Reader’s question: “Can Christians participate in yoga?”…

This is the second “application” article in the “Can Christians…?” series. If you haven’t read the overview, I encourage you to read it first: “Can Christians…?” Series: Overview.

With respect to whether Christians should participate in yoga, a pattern similar to the debate about Halloween appears: most of the articles or videos I have encountered oppose it1, though some hold the opposite view2, and in recent years “Christian Yoga” has even emerged3. How should we decide?

If we operate from a “safety first” principle, then given the many opposing voices, would it be simplest to apply a blanket ban and avoid it altogether? For some matters, that may be a straightforward approach. But I believe a mature faith should learn to “discern between good and evil.” We ought to probe the reasons behind “may” or “may not.” Only then can we make wise and spiritual decisions in various situations—and also enjoy the freedom we have in Christ4.

For myself, I enjoy sports, but I have not practiced yoga and, for now, do not plan to5.Because brothers and sisters have raised questions about this topic, I’ve done some research and reflection. Since I lack first-hand experience, I consulted a highly professional fitness coach in Hong Kong to understand local yoga courses. She not only holds yoga-instructor qualifications but also formerly recruited professional Indian yoga teachers for a major Hong Kong fitness chain. I believe her perspective is representative. I also asked several brothers and sisters who have attended yoga classes to gain a clearer view through different people’s experiences.

Of course, this is only my personal view. Each person should make a wise choice in accordance with his or her faith and conscience.

Not all “Yoga” is the same

Why do some Christians strongly oppose yoga while others have no problem with it? Why such divergent conclusions? What are the respective rationales?

After reading various articles and watching different videos, I found the biggest divergence lies in what “yoga” means. The term “yoga” can refer to very different practices depending on region, instructor, and cultural setting. Although everyone uses the same word (yoga), their understanding of it may be entirely different—this is a major cause of the dispute.

Opponents argue that yoga’s origins and history are inextricably tied to worship of Hindu deities, such that participants cannot avoid, and may unknowingly engage in, idolatry. Supporters argue that modern yoga has been secularized and commercialized, having evolved into a kind of physical stretching exercise.

In fact, according to the professional coach I consulted, different yoga lineages, teaching approaches, and cultural contexts can lead to very different experiences for participants. Some instructors aim at rigorous “authenticity,” including incense, chanting, meditation, reciting Sanskrit, etc., in pursuit of spiritual experience. Others focus only on asanas (poses) and breathing for health and stress relief. In Hong Kong, the coach’s company once received complaints (often from Christians) about instructors chanting Sanskrit “for authenticity.” Thus, she would ask instructors to remove those elements to suit local clients. In this light, the more “authentic” the yoga, the more Hindu spiritual elements it may include—precisely what Christians should avoid. If so, would choosing classes or instructors without such elements—or even practicing by oneself—resolve the concerns?

I believe that even Christians who see no issue with participating in yoga would agree with those who oppose it that Christians worship only the one God revealed in Scripture (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), and should by no means worship other gods6. On that premise, if one treats yoga’s poses purely as physical exercise, is it unacceptable? Below are my reflections on common reasons given for “Christians should not” practice yoga:

The word “Yoga”: origin and meaning

Opponents sometimes cite the meaning of the word yoga as a reason to object. The Sanskrit root “yuj” means “to yoke,” “to join,” or “to unite.” According to AI model DeepSeek, the earliest, core aims of yoga included:

  • Uniting individual consciousness with universal consciousness (the union of the “small self” with the “great Self”).
  • Uniting body, mind, and spirit to attain harmony.
  • Uniting the personal self with a higher self (or divinity).

Thus, yoga’s origin is not merely calisthenics; it is essentially a philosophical and disciplinary path toward integrated body–mind–spirit practice.

But can we decide the present question solely on that basis? Linguistic borrowing and semantic shift are ubiquitous. Consider another Sanskrit term, “guru.” In Indic traditions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism), a guru is not only a teacher but a spiritual master and guide toward enlightenment. Yet in modern English, “guru” commonly means a subject-matter authority—“marketing guru,” “tech guru”—without religious overtones.

Similarly, today “yoga” is no longer exclusively a religious or spiritual technical term. In many settings, it simply denotes a modern exercise modality. For example, the Oxford English Dictionary glosses it as a “system of exercises for your body and for controlling your breathing, used by people who want to become fitter or to relax.”

But isn’t the original purpose spiritual?

Doesn’t the original purpose implied by the term’s meaning—connecting oneself to a higher spiritual reality—mean Christians should avoid it?

As word meanings evolve, some practices also change over time. Ancient Olympia (the Olympic Games) was originally part of religious rites to honor Zeus. Only free Greek male citizens competed, and they competed naked. Early Christian figures like Tertullian criticized such spectacles7. Later, Theodosius I banned the Olympics in A.D. 393 because of their pagan flavor. Yet the modern Olympics have removed pagan worship elements and repurposed the games “to promote peace and understanding through sport.” They are now a global sporting and cultural event, far removed from ancient cultic ritual. Few Christians today see a conflict in watching or even participating in the Olympics.

