re-entered the Western world. I wrote re-entered, because in the eighties yoga was also a hype. Many people considered yoga beneficial for their health (body and mind) and traveled all the way to India to learn and practice yoga. Today, many people practice yoga for various reasons, like relaxation, stress and anxiety relief, burn-out recovery, depression, physical exercise, weight loss, etc. According to CDC (June 2024), approximately 55,78 million people in the United States practiced yoga in 2022. Unfortunately, many people don’t know what yoga is and are ignorant about the origin of yoga. They don’t consider yoga dangerous or occult, but safe, harmless, and beneficial for both mental and physical health. Should Christians practice yoga or Christian yoga according to the Bible or is yoga a sin? What is the spiritual danger of yoga that many people are not aware of?
What does the word yoga mean?
The word ‘yoga’ derives from the Sanskrit word ‘Yuj’, and means: ‘yoke’, to (re)unite, to connect.
What is yoga?
Yoga is a system of physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation for attaining physical or mental control and well-being. The main goal of yoga is to unite the soul (spirit) with the body and empty yourself.
Yogis and yoga practitioners speak about the spirit and how the spirit must unite with the body. But the truth is, that as long as a person is not born again in Jesus Christ the spirit is still dead. A person has a soul and a physical body.
However, the soul possesses great power. When someone practices yoga, the power in the soul is generated. People think it’s spiritual power, while in reality, it’s soul power.
In modern society, yoga is considered a system of physical postures (exercises), breathing techniques, and meditation, to obtain and/or improve physical and mental health and relaxation. People don’t consider yoga as part of an Eastern religion or philosophical way of living.
More and more doctors and psychologists refer patients to yoga places. They don’t see the danger of yoga, but they consider yoga a therapy to improve mental and physical health. However, because they don’t discern the spiritual realm, they are not aware of the spiritual danger of yoga. They don’t know, that their patients will not be healed at all but open themselves to the dangers of yoga.
If they only knew the truth about yoga and its spiritual roots and the danger of yoga, they would stop immediately referring their patients to yoga institutions.
What are the types of yoga?
There are many types of yoga, like classical yoga, hatha yoga, Laya yoga, Jnana yoga, bhakti yoga, Bikram yoga, Sivananda yoga, karma yoga, viniyoga, Ashtanga yoga, kundalini yoga, hot yoga, restorative yoga, Jivamukti yoga, tantric yoga, Kripalu yoga, Ananda yoga, cardiac yoga, Anusara yoga, bahaya yoga, white lotus yoga, dream yoga, laughter yoga, integral yoga, anti-gravity yoga, Iyengar yoga, naked yoga, yoga gymnosophy, power yoga, svaroopa yoga, yin yoga, zen yoga, etc.
What is the origin of yoga?
Yoga has its roots in Hinduism. Yoga originated from Hinduism and is still part of Hinduism. The physical postures are (or derived from) worship poses to gods. Hinduism has hundreds of gods. Every exercise worships a Hindu god. Almost every yoga session starts by worshipping the sun-god Surya.
As a Christian, you know, that there is only one God; the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth.
The Bible says that you should worship Him alone and no other god. Because the other gods are no gods.
Behind the Hindu gods are demons.
When you do a yoga pose, you worship a demon and connect yourself to this demon.
When you worship a demon (devil, evil spirit), you give the demon access to your life. Because you worship the demon, and bow down to him. Through worship and bowing down to him, you acknowledge the demon as a god (as lord), and connect yourself with him.
Since yoga derived from Hinduism and the yoga poses (yoga exercises) derived from channeling with spirits, you can’t separate yoga from Hinduism.
You can’t separate yoga from the religion of Hinduism and its spiritual roots, despite what people say. Many people say, yoga is just stretching. But the truth is, that yoga is not just stretching. Yoga is not just a physical exercise that supposed to be beneficial for your body, but yoga is part of a pagan religion and has spiritual roots in the occult.
Can you separate yoga from Hinduism and the physical exercises of yoga from the spiritual roots?
You can’t separate yoga from Hinduism and the physical exercises of yoga from its spiritual roots, because yoga has its roots in Hinduism. It doesn’t matter if people give other designations. The truth is that yoga is and will always remain the worship of strange Hindu gods through worship posses (yoga poses, exercises). Or as is written in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, yoga is a Hindu theistic philosophy that teaches the suppression of all activity of body, mind, and will, so that the ‘self’ may realize its distinction from them and attain liberation.
