Yoga for Catholics

[@roboboro]

I had a gay friend who I met like 14 yrs ago, I had always been fond of him cause he was always well intended, humble, with a smile on his face. I changed jobs and never saw him again, however, we would chat through fb occasionally. Anyway, every often I remembered him with a smile on my face. A few months ago I wondered about him so I searched for him on FB. I found out we were no longer friends on FB so I, very naively, added him again thinking he never had a problem with me, so probably the "un-friend" was a mistake. He added me back and I said to him (joking) "why did you remove me from your list? (cry face-cry face)" cause we used to joke like that. To my surprise, he responded: "because you became catholic". I, of course, got silent (I didn't know how to take that).... and he added "but I don't judge" Define irony... I've had more problems with judgy atheist or other christian-denomination people judging or offending Catholics than experiencing Catholics being judgmental or offensive (or even any other criticism) of other beliefs.

[@kevinkelly2162]

It just might be because you are giving cover to child abusers. Just saying........

[@roboboro]

@@kevinkelly2162 wait, what? That escalated quickly

[@peaceandjoy2568]

Pray for him. He too will realize the truth of the Catholic Faith in God's good time.

[@sarbnitrof4663]

I cannot say I'm above questioning my Christian friends on their beliefs but it's less antagonistic and more investigative. I wanna know hat makes them tick more than I want to 'dunk on their silly beliefs'

[@jamesmonahan9408]

its because of what they think catholics believe not what we ACTUALLY believe.

[@DJPTEXAS]

I do a " Physical " walk while saying my Rosary...... but I agree with Jesus.... I have found no matter how great of shape physically I was in my youth, now that I am older you know what ? it does help with the quality of this life but things are starting to break down and I have realized today it is better to work on my soul that will never break down.

[@marklyons3125]

I do that everyday.

[@Mike-qc8xd]

truth

[@peepeenuggerman5717]

After I returned to the church, my prayer life was pretty shallow. I prayed a rosary a day and spent 10 to 15 minutes in mental prayer in the morning, I thought it was good enough. I would go swimming for an hour or so, and I loved it. I got really good at swimming long distances without stopping, I could control my breathing more, and I felt extremely energized. My enthusiasm toward physical activity began to overwhelm my spiritual life. The Lord was calling me back to him and vying for my attention. I felt sad that I hadn’t given him more than I was now giving to my sport. I stopped swimming and started attending weekday mass instead. My prayer life is so much healthier and stronger. I think it can be easy to trade your spiritual life or God for something else that supports physical and mental health such as exercise. It’s easier to justify the compromise because it’s healthy and good for you.

[@adrianaansaldi989]

Why you did stop swimming? You can do both, you can pray during exercise, Ora e Labora!

[@Monaghan3000]

Stretching is fine. There's no stretch 'they' can do that 'we' can't. Saying mantras, buying into the Chakra stuff, spiritual guided meditation, etc... absolutely not.

[@jackdaw6359]

This is exactly my view.

[@ecclesiaxxi6210]

Christians had something for that, gymnastics (my mum used to do that) and pilates, it's just that since boomer times yoga has been promoted in the west for obvious reasons, it's still paganism and you cannot truly divorce it from its demonic roots, there are other ways that are much better for staying healthy, exercise, walking, hiking, stretches, gymnastics, pilates, etc. ...but yoga has exploded and it's not organically.

[@nette9836]

Certainly. And yet, there are still plenty of legalistic and paranoid Christians who condemn yoga for the mere practice of stretching and health as "worshipping Hindu gods." Girl, I am an atheist to the Hindu pantheon, so have no idea what these types of Christians are talking about when presenting such a silly argument. If we were careful not to do anything that could be misconstrued as worshipping other gods or pagan practices, we'd have to sit in an empty room twiddling our thumbs. For instance, clapping is a large component of Shinto worship...does that mean Christians can no longe clap?

[@JessMan508]

I've do the p90x yoga. They don't have chants/mantras in the program.

[@markrhuett]

I love the part when you speak of seaking God first. I have found, personally, that God blesses us when we seek Him first with a sincere heart.

[@wormhole91]

how do you get to seaking god without evolving goldeen god?

[@everetunknown5890]

The ancient world was physically demanding, so exercise wasn't really a thing like it is now. 💪💪

[@eb4203]

And I think as they walked from place to place, Catholics would recite the 150 Psalms

[@bethanyann1060]

Very true 💯

[@austina701]

Ever heard of the Greek gymnasium??

[@bethanyann1060]

@@austina701 I think we’re talking about the average working class person, not the elite.

[@jasonh.8754]

Exactly. Exercise is not in the Bible BECAUSE THEY WALKED EVERYWHERE! Every day was exercise. Just like the Bible does not instruct us to eat, it is taken as a given.

[@MilesMariae]

Distinguish. Distinguish. Distinguish. That's what is needed in considering this topic, as is avoiding the genealogical fallacy because Yoga is a polyvalent. If you check out 'Yoga' on a secular website, for instance on an NHS trust website you will see it defined as "A gentle activity that equips the individual with tools to aid relaxation, maintain fitness, suppleness and muscle tone, to energise both mind and body". if that's what the word 'yoga' is referring to AND ONLY THAT, then, clearly, there is nothing wrong with it. I do plenty of stretches each day, I was surprised to discover not too long ago that one of them is part of the canonical 'yoga' stretches. Distinguish. Distinguish. Distinguish.

[@MilesMariae]

@@jamjah955 thanks!

[@shirleycoombs7001]

@MilesMariae You cannot separate the spiritual aspects of Yoga which is Hinduism.

[@FirefoxisredExplorerisblueGoog]

​@@shirleycoombs7001 So because some other religion has a few stretches as a part of their religious practices does that mean we as Catholics can't use those stretches anymore? Other religions and philosophies often have ideas that align with Christ's teachings. Should we then consider those ideas forbidden? Nonsense! The fact that another religion or philosophy has discovered part of the Truth does not mean we, as Catholics, should disregard it. Likewise, just because yoga has exercises that are healthy for the body does not mean we as Catholics should disregard those exercises.

[@kathleenbrown5167]

@@shirleycoombs7001Yoga predates Hinduism by thousands of years. That’s why it was adopted by Hindus, Buddhists, and Jainists. Yoga didn’t originate with Hinduism; Hinduism adopted yoga. More than that the “yoga” that was practiced then has nothing to do with the yoga that we know as yoga which developed in the 20th century.