Another example is the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival. Historically, its core was offering sacrifices to the moon; practices like moon-gazing, mooncakes, and family reunion developed from that base. But for most modern families, the purpose is gathering and enjoying time together; moon worship has disappeared, and mooncakes are merely festive food. Arguing that Christians should not celebrate Mid-Autumn or eat mooncakes because of the ancient origin commits the Genetic Fallacy, ignoring modern meaning and development.

However, yoga is more complicated, which is why opinions diverge. As noted earlier, modern yoga can be very different across countries, cultures, and instructors. It’s better viewed as a spectrum:

  • On one end: fully secularized physical training
  • Emphasis on asanas; no mantras, scripture-chanting, meditation, or spiritual teaching
  • Participants’ intent is purely health and fitness
  • In the middle: mixed spiritual elements
  • May blend breathwork or light meditation into asanas
  • Some instructors use Eastern philosophical vocabulary (e.g., “inner energy,” “connect with the self”)
  • Others recast these in secular psychological terms
  • Some even substitute Christian vocabulary, encouraging meditation on Scripture or on God
  • On the other end: explicitly spiritual practice
  • Taught by rigorously “authentic” Indian (Hindu) instructors
  • Explicitly pursues “awakening,” “divinization,” or union with universal consciousness

Accordingly, Christians need not treat highly secularized “yoga exercise” as identical to explicitly spiritualized yoga. Explicitly spiritual yoga (in the Hindu sense) conflicts with the faith and should be avoided. For mixed forms in the middle, one should proceed with caution, avoiding elements that trouble conscience or conflict with faith. In Hong Kong, it may even be possible to request removal of spiritual components beforehand.

Conclusion

Because yoga varies widely by place and teacher, I suggest Christians consider the following before deciding—this is wiser and more mature than blanket acceptance or rejection:

1) Identify the type of yoga you are encountering. Where on the spectrum is it—purely physical, mixed, or explicitly spiritual?

2) Examine your motives and conscience. Why am I practicing? For health, or for spiritual experience? Which elements trouble my conscience? If trouble arises, will I stop?

3) Is it possible to participate only in the beneficial physical components (e.g., stretching, breathing relaxation) while rejecting any exercises that may conflict with Christian faith—engaging purely as physical training?

4) Maintain love and the principle of conscience-freedom. Do not judge those who abstain out of conscience; and do not condemn those who practice in peace of conscience (Romans 14:1–4).

The above process also applies to related questions about Tai Chi, qigong, and various martial arts. May this analysis help us “discern carefully” in a spiritually mature way.

Reflection questions

  • What kind of yoga are you considering? What does it include? Are you asked to venerate other gods, bow before idols, or chant mantras? How would practicing in a room filled with Hindu deities differ from a normal dance studio?
  • If, during practice, an instructor asks you to do something that causes spiritual doubt or unease, will you refuse or stop (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:12)?
  • Do motives matter? How are the pursuit of health and stress relief different from pursuit of spiritual experience in this activity?

References

Opposing Christian participation:

Not opposing Christian participation:

Related

  1. e.g.：
    – “Should Christians Practice Yoga?” by Roger Olson
    – Highlight: What About Yoga?(Apologia Studios YouTube)
    – Yoga opens ‘demonic doors’ to ‘evil spirits,’ warns ex-psychic who became Christian by Nicole VanDyke, CP Reporter (May 16, 2023) ↩
  2. E.g.：
    – “Is it Okay for Christians to do Yoga?”(YouTube) by Allen Parr
    – Q&A 0928 – Yoga by Douglas Jacoby ↩
  3. e.g.：
    – Should Christians do Yoga? Part Three (Caroline Williams Yoga) ↩
  4. Galatians 5:13 (ESV):
    For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ↩
  5. Mainly because I am afraid of pain. ↩
  6. Scripture prohibitions against idolatry:



    Exodus 34:14 (ESV):
    (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),



    Deuteronomy 18:9–14 (ESV):
    9 “When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations.
    10 There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer
    11 or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead,
    12 for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you.
    13 You shall be blameless before the Lord your God,
    14 for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do this.



    Deuteronomy 4:15–19 (ESV):
    15 “Therefore watch yourselves very carefully. Since you saw no form on the day that the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire,
    16 beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,
    17 the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air,
    18 the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth.
    19 And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.



    Luke 4:8 (ESV):
    And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’” ↩
  7. Tertullian, “The Shows, or De Spectaculis,” in Latin Christianity: Its Founder, Tertullian, ed. Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe, trans. S. Thelwall, vol. 3, The Ante-Nicene Fathers (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company, 1885), 84. ↩