You can’t separate the physical practice (stretching exercises) from the spiritual in yoga.
Although there are many types of yoga and derivatives of yoga, they all derive from Hinduism and has its spiritual roots in the occult.
What are the seven chakras of yoga?
When you practice yoga, there are several levels you can reach. There are 7 levels in total. These levels are called chakras. Every time you practice and control a certain amount of physical yoga postures (exercises) and breathing techniques, you unlock a chakra.
For example, you start with your belly. When you practice breathing exercises and do certain physical postures, you unlock the first chakra.
When you unlock the first chakra, you will experience some kind of physical energy. After you have unlocked the first chakra, you continue with the second chakra, then the third chakra, the fourth chakra, etc.. You continue until you have unlocked all seven chakras.
The last chakra is the crown chakra; your head, that controls your tongue. When you’ve opened the seventh chakra, you will be able to communicate in the spiritual realm and be able to speak in other tongues.
This counterfeit of speaking in other tongues originates from the devil and not from God. The devil always copies God, because the devil wants to be like God. But this speaking in tongues is influenced by demonic powers, who use your tongue to speak.
When you have opened all 7 chakras of your body, you have completely emptied yourself. By this time, you think that you control your body and your mind. However, the truth is, that by opening the last chakra, you have given your soul and body to the devil. You have given your life completely to the devil (the god of this world) and his demons.
What you must know before entering the spiritual realm
It can be very dangerous when you enter the spiritual realm from your soul (flesh) in your own authority. Because you don’t have any authority by yourself in the spirit realm. You enter illegally and therefore you have no protection at all.
When you enter the spiritual realm from your soul, you move into the occult and open yourself to evil spirits (demons) that enter and attack you in the flesh; your soul, and your body. (Read also: What are the two ways to enter the spiritual realm?).
This could happen immediately, but it doesn’t have to. In many cases, it will take a while, before these evil spirits will manifest themselves in your life.
The more you open yourself through natural means (breathing exercises, meditation, yoga physical exercises, etc.) to the spiritual realm and to these evil spirits, the worse the attacks will be.
When you practice yoga, you enter the spiritual realm in your own authority. Slowly, depending on the exercises and the level you are operating in, you open yourself to evil spirits that enter your life and take you captive.
What is the danger of yoga?
The danger of yoga is, that by practicing breathing exercises (breathing through the belly), physical postures (exercises), and meditation, you invite the Hindu gods that are in reality demons (evil spirits) into your life. You will bow down to demons and worship them and identify and devote yourself to them.
The danger of yoga is, that when you unlock the seventh chakra, you will be taken captive by demons, whether you want to or not. You have invited these demons yourself and have given them access to your life and they accepted your invitation. Now that they have entered your life, they will take over and control your life.
Maybe you don’t like this truth about the hidden spiritual danger of yoga and say, “But I didn’t know that” or “I didn’t want that”. Well, unfortunately, the devil and his demons don’t care whether you knew this or not or what your intentions were or still are.
The fact is that you worshipped devils freely, by bowing down to them. You are the one, who gave them access to your life. Through your ignorance and lack of knowledge, they have taken possession of your mind (soul) and your body. (Read also: Can you separate the spiritual from Eastern philosophies and practices?).
Should Christians practice yoga or is yoga a sin?
Christians should not practice yoga and engage with pagan worship and move into the occult, because idolatry is a sin. God is very clear in His Word! In both the Old Testament and the New Testament God warned His children to abstain from idolatry and witchcraft and any other pagan religion with its doctrine and worship rituals.
Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them, for I Jehovah thy God am a jealous God (Exodus 20:4-5)
God said, that through lack of knowledge, His people are destroyed. This is absolutely true! When God said that you shouldn’t bow down to other gods and worship them, nor become a partaker of pagan religions or philosophies of the Gentiles, you should listen to God. You should obey His Word (the Bible), instead of disobeying and rejecting the truth and instruction of His Word.
It’s already bad enough that unbelievers that don’t know God and live separated from Him, are misled by all these lies to practice yoga for health benefits, relaxation, stress, and anxiety relief, finding inner peace, improving posture, improving breathing, muscle flexibility, weight loss, etc.
But they are carnal and live in darkness. Therefore, they can’t discern the spirits and see the spiritual danger of yoga.
But the fact, that Christians also believe these lies and don’t discern the spirits and don’t see the spiritual danger of yoga, but succumb to this yoga trend and practice yoga and worship through their exercises pagan deities is unbelievable!