[@eoinMB3949]

I've read that the poses in yoga are in fact postures of worship to Hindu gods. So when you practice yoga you're actually worshipping idols. I used to do yoga every day, I was very much caught up in that world. I was even considering becoming a yoga teacher. But there was a darkness in my life. I'd wake up in the middle of the night and think there was something inhuman in my bedroom. I never saw anything but I was convinced there was something in the darkness. It was scary and went On for a long time. So when I found out that yoga was idol worship, I stopped and never did yoga again. The nightmares stopped. The waking in the middle of the night thinking something evil was in my bedroom, stopped. That darkness went away. I'm firmly convinced this was because I stopped doing yoga(and meditation and all manner of "spiritual" new age practices).

[@nette9836]

Did you start seeing these images in room before or after you find out that yoga poses are, allegedly, "postures of worship?"

[@Tikly._pickly._]

Tf 🤣🤣🤣🤣 nonsense man

[@eoinMB3949]

@nette9836 Before. A long time before. And when I finally found out what Yoga actually was I separated myself from it straight away

[@alexanderhamilton6370]

"If you treat ethical guidelines merely as rules, then you will always feel trapped by them." I really like that!

[@marklyons3125]

How many miles did Jesus walk in his ministry? Physical activity and Christianity do go together. I always walk when I pray the rosary, it does so much more for my prayer life! On weekends I enjoy hiking and the rosary is ALWAY with me. Nothing centers me like praying the rosary while hiking in nature.

[@leekshikapinnamneni4835]

It’s true that Jesus walked. Also, in the biblical days, people farm and they had to do physically demanding tasks like handwashing clothes and gathering water from the well. I think that with scripture and tradition teacherus that exercise should be a part of your daily life. Can you do yoga? I think that you can incorporate certain elements of yoga which are very similar to drill exercises that kids are taught in school and I think that the breathing exercises also might be helpful. I think that you can practice the exercises without subscribing to the philosophy behind them.

[@leokim1458]

I agree with you both, Mark and Leekshika. I think physical activity is not something that we should easily discard from our lives. Rather it's a very important tool to have in our toolbelts.

[@leokim1458]

If the body is the vessel to the soul, it's only fair to treat it well. The way I understand it, it's that we don't take ourselves for idols but to be better aides/tools for God. To spread the word, to convert, to protect, to give ourselves to God.

[@kevinwalsh1619]

Anyone who thinks physical exercise isn't part of being Catholic has never been to mass. Stand, then kneel, then sit, then stand, then kneel again---do that workout for the Lord!

[@GardenMinistry.]

And don't forget, genuflect (which is basically doing lounges) and then walk up to get Communion, and walk back lol 😂 so true!

[@olgamarie70]

😂 funny but true, I have rheumatoid arthritis and by the time we get to Our Father I just do kneeling cause I can’t do the up / down anymore. Jokes aside we are suppose to take care of our body which is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. So many religious communities take walks when they pray and do the rosary. Nowadays we have SoulCore stretching while doing the rosary or Divine Mercy chaplet

[@Prepping-for-Heaven]

Father Ripperger would definitely say, "NO!!"

[@naturallylorena1963]

​@@youtubeKathy I don't remember if he said it but Fr. Vincent Lampert has talked about how it is a portal to demons. You can find his videos on KZbin, he is also an exorcist.

[@catherineeaves2990]

What about DDPY (Diamond Dallas Page yoga)?

[@marklyons3125]

Pilates might be a better choice. Or, set your own stretching movements and perform them to Gregorian chants. You can do at home alone, with the family, or with friends.

[@sleepycomfortvibes4882]

I have a strong relationship with God and God introduced me to yoga and because I found God first and was taught by the holy Ghost I can do yoga and still follow Jesus strongly it's been a Godsent for me giving yoga to God to work in it with me

[@shirleycoombs7001]

@patriciaglass4882 Yo are deceived by the Enemy. Yoga is demonic. You can say Jesus, God all you want but it dies not change the fact that Yoga is a spiritual practice of Hinduism which anti-biblical.

[@masculineleadership]

...what?

[@joshualopez9175]

Stretching is awesome, but yoga can often put spirituality into it. We aren't supposed to do that, cause a lot of that spirituality is against God. Strectching and different exercises are cool, but yoga as a practice, I've heard, shouldn't be done. There's some good videos on it, and why Catholics shouldn't practice yoga specifically. (P.S. I heard pilates is an awesome alternative)

[@geoffreywalles]

Thank you. Another gift from God (this time, as often) via Brian Holdsworth. Praise the Lord in all circumstances and at all times.

[@gloriamacias2180]

I don’t think what other people think and say….only God matters.

[@debvanember7779]

Physical exercise is emphasized from many I follow as it is important to take care of our bodies, Temples of the Holy Spirit.

[@sitka49]

My wife for years had back problems, she had been going to chiropractors, massage therapist, and using medication , and she starting doing Yoga a few years ago ,and her back issues went away .

[@kenneth7826]

Good story

[@shirleycoombs7001]

The Devil will give you good results to get you away from Jesus Christ. And then he’ll take your soul(if you don’t repent and turn to our Lord Jesus Christ).

[@sitka49]

@@shirleycoombs7001 What would be the point of the devil, to give my wife a more happy and productive life then suffering from back issues? Perhaps you'd be more happy living in the 13th century?

[@shirleycoombs7001]

@@sitka49 The Devil wants individual’s soul.

[@kenneth7826]

@@sitka49 brother best of health to your wife ....that person is silly..ignore her..she is a fool ..praise God from whom all blessings flow..peace

[@juanpaniagua1420]

Amén, I agree at 💯 and I believe this Message completely in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ ., Thank You Pastor Basil, GOD IS GOOD..🙏❤️🌿🌿

[@keepingitcatholic]

I really loved when you said that ethics are a way to maximize your life. I've found that to be more and more true over time, but can often get caught back in the lie that rules are for the sake of rules. The former is honestly just so beautiful.

[@David-wl7iv]

Discipline equals freedom

[@condelevante4]

I like your point about the hierarchy of goods - look after your soul. It’s so true

[@mariehoheim3207]

Pilates is the way to go. Speaking from experience, coming from occult practices before my conversion to the Catholic Church, NO yoga in any form!

[@luisdizon2486]

What's the difference? I've never done Pilates before so I'm genuinely curious.

[@thunderthumbz3293]

​@@luisdizon2486 I am on the fence about dating a girl. She's a lapsed Catholic who is heavily involved in the idol worship of yoga. We've had some good conversations on suffering and finding meaning in life. However I feel descending into the dark cave she is in to pull her out into the light of Christ is a dangerous endeavor for me. Not sure what to do.

[@luisdizon2486]

@@thunderthumbz3293 Is she doing yoga for spiritual reasons or for just exercise? If it's just exercise, then suggest to her pilates or some other form of stretching as an alternative. If it's spiritual, you'll want to explain to her why that's problematic from a Christian worldview. How she reacts to that will let you know whether to continue or not.

