Yoga, an invitation to Satan's grip? « Catholic Exchange Forums

work in progress - Inactive

I just read the CE article http://www.catholicexchange.com/en/node/69740 (and the full Washington Post article) Ritual of Dealing WIth Demons Undergoes a Revival (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/10/AR2008021002435_pf.html). It was interesting, but one comment made by Rev. Wieslaw Jankowski, a priest with the Institute for Studies on the Family, a counseling center outside Warsaw, prompted me to inquire further. The article stated:

He said priests at the institute realized they needed an exorcist on staff after encountering an increase in people plagued by evil.

Typical cases, he said, include people who turn away from the church and embrace New Age therapies, alternative religions or the occult. Internet addicts and yoga devotees are also at risk, he said.

So, my question is, if yoga can become a portal for demonic trouble, couldn't any of the martial arts (Tae Kwon Do, Karate, etc.)? Does the Church have a position on Catholics participating in any of these? I like the health benefits of yoga, but the words and images it suggests we conjure did make me very uncomforable. I couldn't get past all the spirit worldly stuff (I guess I understand why, now!).

Thoughts?

Oh, and has anyone heard from our beloved pontificator, Warren?

Posted 11 months ago #

noelfitz - Member

WIP

I think we had this discussion before in this Roundtable.

At first sight it seems clear that if yoga is for health it is no problem. I did yoga for years with an excellent teacher and saw no difficulty, other that doing the exercises.

One night she was replaced by a friend of hers who during the session, especially the relaxation, pushed Hindu ideas. I was uncomfortable with this

I also had two friends who became very keen on yoga and drifted away from the Church into new age, Eastern beliefs.

Before our yoga class, in a local Dominican convent, there was another yoga class that had a statue of a Hindu god, sometimes with flowers, candles and incense, displayed. I used to put my coat over the god, to show my disagreement.

Thus I do see a problem with yoga and would suggest discernment.

God bless,

NoelFitz.
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In necessariis, unitas; in dubiis, libertas; in omnibus, caritas.
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Posted 11 months ago #

michaelme - Member

WIP: I would second Noel's recommendation for discernment when seeking to use Yoga, however, Yoga is not a martial art. Perhaps you can explain a bit more about your concern with respect to, I'm guessing, only the Oriental martial arts. In Christ, Michael
"The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried"
- GK Chesterton "The poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese." - also GKC

Posted 11 months ago #

Tarheel - Member

I have never taken yoga but I have taken martial arts in the past. But I have spoken to people who have taken yoga and some left the class they were in when the instructor pushed eastern ideas. I do know that the "Curves" ladies exercise place close to my house offers yoga classes but they advertise that this is a yoga exercise class only. I guess they leave the eastern ideas outside on the curb. When I took martial arts (even in Korea and Japan)the instructors never really pushed anything remotely like religious or eastern/oriental ideas. The biggest thing they did push was concentration.

So I would think a lot of Eastern ideas would be base don the thoughts of the instructor not the activity itself. I know a friend of mine has both his daughters taking and teaching Tae Kwon DO and they are very devout Catholics.

About Warren??? I emailed him a few weeks back and he has not responded yet. Starting to get a little worried about him. It is unusual for him to be quiet this long. Sure hope he is okay.

Tarheel (Dave)

Posted 11 months ago #

work in progress - Inactive

Our Tae Kwon Do studio offers yoga, too. The tenants of Tae Kwon Do are consistent with our values and beliefs. There are other aspects included in the teaching, what colors represent, that seem a little new age to me. I am keeping an eye on what my son is getting. The article just caught my attention and prompted me to ask.

There are some every-day things that I never gave much thought to before I was actually trying to live consciously Catholic, that I now find myself questioning how they fit into a Catholic world view. I am amazed how often reading articles on CE and forum postings prompt an "I didn't know that" response. Just trying to keep us honest!!

"The Catholic Church frames the Christian life as one in which you must exercise virtue—not because virtue saves you, but because that's the way God's grace gets manifested." Dr. Francis J. Beckwith

Posted 10 months ago #

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