The reason why many Christians don’t see the danger of yoga and succumb to yoga, thinking it’s alright to practice yoga, is because they they are not truly born again. They confess Jesus as their Lord, but they don’t know Him at all. They don’t know the true Word, Jesus Christ the Son of the living God. (Read also: A counterfeit Jesus produces counterfeit Christians).
How can you confess Jesus Christ with your mouth and at the same time participate in Hinduism by practicing yoga? How can you confess Jesus Christ, while bowing down before Hindu gods (demons) and worship pagan deities (idols)? It’s impossible!
If you’re born again and your spirit is raised from the dead, how can’t you see the spiritual danger of yoga?
What are the lies that Christians use to justify and Christianize yoga?
A lot of people, who call themselves Christians, don’t see the spiritual danger of yoga but practice yoga. These name Christians consider yoga as harmless physical exercises that benefit your health and flexibility. They are worldly and have a carnal mind and try to justify yoga by Christianizing yoga.
These name Christians say, that during yoga they worship Jesus (the Son) instead of the sun. They use their yoga time for meditation on Bible verses. They say, that trough their physical movements they connect with God. Through yoga exercises, breathing techniques, and meditation, they pray to Jesus and worship Him. What nonsense!
It’s the same nonsense as when a group of young people goes to clubs every weekend, dancing and drinking alcohol, saying (lying) that they go to the clubs to evangelize and convert people.
When you enter the territory of the devil, the devil takes possession of you. There is no discussion about whether you want to or not. This also applies to yoga and all types of yoga and derivates of yoga, including power yoga, and pilates. (Although there are people, who say that pilates isn’t a derivative form of yoga. However the originator of pilates moved in the occult and was interested in Eastern practices (e.g. yoga, martial arts), zen Buddhism, and animal movements, and incorporated principles and practices thereof in Contrology (Pilates)).
Behind all the Hindu gods is the devil. You sit upon the devil’s yoga mat and worship his minions (demons).
What are the negative side effects of yoga?
The negative side effects of yoga may not be experienced immediately. When you practice yoga, you may feel different and experience a change. This can be a positive change or a negative change. Many times you feel a little bit better and feel relaxed after a yoga session. You may experience some physical and mental health improvements, but this will only be temporary.
After some time of practicing yoga, you will experience the negative side effects of yoga. You will experience a change in your physical and mental state; in your body, mind (the way you think), behavior, and character. You may experience the following things:
- You may become less tolerant, easily irritated, selfish, and experience more negative feelings, like jealousy, hate, anger, etc towards others, which you can’t control.
- You may be overwhelmed with negative thoughts about yourself and negatively see yourself.
- You’ll become fearful, insecure, and anxious and suddenly start to have panic attacks.
- You experience unclean sexual thoughts
- You start hearing inner voices or voices in your head, telling you what to do.
- You have difficulty sleeping and experience insomnia.
- You’ll become overwhelmed by negative feelings, like feelings of depression and suicidal thoughts
- When you are happily married, suddenly you begin to see your spouse in a different negative way. You become annoyed and irritated by your spouse. You have more arguments and fights, causing your marriage to end up in a divorce.
- You used to be energetic, but after practicing yoga you constantly feel tired
- You used to be healthy, but now you are often sick or are diagnosed with a (deathly) disease like cancer
- …
All these demonic activities can be a fruit of yoga in your life.
Does Christian yoga exist?
No, Christian yoga does not exist! There is no such thing as Christian yoga, holy yoga, Christian chair yoga, Yahweh yoga or Tikva in the Kingdom of God nor is Christian yoga a practice of faith or inspired by the Holy Spirit. Despite what people that call themselves Christians say or despite what people practice in the church.
The truth is that Christian yoga, holy yoga, Yahweh yoga, or Tikva is the same as yoga and derive from Hinduism and is occult.
You may try to justify and Christianize yoga, by putting the word ‘Christian’ before yoga, speaking a few religious words, meditating on scriptures, and praying in your mind during a yoga session, but the breathing and physical exercises remain the same. Therefore, you still worship the Hindu gods; demons and commit idolatry, which is a sin.
Putting the word ‘Christian’ in front of something and Christianizing a pagan activity or Eastern religion or philosophy, doesn’t make it alright, approved, and justified to God.
The truth is, when Christians want to practice yoga, it shows that they are not born again but they are still carnal and belong to the world. Because they still love the world and the things of the world.
Since they are carnal, they want to participate in the trends of the world and live like the world, They love the world more than they love Jesus Christ. They may say they love Jesus, but their actions say something else. Because they don’t exalt Jesus Christ through their spirit but they exalt and worship the devil through their flesh.
Carnal people are not able to discern the spiritual realm. Because of that they don’t see any evil and tolerate and approve of many things that oppose the Bible (the Word of God).
What does the Bible say about yoga and idolatry?
The Bible says about idolatry, which also includes yoga, Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you, And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
The Lord says, that Christians should not get involved with idolatry, including yoga. Because, there is no concord between Jesus and Belial, or in this case between Jesus and the Hindu gods.
Jesus Christ is the only God that you serve. When you bow down to other gods, you reject Jesus Christ. You actually say that Jesus is not good enough for you. Because if Jesus was good enough for you, then you wouldn’t look elsewhere and turn to the world and participate in pagan religions and philosophies and focus on your flesh (Read also: ‘If you have found the Truth, why are you still searching?’).
Jesus Christ is your Healer and your peace
Jesus Christ is Jehovah Rapha, He is your Healer. If Jesus is your Healer and you have faith in Him, why do you practice yoga to feel better? Jesus is Jehovah Shalom, the God your Peace. If Jesus is your Lord and peace, why do you practice yoga to relax, reduce stress and experience inner peace? If you need to practice yoga for all of that, then Jesus Christ is not your Savior and Lord.
It is written: ‘and lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun and the moon and the stars, even all the host of heaven, thou be drawn away and worship them, and serve them, which Jehovah thy God hath allotted unto all the peoples under the whole heaven’ (Deuteronomy 4:19 (read also: Deuteronomy 17:3, and 2 Kings 23:5)).
If yoga is so important to you and you want to continue with yoga, what does Jesus mean to you?
The Bible says, that you should separate, consecrate, and sanctify yourself from the world (system), instead of following the world.
God’s Word revealed to you, who the god of this world is. God’s Word revealed the final destination of the people that belong to the world and the ruler of this world.
Jesus called you unto holiness. God bought you with the blood of His Son Jesus Christ. He made you holy and righteous through His sacrifice; by His blood and now it’s up to you to stay holy and live righteous.
Jesus says: come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30)
God gave you a free will to make choices in life. You can choose to believe and follow Jesus and take the yoke of Jesus Christ upon you or you can choose to believe and follow the world and take the yoke of the devil upon you, because yoga means yoke.
Every person needs Jesus Christ
Jesus came to redeem humanity from the power and authority of the devil, who is the god of this world. Therefore every person needs Jesus Christ. Everyone may come to Jesus. There is no one, who is not allowed to come to Jesus for salvation.
It doesn’t matter, what you have done in the past or what kind of person you are. Jesus loves you. How do you know that Jesus loves you? Jesus showed His love for you by carrying your sins and iniquities on the cross and taking the punishment for your sins, which is death, upon Himself.
Jesus carried it all for you and died and went to hell for you. So that you won’t have to carry it anymore and live under the oppression of sin and guilt and the authority of death, but you can live in freedom in Christ instead. But it’s up to you to believe it and accept the grace and the gift of God or not. (Read also: What is the true meaning of the cross?)
How to get peace for your soul?
If you are heavy-laden or feel exhausted, restless, depressed, anxious, stressed, chaotic, worried, sad, depressed, etc. then there is only one place to get peace for your soul and that is in Jesus Christ. Jesus alone can give you peace and the rest you need.
The methods of the world may seem like they can solve your problems, but in reality, they can’t and will only make your problems worse. Because the methods of the world originate from the same source that caused your problems. That source is the kingdom of darkness.
When you draw from the right Source; the Source of life (Jesus Christ; the Word), only then will you find, what you’ve been looking for.
If you want to find out the truth and want to draw from the right Source, then open your Bible, the Word of God, and begin to read and get to know Jesus Christ and the Father.
When you study the Bible and renew your mind with the words of God, meditate upon them, and apply them to your life, so that you become a doer of the Word, you shall have real peace.
The peace, that Jesus promised you to have, is not the peace of the world, but it’s the peace of God that passes all understanding.
A peace that doesn’t depend upon circumstances and situations, but it’s a constant peace inside of you.
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7)
‘Be the salt of the earth’
Source: Bible King James Version, *Merrian-Webster dictionary, Wikipedia, CDC