[@robertlehnert4148]

Hmmmm....maybe we could do Catholic-oriented HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) clubs? Maybe if the KoC actually did train like Knights?

[@nuca5104]

Boxing would be better... the information 'technology' is much higher in that sport than HEMA would be.

[@myleshagar9722]

@@nuca5104 Shaolin or Wudang Gongfu would be awesome.

[@robertlehnert4148]

@@myleshagar9722 HEMA dispenses with the woo-woo nonsense and can get to practical results a LOT faster.

[@providentia3103]

Nothing wrong in Yoga as long as it is 100% used for physical exercise purpose..As an Indian catholic I feel westerners blindly label practises which they don't understand as wrong..Many catholics in India (At least in the state where I come from) says any sort of drinking is wrong..Even nuns drink in western culture where as an Indian nun may consider it sinful (even if it is in moderation only)

[@myleshagar9722]

Hatha Yoga, Taiji, Qigong, Gongfu all combine movement, breathing and mental concentration. It is superior to all the boozing and drugging in western culture, not common in the East today. Walk into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and it will hit you in the face that Christianity is essential an Eastern religion.

[@kenneth7826]

Well said

[@kmln55]

Fathers Calloway and Ripperger teach us to not use yoga in anyway because even if you don't think you are worshiping that is not true. I will follow the priests advice.

[@st.mephisto8564]

Iam a Hindu. I'd say listen to your priests and do not do Yoga as it's not just physical but inevitably comes with a spiritual aspect. That spiritual aspect is Demonic according to the Christian worldview. Stay away from it! Let yoga be a practice for Hindus alone

[@B9M3]

"Praying" is frowned upon by the secularists, so "meditating" is being used to fill that need. Witness all the new meditation apps. Of course, what many of these folks don't know is there's a long tradition of Christian meditation.

[@powpow8869]

St Hildegard of Bingen reminded us that we need to take care of our bodies (including exercise). We need to calibrate our souls AND bodies to God's ecosystem (physically and spiritually)

[@junipertree2601]

Why do expensive pagan stretching when you can do normal stretching? We do have a tradition of physical/spiritual practice. It is called a pilgrimage.

[@alaunaenpunto3690]

pilgrimage costs money. then again, that was probably the original idea

[@junipertree2601]

@@alaunaenpunto3690 yes, but not all were to the holy land. There were many to other, more local sites as well - the one in the Canturbury Tales was a visit to the cathedral where Thomas Becket was martyred. And people still go on pilgrimage. We also have Stations of the Cross as a mini pilgrimage that you do within the walls of your local church for free. The point of a pilgrimage is to go to a holy site and by being in a specific physical place where great things happened in the name of God, become more holy yourself. You miss the point by making it primarily about spending money. Presumably you could do that at home without the trouble and have more to show for it.

[@alaunaenpunto3690]

@@junipertree2601 it's not about spending money, but money nonetheless must be spent if going on the pilgrimages to the holy land or various shrines outside of one's native geography, which are what comes to mind when I think of pilgrimage. Not cath, so never heard of stations of the cross.

[@annjustin1866]

The kind of yoga I do is for stretching and increased flexibility and it is highly beneficial to me as a senior. Nothing pagan about it at all!

[@nathaniellathy6559]

@@annjustin1866 do Pilates instead

[@dharmayogaashram979]

Why does Loyola Marymount U. Offer a Masters in Yoga Studies?

[@ronaldbobeck1026]

They offered me a Free Yogi class at my VA.HOSIPTAL. I said thanks but no thanks I have a have a faith Roman Catholic.

[@jucarda572]

According to my extensive experience on internet memes I can tell you lifting is the quintessential catholic fitness practice. Don't do yoga, go to the gym. XD

[@okami425]

Be the Chad Catholic crusader we all know you can be!

[@phoult37]

Chad Catholic memes will be a game changer in modern evangelization when we look back at this time

[@77Catguy]

Given your previous advocating for the Latin mass--which, although relevant in its focus to a transcendent experience in the transfirmation of God's body and blood which is lacking to a certain extent in the "new" mass--I absolutely agree! At the same time, the Eurocentric cultural context behind such is so narrowly focused that the Vatican was correct in expunging that language requirement for the celebration of Christ''s transformation of such in the universal church. The Catholic church is a universal church--and those of European citizenry and/or ancestry are a rapidly shrinking part of such. It's perfectly understandable to lament when those of European ancestry were far more faithful to God's word than they are today--just as St Paul lamented the relative lack of fidelity among God's chosen people to Christ's revelation and word in His time--but as sad and tragic as that is, the result was that God's word spread far and wide and God's salvation expanded exponentially beyond those originally exposed to His word. Is it any different today? What was the depth of faith among those in Western society who presumed their "salvation" only on the basis of the inheritance of their religious identity? Is that any different from those whom Jesus criticized solely on the basis of presuming that their Jewish heritage was the basis of their salvation as well, while ignoring their actual conduct? To whom Jesus pointed out that God could create such unfaithful peiople from stones? What of those multiple sects that claim identity as "Christian" who claim that they are "saved" only on the basis of their profession of an extremely shallow definition of "faith" which is no different from those who likewise claimed such from an equally irrelevant basis which ignores Jesus's actual teachings in scripture? Those who claim that they are saved by a false definition of "faith" which ignores Jesus's requirements that we be motivated to perform good works out of love to Him? Who ignore Matthew 25:31-46? Who ignore the entire epistle of James which clarifies such matters? Who ignore so many passages in Scripture which also makes this point? Again, the ultimate revelation of scripture seeks the fidelity of all to live not only lives of loving gratitude to God for His unfathomable loving sacrifice on our behalf, but to challenge us to likewise love and serve others on that same generous basis. if we likewise desire to live in His loving presence forever, together with His other loving servants, how could it be otherwise? How could we possibly let God's Holy Spirit prepare us for that forever celebration if we fail to be faithful to His word in preparing us for such?

[@kimfleury]

Your comment is thoughtful and well to consider. If I may respond to your point about the language, and it's not a criticism: the Latin of the Mass is used for the prayers, and the Latin was codified apart from the common Latin spoken at the time (it was still in use) into Ecclésial Latin, meaning it became the language of the Church in such a way that meanings of words were fixed permanently. You know as generations come along language change in both pronunciation and word meaning. A word will carry both meanings for maybe a couple generations, and then one meaning is dropped, either the old or the new. That can cause confusion when later generations read older writings. The Church knew that because it's not a new phenomenon. So she wanted to fix the meaning of the prayers, and this was done in order to continue to pray as the Apostles did, as instructed by Jesus, who Himself set the Divine Liturgy. So what's happened with the change from Latin Mass to the Vernacular? First, the prayers had to be translated into the local language (and let's not even get into regional dialects). If you look at the original Latin prayers and compare them to the vernacular prayers, they're different, many parts of the original having been cut out or even drastically changed. The prayers are supposed to be universal in the Church, but if you've ever learned another language, you might have come across the phenomenon of, "There's no way to say that in this language." It can be very puzzling, because certainly the _meaning_ can be expressed, can't it? That's the translator's dilemma. It takes a team of translators, who may not agree on how to express the meaning, maybe owing to grasp of either the language being translated or the language it's being translated into -- and usually it's going to be a failure to fully grasp Ecclésial Latin, because that's nobody's native language. So inadvertantly the prayers get changed, and then when the vernacular language evolves, the translation has to be redone. We've already had to do the new translations since the one that was introduced in the 1960s, and whether the changes were small or large I can't tell, I just know that since my childhood I've had to learn to say different responses at Mass, some of them twice (I was 7 or 8 when the Vernacular Mass was instituted in my archdiocese). The other Churches didn't do this. I've known Orthodox and Byzantine Christians from different language traditions where the Divine Liturgy was instituted in ancient times, and the ancient language is the only one used in the Liturgy. The people learn it well enough as they need, but since the priest is the one who says the main, most important prayers, he's the only one who has any need to learn it fluently -- and really all he needs to do is intend to pray what the Church established, even if he's not perfectly fluent, such as happens when a great loss of population depletes the reserve of males who are talented in the study of the ancient language. That happened in the Middle Ages in Europe, so that there were priests who had a very poor comprehension of Latin, and mistranslated not only prayers, but also Scripture. Had those priests trusted the Church, there wouldn't have been the beginnings of the Protestant revolt. That's the danger of relying on the Vernacular. But if you go to Russia or Serbia or Bosnia or Greece, you'll hear the same ancient Liturgy of the Apostles, whether in ancient Greek or Slavic. The Faithful will hear Scripture in the Vernacular, but the purpose of praying Scripture at the altar in the ancient language is to give God's Word back to him as an offering. That part of the Sacrifice was removed from the Vernacular Mass when the Readings were given only to the congregation. I'm not so sure that the prayers being said in the Vernacular don't also put the focus on the congregation, as if we're the ones being offered the prayers, even granting that simply by addressing God they're also being offered to Him. It's just muddying the waters by adding that component. And that doesn't even address the drastic alteration of the prayers themselves. I don't know if they were too difficult to translate or if by adding the Second Reading they wanted to cut the rest of the Liturgy shorter. But there were always parts of the Liturgy in the Vernacular, re-reading the Scriptures in the vernacular, and giving the homily or sermon in the vernacular. Those are the parts that are important for that Faithful to comprehend. I think the basic understanding of the prayers is something that can be learned early and refreshed periodically, but aren't necessary to hear in the Vernacular at every Mass. Those are the parts that don't change. Granted, it's sweet when little boys say the prayers in the pew because they've memorized them by listening every week, if not daily. And there may be benefits to that, if it calls them to serve as priests. Otherwise, it is a time in the Liturgy for the Faithful to contemplate God without thinking of themselves or those around them (insofar as possible, especially for parents with small children). I'm not sure that's possible when the prayers are said for the benefit of the congregation being able to hear and understand them. I wonder how many of us find out minds drifting at that point in the Liturgy? And not always drifting to the contemplation of God? That's simple human psychology -- when we hear the same old same ol' over and over, we tune it out. Maybe that happens at Latin Mass, too, but changing to the Vernacular didn't eliminate it, at best, and at worst it made it worse. And finally, if the intent was to please the Faithful in order to keep them coming to Mass, well, it didn't work out that way. We'll never really know if the "Great Bleed" would have occurred had the traditional Latin Mass been retained, but we do know that switching to the Vernacular for all parts of the Mass didn't prevent it. My parents liked the change, but many of their brothers and sisters stopped going to Mass. They might have left the Church anyway, but I'll never forget that first Sunday of the New Mass when a huge argument about it broke out at my grandparents' house, where we always gathered for dinner after Mass. I was only 7 or 8, so I don't know what the arguments were other than liking it or not liking it. I do know that some stopped going to Mass and others converted to different religions. They might have, anyway, or maybe it would have been the other way around, where the ones who liked the changes might have been the ones who left. We'll just never know. Even if the intentions were sincere, the result wasn't very helpful. Editing to add that I understand that your point is about the Eurocentric (original Latin) and the Church's growth in Africa, where using the Vernacular is perhaps drawing the Faithful. But there again, I've heard missionary priests say that they had to be prepared to preach for 3 or 4 hours in Africa, so in that case there was/is no need to shorten the original prayers, and I'd suggest they could even be prayed in Ecclésial Latin after having been translated during the preaching, as a way to both prepare the Faithful to silently join the prayers being offered at the altar, and as a refresher lesson in the foreign language of Ecclésial Latin. But I'm just tossing out that thought -- not presenting a set argument pro or con. As I stated at the beginning, I think your comment is very well thought out.

[@77Catguy]

@@kimfleury Thank you for your well thought out response as well. You are absolutely correct about any languages changing their meanings over time, and I understand the desire of the church fathers to attempt to preserve a language in such a way that its meaning is intended to be unalterable over the course of time. I'm not sure how that would be done since it would still have to be translatable to one modern language or another in order to be described and understood at any point in time, but perhaps there is some way of doing so that I'm not aware of. However, even if we were to assume that there is some way of doing so, the result would not be quite as precise as we might imagine it to be. We would still be left with a specific language, frozen in time in all its references, to a world of at least 1500 years ago, which was long before a multitude of changes occurred requiring re-definition in living languages. Languages as they evolve are also enriched as their cultures in one way or another collide with other cultures speaking a different language, and both populations learn ways of expressing concepts previously foreign to them. Relevant to that is the broader issue: NO specific language conveys any and all concepts well, or even accurately. English is widely spoken in a variety of cultures, but new words and concepts and ways of expressing them are constantly being added--there are over 1 million words in the English language and more are being added all the time, yet there remains a multitude of ideas and concepts that could be best expressed in another language--and of course some such concepts can't be expressed in English at all, but least of all in a frozen language from 1500 years ago. Finally--would church attendance and Catholic observance have been better served by remaining in the pre-Vatican II format? Who can say? I would point out though that Orthodox churches which continue to worship in older languages with fixed liturgies seem not to have done any better than we did in retaing members after the massive cultural shift of the 1960s, generally of the same time frame as the Vatican II changes. The church will always be challenged to get its message across effectively to inspire those of the next generation--and in doing so we will always need to learn the "new" language(s) in which that generation frames its understandings and experiences.

[@tituscolaco96]

Brilliant explanation Brian. On the side note, yoga is not good for Catholics in small measure or indepth. Do physical excercise and you will be just fine.

[@PAT201000]

P.S. I love, love, love your hypothesis! I love my "God time" and this allows me to better direct my time and life as I strive for heaven. Meanwhile, my husband is very focused on his physical attributes, and is totally unconcerned about his spiritual life. Not surprisingly, this creates a bit of tension in our marriage.

[@monicatorres4965]

Hi I am evangelical but really love your videos! God bless you and your family!

[@BrianHoldsworth]

Glad to know you're watching!

[@acfatemi]

As You stated, some kind of physical exercise will be a natural part of a christian’s life if the person is sincere in living according to the will of God and God’s design of us. The love and fear of God will make us develop a healthy lifestyle and spiritual life hand in hand; in our day and time ascetic life is abstaining from unhealthy choices! Likewise, we will promote a healthy lifestyle (healthy habits) for the love of our neighbour. It is actually rather simple 😉

[@acfatemi]

PS! Healthy choices include no hormonal contraception and as a consequence developing self-control, wisdom, chastity and respect for the natural design of a woman in God’s plan

[@tejloro]

Keep in mind that all the words in the Bible that have to do with worship are related to posture. Which deity are you worshipping with your postures in Yoga? True, you can do it for strictly health reasons, but there's always something more lurking there, trying to find its way in...

[@davidaugustini8455]

Brian, I know you were going beyond the title of your video in this episode. However, it brings up something that many Christians have either treated flippantly or have waffled on whether or not it was "ok"; that being whether is "ok" for a Christian (or any other religion that does not have yoga engrained in it (e.g. some Hindu and Buddhist groups). I will use Christians as my example. There are many that say they "just do the poses and stretches for the physical benefits" but do not "get into the religion side of it". However, that's not really possible. The reason being is that all of the poses (or, at least, all when in completion) are a form of prayer. Yes. You read that right. As a Catholic Christian, we cross ourselves often. It may or may not be accompanied by the words" In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" when we do so. It actually does not usually matter. Physically making the sign of the cross is the prayer with or without the words spoken. If someone were to convince others that there was a physical benefit to making the sign of the cross (like pushers of yoga have done), certainly the only ones that might go along with that would be Christians (referring to those Protestant Christians that don't already use the sign of the cross as Catholic Christians do). Good luck trying to convince a Jewish person or Muslim to make the sign of the cross, even if it had fantastic physical health benefits. They are familiar enough with that gesture to know that it is irrevocably linked to Christianity as a form of prayer and declaration to God to know that it is a major "not a chance of doing that" for them. We (in the Western world) are simply so unfamiliar with the Eastern religions to realize that those yoga poses ought to also be a "not a chance of doing that" for us as well. We can take the concept of stretching and meditation/contemplation/prayer and do so in a Christian way (or Jewish, or Muslim) without utilizing those poses and actions that are very much yoga (and a clear "no go" for our respective religions).

[@ecclesiaxxi6210]

Agreed. When I started taking the faith more seriously and was reading into this it was very clear Yoga is bad/demonic, so it shouldn't be done at all, whether in small or large doses, stay away, it is linked to their demon gods whether [some] westerners deny it or not, and will give spiritual openings to them. Anyway, that was a very interesting way of describing it and I hadn't heard that comparison before. Thank you, very interesting. Also there are many better alternatives, yes we should exercise, but if you're tempted towards yoga, just do some stretches, gymnastics or pilates. There is a reason yoga is being promoted everywhere, it's exploded (especially among women) we need to know the rules, it's for our own good, or we'll be like lambs to slaughter in this post Christian society.

[@maxgoedl7119]

Does anybody know what the song in the intro is? It sounds awesome.

[@myleshagar9722]

Brian composed it.

[@Ezekiel336-16]

As per my first comment, refute things with Scripture! 1 Maccabees 1 talks about Jerusalem adopting gymnasiums after the pagan cultures, which occurs around the same time we sold overselves out to Rome for protection. That's the only reference that I remember speaking against formal physical exercise in the Bible, but it was not spoken of well or at a time that we should be proud of in our history. In reflecting on that today, it's not difficult at all to see how the glorification of exercise and sports has led many souls into ruination. In Christ, Andrew

[@yannsoz4122]

1 Corinthians 15:32 "What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

[@kimfleury]

Asking where the boundaries are can, indeed, lead to feeling trapped. 3 Aves for you 🌹🌹🌹🙏🏻✝️

[@adrianaansaldi989]

We can do pilates or stretching exercises or any kind of physical activity. Yoga as the same Yogi explain it it is worship of some kind, each pose means something and it depends of what kind, yes, there are many kinds, I learned that in India, can be very dangerous and believe in tamtrim sex and another practices that we don't need. Also los mantras and the mantras in drawings and fabrics as tapestries and any decorative Indu thing as the Gurus, and enlighten masters that might open doors to fallen spirits.

[@militumchristi5710]

Hi Brian, can you make a video about Shia Labeouf?

[@ronaldbobeck1026]

GET A SET of resistance bands and watch a couple of video s on chair aerobics. You can get a 3 band set less then 20. $ on line

[@mirianaelyse9903]

What is the song being sung in your intro? They are singing the world hallelujah and it sounds so beautiful like angels 😍🙏✝️

[@celinebatista5786]

I don't see a problem with being a Cristian and practicing yoga.

[@lesparks126]

Just throwing this out there, I do yoga as a series of structured stretches in the morning. I am middle-aged with a lot of muscular-skeletal degenerative issues. Call it yoga or structured stretches, but these stretches and slow movements help me able to move through out my day (the Docs said it increases the lubrication in my joints). Therefore, I think if you separate the structured stretches from the religio-ethical constructs around yoga, you can have a conversation of what you can do or not do. I am just conducting routine maintenance on the body that God has given me. I am being a good steward of this. Tis all. Much like when Brian goes for a run. The context of why you are doing a physical activity is important. Both St. Clement of Alexandria and St. Thomas Aquinas stressed exercise. One other possible point on why physical fitness is not stressed in the faith, when the Bible was written, and the doctrines laid, life was physically demanding. God designed our body to work. When you had to go through the many daily activities of life, your body did not need a separate time to "get fit". Look at pictures of folks before the 1950's, most folk were lean.

[@nathaniellathy6559]

You can get lean by prayer and fasting

[@akiram6609]

We should take care of our bodies and that includes exercise.

[@nathaniellathy6559]

@@akiram6609 you can do it without practicing New Age/Eastern Religion.There are other fitness regimens besides Yoga or Martial Arts.Just put on a pair of sneakers 👟 and go 🚶.

