Should Catholics do yoga?
Catechism Meditation:
The unity of soul and body is so profound that one has to consider the soul to be the “form” of the body: i.e., it is because of its spiritual soul that the body made of matter becomes a living, human body; spirit and matter, in man, are not two natures united, but rather their union forms a single nature. The Church teaches that every spiritual soul is created immediately by God – it is not “produced” by the parents – and also that it is immortal: it does not perish when it separates from the body at death, and it will be reunited with the body at the final Resurrection. ―No. 365-366
REFLECTION. Yoga is often marketed as stretching, breathing, and stress relief. Yet historically it is rooted in Hindu philosophy and intended as a path toward union with the divine (Brahman). Many yoga poses began as spiritual rituals or prayers. From a Catholic perspective, yoga does not inherently honor God if practiced in its traditional Hindu spiritual form, because its origins and core goals are rooted in Hinduism, not the Catholic faith. The word yoga comes from Sanskrit, meaning “to yoke” or “to unite,” and in Hinduism it is intended to unite the individual consciousness with Brahman, the supreme Hindu deity, not with the one True God. The Catholic Church does not have a definitive, binding teaching that outright forbids yoga, but it does offer guidance on how Catholics should approach it.
Many people today practice yoga for health reasons, enroll in a meditation course so as to become more calm and collected, or attend dance workshops so as to experience their bodies in a new way. These techniques are not always harmless. Often they are vehicles for doctrines that are foreign to Christianity. No reasonable person should hold an irrational world view, in which people can tap magical powers or harness mysterious spirits and the “initiated” have a secret knowledge that is withheld from the “ignorant”. In ancient Israel, the surrounding peoples’ beliefs in gods and spirits were exposed as false. God alone is Lord; there is no god besides him. Nor is there any (magical) technique by which one can capture or charm “the divine”, force one’s wishes on the universe, or redeem oneself. Much about these esoteric beliefs and practices is superstition or occultism.
In her article for ChurchPop: Can Catholics Do Yoga? The Spiritual Dangers and Why Your Intention Doesn’t Matter, Linda Carl writes… At the moment of conception, God gives each of us a unique and unrepeatable immortal soul. It “does not perish when it separates from the body at death, and it will be reunited with the body at the final Resurrection” (CCC 366). It is the deepest part of our being, a sacred space meant to be reserved for God alone. The body houses the soul; they are so intertwined that the soul is the “‘form’ of the body” (CCC 365). Fr. Brian Mullady explains, “The body is meant for the soul and the soul is meant for God.”
When we are in a state of grace, God dwells within our soul, which makes us temples of the Trinity. We cannot be temples of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit while also welcoming Hindu deities—we must choose one or the other. Many Christians practice yoga without realizing its spiritual dangers, and some believe they can separate the physical aspects from the spiritual. But what we think or know about yoga does not change the fact that it is a spiritual practice that invites spirits into the soul. Since demons hide behind mythological Hindu gods who are called on in a yoga class, being present gives them an opening to unite with them instead of Jesus. It is crucial to understand: Our intention never matters. Every single yoga class, no matter where or how it is done, even the most “non-yoga-like,” promotes communion with these evil spirts.
Well-known Catholic theologian Edward Sri says, “We are more likely to passively allow something into our soul because it is dressed up in a fun show, a funny movie, an attractive image, or a catchy tune.” This also applies to yoga. Patricia Talbot, a visionary from Cuenca, Ecuador, asks a profound question: Why would we want anything other than God to enter our soul? Whether done knowingly or unknowingly, letting other spirits into our body diminishes our relationship with Him. Union is a real thing. Christians strive to unite with Christ, and Catholics are blessed to experience the most intimate and powerful union with God through the Eucharist, an incredible gift yoga belittles.
Bishop Robert Barron poses an important point worth pondering: those who “regularly gather around the table of intimacy with Christ and yet engage consistently in the works of darkness are meant to see ourselves in the betrayer.” A humbling thought. Many dabble in the seemingly innocuous and good-for-you yoga under the pretense of exercise and stress relief. As did I. For almost two decades, I was seduced—numb and blind to yoga’s truths and that each class I taught led my students and myself further away from God—because, at the time, I did not comprehend how yoga opposes Christian beliefs.
Sources: CatholicCulture, ChurchPop, Catholic Answers
PRAYER. Lord Jesus, guide my mind, guard my heart, and lead me only toward what honors You. If yoga leads me away from You, remove my desire for it. Amen.
Timeless Wisdom Quote:
“Live so that all good things we do are done for His honor.” ― Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen