If you’ve been questioning whether or not yoga is in alignment with your own personal faith, don’t worry, you’re not alone.
After all, yoga is considered to be an ancient Eastern tradition, and therefore has strong ties with religions from that region.
But does this mean that yoga itself is sinful for practitioners of the Christian faith?
Below, we explore this question in detail, and examine whether or not yoga might be right for you. Ultimately, you are the one who is in charge of deciding what aligns with your faith and what doesn’t.
To find out more about yoga within the context of religion and sinfulness, keep reading below, as we examine the topic.
Is Yoga Associated With Religion?
Before we talk about whether or not yoga is considered to be a sin, we must first discuss whether or not the practice is associated with religion.
This is a tricky question to answer, as it varies depending on the specific practices and associations you have when conducting your yoga.
Yoga itself is not considered to be a religion, despite having its origins in ancient Eastern practice, but it is rather a way of connecting with the divine.
Hindu’s in particular will see yoga through this light, and they believe that tuning in with their bodies help them to commune with spirits or increase their chakras.
Many Western people who engage in yoga don’t necessarily believe in God, but rather, the divine powers of the universe.
Some people might not even be able to pinpoint exactly what this means, but rather, it makes them feel as though they’re a part of something bigger than themselves.
Yoga also has strong associations with Buddhism, and as many of you will already be aware, Buddhists don’t worship a God. Their practice is therefore free of any religious connotations.
Essentially, yoga only has religious connotations if you want it to.
For example, this practice has become increasingly popular in the Western world, and many view it merely as a way to improve their health and promote flexibility in their joints. It has nothing to do with spiritual practice.
In addition, there are so many Western variations of yoga which have been developed in the past decade, that they’re almost completely removed from Eastern, traditional yoga forms.
So, is yoga associated with religion? The answer is both yes and no, depending on what you personally want from your practice.
Is Yoga A Sin?
So, why not just jump straight in and answer the titular question? Is yoga considered to be a sin? Like many things in life, this isn’t a question that has a simple yes or no answer.
Instead, it depends entirely on the individual in question.
For example, some people will consider watching too many movies a sin, or spending too much time engaging in ‘frivolous activities’, whatever they may be.
So essentially, anything that takes your mind away from God and your religion might be a sin to you. This of course, includes yoga.
Whichever activities you deem to be a sin based on your own belief system won’t be applicable to everyone. You must decide whether or not you consider yoga a sinful activity.
Some people will actually integrate yoga into their faith, and actually feel as though it brings them closer to God.
Some others may feel as though practicing yoga has the opposite effect, and makes them feel uncomfortable. Therefore, it’s up to you to decide whether or not you want to engage in a yoga practice.
Just remember not to judge others based on what you personally classify as a ‘sin’ for yourself.
Yoga And Christianity
So, this might lead some of you to question whether or not you can be a Christian and practice yoga at the same time. The answer is absolutely yes!
As we mentioned previously, yoga only has religious connotations as long as you let it.
You might find that a consistent yoga practice, which releases endorphins in your body, helps you to feel joyous and brings you even closer to God.
Many Christians who practice yoga will choose to do so in a local fitness center rather than a Hindu temple. This way, they can escape any religious connotations associated with the religion.
In addition, if you want to simply practice yoga in the comfort of your own home, you can do so simply by watching some YouTube tutorials online.
There are thousands out there that are completely beginner friendly.
In addition to this, if you’re somebody who’s lucky enough to live in a big city, you might be able to find yoga classes that are led by Christian instructors.
Final Thoughts
To sum up, it’s difficult to answer whether or not yoga is a sinful activity, as it all depends on the person and their unique relationship with God.
The answer will be dependent on you and your own belief system.