[@akiram6609]

@@nathaniellathy6559 I personally don’t do yoga. However, a person is not sinning when merely doing a downward dog pose or lying flat on their back. Yes, lying flat on your back is a yoga pose. I’ve done physical therapy and a lot of exercises they have me do are derived from yoga and it’s been very helpful to me.

[@nathaniellathy6559]

@@akiram6609 derived from Yoga and actual Yoga aren't the same thing.It's amazing with left wing Yoga instructors complaining Trump supporters were doing Yoga after 16 Election, any Christians want to do it at all.

[@joannaoliver-petty6860]

Beautiful talk, Brian. I've just discovered your channel and enjoy your talks very much. God Bless.

[@ecclesiaxxi6210]

It's good to know what boundaries are and what the rules are, young people want to know because so little of our heritage has been passed down and regarding spiritual rules, it's dangerous not knowing or ignoring, and can open up to demons and give openings to satanic attacks. So with the rules on Yoga ...the answer is "No" , Yoga is from Hindu paganism and is infused with the paganism, a lot of it's origins and mantras and poses and names relate to their demon gods/goddesses/spirits. Pilates is what we had developed in Europe, it's okay in Christianity, has all the same benefits but none of the demonic baggage ... it's just yoga is promoted for obvious reasons. We're ruled by anti-Christians. Anyway, yes with what you said about our whole life, but knowing rules are actually very important, especially in the post Christian society. ... blessings :)

[@MrSottobanco]

Steelmanning- word for the day.

[@SiccazHD]

I recently began watching your content, and I like it a lot. Praise God

[@BrianHoldsworth]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@k.r.murphy4301]

Can you publish a booklist?

[@flameofthewest6196]

Hi Brian, I think it would be best to have have some Indian priests on via Zoom to talk about this. After all, yoga does come from thier culture. We here in the West can devate about this forever and not come to any conclusion. I know many Native people who are Christian, but use sage as part of worshipping God as well.

[@Ezekiel336-16]

Brian, I appreciate what you do with your channel, but the Lord just spoke about this today through Saint Paul in 1 Corinthians 1 for the daily readings. In a paraphrase, we are not to come up with eloquent renditions of the Gospel, but to plainly speak about the cross of Christ. It's a lesson that the Lord taught me about 5 years ago, to place our faith in Him through Scripture as it has been revealed. The Holy Word is sufficient for both Jew and Gentile who is not seeking a sign or wisdom first, respectively. So, proclaim His Word boldly brother and remember, it's also all we need to battle the dEVIL successfully like Jesus did in the desert! In Christ, Andrew

[@nataliorivas487]

Very interesting video. I found it very thought provoking. But I can think of another, opposite point of view that is - in my opinion - ethical as well in that as created by God we have a responsibility to be good caretakers of his gifts. Much in the same way that we should be good stewards of the world that surrounds us as long as we do so in awe and appreciation for all the beautiful gifts he has given us. And may God bless you and keep you, Brian.

[@nancygagne5905]

Amen Brian!! Spot on as usual!! God bless you!! ❤🙏

[@deirdresversion]

Your closing statement is WOW. Love it!

[@hillogical]

YOU may not have, but I've seen it out in the world. I used to live in Georgia USA and that's where I saw it the worst outward judgement.

[@richardmcleod1930]

People I have known that are Hindu from India find it shocking that Americans use Yoga as an exercise when in India Yoga movements are meant to honor a specific Hindu God. Most people in the United States do not seem to realize that Yoga positions are meant to honor either a God or Goddess in the Hindu Religion. There are enough exercises from Richard Simmons "Dancing to the Oldies" to many, many other exercises, is it really necessary that people practice Yoga which insults those from Hinduism. Yoga is entirely different in Hindu India. Yoga has been changed by people of other Religions in a way offensive to sincere Hindus.

[@the2ndcoming135]

Proverbs 29:13((B.S.T.))🙏🏽

[@Catholic_D.O.G]

Bravo! 🕊️✝️🙏❤️

[@oambitiousone7100]

Catholic radio host all down on yoga. My Indian priest says: if you’re doing it as exercise you’re fine

[@markpugner9716]

How does doing something as exercise make it okay?

[@iamnotbrandonnn6278]

really needed this. God bless

[@sleepinglioness5754]

But how strong was that guy's faith and how is it now? How does he practice his faith without the yoga? Or did he have a faith and was simply using yoga as his exercise? Yoga is part of the spiritual connection in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. Many of the mantras are part of Buddhism (not sure about the other two religions). Last I read, India is making yoga a compulsory 'subject'/class in schools.

[@lindawright2557]

I have CDs for Gentle Yoga, nothing but stretching- no chants, no mention of anything but how to help keep yourself limber. I have had other yoga CDs in the past that were very egocentric and did Oms regularly. When the leader did that, I sang the Doxology. I gave those CDs away

[@kevinkelly2162]

Well done because your god is really insecure and gets upset by really unimportant stuff.

[@myleshagar9722]

OM is a version of AMEN

[@PAT201000]

Pietra Fitness is a totally Catholic alternative to yoga!

[@annjustin1866]

I am a born again Christian, and I do yoga, but simply for flexibility, which helps me considerably as a senior, nothing spiritual, except that I pray and do it as unto the Lord, for my health.

[@shirleycoombs7001]

No true Christian does Yoga. It’s of Hinduism.

[@andreabiro2357]

10:20 thank you

[@michaelr.stoddard3391]

@Brian... I would argue that a close reading of the coverage of the Cardinal Virtues in the Suma would compel someone to seek to care for the health of their body... Ergo... Healthy eating and exercise. Seems like a worthy disquisition. I'll make a $100 contribution if you can prove me in error. 😎

[@BrianHoldsworth]

I didn't say anything to the contrary. I said it IS a good that precipitates from the cardinal virtues, but if you try to pursue it apart from prioritizing those virtues or seeking God's grace, any effort you place towards physical health will be unsustainable.

[@michaelr.stoddard3391]

@@BrianHoldsworth "Precipitate" ? IMPERATIVE... imho. "Your body is the temple of the holy spirit" Plus what we know in this era of health science. "Being precedes Truth, Truth precedes the Good". Knowledge is the first step in Prudence. Then the imperative of action (the second part). "The path of transformation of true knowledge into the "imperative " of Prudence". Josef Piper.

[@exelatete]

Wow! That is a very interesting argument. I am Catholic BTW.

[@meme-vd5rm]

Up down, up down, kneel, genuflex...feels like exercise to me!

[@jessica3285]

10:19 the answer

[@keypoint1293]

If your hand has sinned chop it off Jesus said, but the sin came from the mind not the hand, so according to Jesus we should chop our head off when we sin.

[@markpugner9716]

Yes.

[@Corolla97ww]

Excellent

[@gerardryan611]

Bravo. Another learned and balanced presentation. Well done, Brian.

[@sarbnitrof4663]

It's wild to think you've never met a Christian with a harsh opinion of how you practice. Rare to be sure, but not impossible. One of the worse experiences I ever had in the army was because of the judgment of a Christian, solely because of how strong their beliefs were. My crime was quite literally a different faith.

[@rhemasaginario3249]

I feel that you still did not answer the question in a clear cut way.Do you believe that it is sinful to practice yoga for the physical benefits while still practicing your faith for the spiritual benefits?I am very confused as to whether or not it is a sin and is detrimental to your relationship with God,and thus your salvation.

[@douglasgransaull8413]

Jesus did yoga in India,his unaccounted years between 13 and 29 years.their have many books about this.if you are a Roman Catholic you can do yoga,just keep away from the Hindu deities hanuman etc,because their only have one god to worship,and his son Jesus Christ .

[@jafethsalas6561]

A canadian neighbour does yoga, here in costa rica, and he said he's christian

[@nathaniellathy6559]

Then he should stop ✋doing Yoga

[@overthecounterbeanie]

I think it's absolutely possible for Christians to practise yoga. If a few Oms are enough for you to lose your faith maybe your faith was weak to begin with. Maybe try to keep an open mind and not judge.

[@marklizama5560]

On the contrary, if a Christian knows that Yoga opens the door to spirits that not trustworthy, and thus shouldn't practice it, then he or she has a very strong faith.

[@AntonAchondoa]

@@marklizama5560 I really doubt the "opens the doors to spirits" thing. Sorry. All cultures and religions, different as they may be, share one thing in common - reaching out for the Divine. Hinduism predates Christianity, as do many other religions. Do you think God would be so cold and indifferent as to abandon other cultures to demon worship and unclean spirits? They were working with the experiences and knowledge they had. Unfortunately for them, Jesus showed up in Jerusalem, not Mumbai. Hindus might not have the fullness of the Truth which Christians claim, but I cannot accept that God would abandon them to harmful spirits just because they made their own attempts toward transcendence.

[@kimfleury]

@@AntonAchondoa ok but St. Paul wrote that sacrifices made to the pagan gods are really sacrifices offered to demons 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@AntonAchondoa]

@@kimfleury Did he teach ex cathedra? Not every single word of St. Paul is infallible. Also my question still stands. Do you (and perhaps St. Paul) believe that God would abandon people to devil worship simply because they did not know any better?

[@marklizama5560]

@@AntonAchondoa The Bible is an infallible authority, St. Paul's Epistles wouldn't be in the Bible if they weren't considered infallible.

[@aloyalcatholic5785]

Just say no to yoga

[@housejunky777]

Should people also say no wedding rings?

[@jackdaw6359]

@@housejunky777if by yoga you merely mean stretching and not the pagan connections. Then say yes to stretching.

[@housejunky777]

@Jay_fromLemandJay Assuming your understand the root of both Yoga and rings, your statement is incoherent.

[@housejunky777]

@Jay_fromLemandJay in that case, blessed are the tarot cards.

[@JH-dc4jp]

AMEN!

[@joelpenley9791]

Definitely not the conclusion I expected, because there is so much controversy surrounding the question of, "Should a Catholic do yoga?" Maybe you are not aware of this controversy, but your answer doesn't address this controversy. There are Catholics who say that yoga is evil and that under no circumstances can a Catholic do yoga. If that is true, then your answer is not wrong, because if a person does what you say they should come to realize that yoga is evil. But this would be if someone asked you "Is stealing a sin?" You could give the same basic advice and they should also come to conclusion that stealing is wrong. But why not just tell them, yes stealing is a sin. So I am curious, do you think yoga is evil? Or to put it another way, should Catholics not do yoga? Or is it okay for some Catholics to do yoga?

[@The-Carpenter]

This is brilliant.

[@cookiedestroyer402]

Yoga has two meanings there is the Hindu, aligning your chakras with Brahman and there is the Starbucks spandex yoga class you see in the west. "Yoga" classes in the west are nothing more then just stretching.

[@lindaswitzer2329]

Brian, thank you for your channel. I’m a long time listener. I wonder if your friend knows that Hindus do not practice yoga as a form of exercise. Instead, yoga is the Hindu form of worship in the same way that The Mass is the Catholic form of worship. Presenting it as exercise was a way to introduce Hinduism to the Western mind. I believe it is clearly not possible to practice yoga as simply a form of exercise.

[@austina701]

Just do the poses but think of it as normal stretching/calisthenics. Take a look at the state of the average Westerner, including those at your church. Discouraging people from physical exercise is the last thing we should be doing.

[@austina701]

The average adult cannot sit in a squat with their heels down, not can they rise out of a chair without the help of their hands. Stretching inspired by yoga poses can help rebuild their bodies from the ruin they have let them degenerate into.

[@nathaniellathy6559]

1 Timothy 4:8: For bodily exercise is profitable to little: but Godliness is profitable to all things having promise of the life that now is, and that which is to come.

[@tariqskanaal8187]

Bowing before the Baal just don’t think about it as a religious act

[@nathaniellathy6559]

@@tariqskanaal8187 except that it is.

[@tariqskanaal8187]

@@nathaniellathy6559 and so is doing Yoga as one seeks to unite themselves with Brahman, however there are many systems with different goals, notheless it is a religious practice

[@user-gy5er6wh2j]

Another thing about Yoga is that every position in Yoga is affiliated with a Hindu God. And is seen as Hindu devotion, if you tell a Hindu that Yoga is just an "Exercise" they might get offended. Since it's a sin to worship any other god then it would be wise to abstain from Yoga.

[@albertfuertes2794]

I don’t understand why nobody talk about gluttony and lust during confession in our days.

[@keypoint1293]

I am sure your daughter will be comforted by that.

[@jackdaw6359]

As someone who loves all history and hates all lies it always bothers me when Catholics and other Christians go off on the stretching that Indians took from European gymnasts and was only later incorporated into their stupid yoga in the 20th century.

[@housejunky777]

Can you post some of your sources? I'm interested. I have a concern for the legalism that's ensued and brought many under condemnation for using the stretching and strength exercises. Additionally, yoga has so many iterations, like hanging heavy objects from the male organ. To the pure all things are pure? Thank you for pointing to this aspect of history.

[@jackdaw6359]

@@housejunky777 Mark Singleton: Yoga Body: The Origin of Modern Posture Practice. Probably the best compiling source. It goes into detail how modern yoga came as a hybrid from old ideas and Nordic and British stretching health craze. These ideas of strength were wrapped up in anti-colonial Indian ideas and were present in the minds of Yogi's who visited the West. And one in particular. Ancient Yoga was bad. Modern Yoga is also bad. What I am trying to get back for us normal people is the European stretches that they took. And that is practiced by many gymnasts world wide. Here are more sources. David Gordon White, Yoga in Practice. Barbera Stoller Miller, trans., Patanjali's Yogasutra. Elizabeth De Michelis, A History of Modern Yoga: Patanjali and Western Esotericism. Jeremy Carrette and Richard King, Selling Spirituality: The Silent Takeover of Religion. Richard King, Orientalism and Religion: Postcolonial Theory, India and the 'Mystical East' James Mallinson, trans., The Gheranda Samhita. Jason Birch. "The Meaning of hatha in Early Hathayoga." The Journal of the Royal Oriental Society 13/4 (2011) pp. 527-554 Anthony Mary Grace. "It's Not Religious, But It's Spritual': Appropriation in the Universal Spirituality of Yoga" Journal of Communication and Religion 37/4 (2014) pp. 63-81 Andrea R. Jain. "Who says Modern Yoga Practitioners Have It All Wrong? On Hindu Origins and Yogaphobia." Journal of the American Academy of Religion 82/2 (2014) pp. 427-471 Callie Batts Maddox. "Studying at the Source: Ashtanga Yoga Tourism and the Search for Authenticity in Mysore, India" Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change 13/4 (2015) pp. 330-343

[@housejunky777]

@@jackdaw6359 Incredibly grateful. Blessings.

[@jackdaw6359]

@@housejunky777 no problem. I may not even agree with modern yoga, like I said. I'm just after reclaiming basic physical exercise that some people conflate with the wickedness that is yoga. We as Catholics have better meditation techniques. Yet we ought not to judge our gymnasts who merely stretch because of bad history. My mother, who used to be a gymnast, when she saw yoga poses, she told me that she was taught that as normal stretches. So I had to know what came first the poses from western gymnasts or the other way around. And to my surprise I found that Yoga bastardised itself to "catch up with the west". I have no love for yoga or mysticism outside the bounds of our faith. I just hate bad history. I would distance myself from yoga lest I give offence to a brother or sister. I'd even give up the physical exercise if it offends their conscience as St Paul tells us that that is more important. But I would tell them the fun fact that modern yoga is a scam. And that ancient yoga wasn't extremely physical. It was bad meditation technique that said "if you suck at this" try incorporating your body and then it included vile practices like hanging objects onto male genitalia. Etc.

[@housejunky777]

@@jackdaw6359 There's a serious issue with many bringing others under condemnation for stretching. The pharseeism is out of hand on this one. If only they could be well informed and rather warn about the spiritism let's say for example, Kundalini. I suppose when it comes to social media, there interest is likely for likes and the revenue that it brings them. Again, Thank you for posting your sources.

[@nextgalaxyover3724]

Yoga is a form of exercise that originated before the Hindus picked it up. People find it very helpful for anxiety, stress, and core strength. If your scared that your letting in evil spirits while doing yoga because it can be weirrrdddd…. Pray to God the whole time while doing it.

[@Bateluer]

Skimming the comments, this is the most appropriate answer. Yoga is an excellent form of physical conditioning, practicing it is no more different than someone putting on some metal while running on the treadmill. God gave us all the necessary tools to maintain our bodies.

[@annjustin1866]

@@Bateluer Thank you!!!

[@annjustin1866]

Yes!!!!

[@naturallylorena1963]

That's not what exorcist Fr. Vincent Lampert would say.

[@candacebex4370]

Very well said. I just want to add that I find atheists and to a very slightly lesser extent Agnostics to be the most confrontational and critical of "religion" particularly Christianity. I believe that this is so because when you live a life devoted to excluding God you surround yourself with evil and Satan's primary business is always first to hate God.

[@prodigaldaughter00]

Father Seraphim Rose (orthodox priest) really changed my view on this. *he is against Christians doing yoga* Keen to hear what you have to say

[@husariatowarzysz4924]

I think "Christian" yoga is an oxymoron, it would basically be like doing a voodoo dance just for the cardio. Yoga in its original context was an Indian spiritual practice that was designed to connect you to Hindu gods so it's something a Christian should stay far away from.

[@aloyalcatholic5785]

That’s because they practice hesychasty. Highly dubious as a Christian practice

[@Ethantk12]

@@aloyalcatholic5785 father seraphim was against yoga. It’s hesychasm not hesychasty btw.

[@aloyalcatholic5785]

@@Ethantk12 a rose by any other name. He also prays the rosary. Might as well be Catholic. Breathing exercises while engaging in prayer is not part of Christian tradition and should be discouraged

[@prodigaldaughter00]

@@aloyalcatholic5785 so should we hold our breath while praying 😅 The intention behind the breath is to bring clarity and focus to the prayer- many many have found the Jesus prayer incredibly soothing and healing

[@jeffkardosjr.3825]

Christians don't do Yoga. Theoria instead.

[@andrear.4864]

I've been weighing the arguments fur 'n agin yoga for some while now. One bothersome issue remains: Since when does one religion get ceded ownership over certain poses and postures of the body? Especially when the poses seem to have a more medical or corrective effect on the body than a spiritual message to a god/demon?? What about the praying hands posture with palms facing up that is practiced by at least both Hindus and Christians? Who wins that one? When I heard of a highly skilled yoga practitioner who had impressive success with patients suffering from back ailments, I considered looking them up for help for my lower back to hopefully nip the problem in the bud. But I hesitated, seeing the warnings about yoga. A hybrid class of yoga/Pilates is touted as an acceptable solution. But there still would be poses done in worship of Hindu gods?! Maybe a western-trained chiropractor is a next good possibility?

[@cwthomas]

Per the opening: Me: nothing Protestant family: We did some research on your church and found that a priest wrote a book in which he states that Protestants are missing some things. How can you be so judgemental?

[@dianewilkins4418]

Hi

[@robr9411]

Very very long answer to a simple issue.

[@MyCatholicBookNook]

I’ve been approached by judgemental Christians when I tried to play more traditional music at mass 🙄

[@markpugner9716]

I'm curious how you respond to that… This would make me be afraid of doing more traditional music unless I was doing so by instruction from either the pastor or the parish council, so I could say "go complain to them, they told me to"

[@MyCatholicBookNook]

@@markpugner9716 I find the best approach is saying that since I’m classically trained, traditional music is my area of specialization and I’m not familiar with other styles. Having support of the pastor helps, but he may get a lot of flack if you say you’re being traditional on his instruction. Blaming my ‘lack of experience’ works better since it disarms people and helps them understand where I’m coming from.

[@markpugner9716]

@@MyCatholicBookNook Aha nice! That sounds like a very wise way to handle things.