Yoga has often been misunderstood in Christian circles, with concerns about its spiritual roots and whether it aligns with Biblical teachings. Yet, at its core, yoga is not about worshiping idols or animals—it is about union with God. The word “yoga” itself means “to yoke”, symbolizing the connection between the divine and the human.
When approached with discernment and Christ-centered intentions, yoga can serve as a profound tool for healing and spiritual growth. This blog explores how yoga aligns with Biblical principles, honors God’s creation, and supports personal healing that brings heaven to earth.
What Does “Yoga” Mean?
The word “yoga” comes from the Sanskrit word yuj, which means “to yoke” or “to unite.” At its essence, yoga is about creating unity between our human self and our divine self, or in Christian terms, bringing heaven to earth.
This concept mirrors the Christian teaching of aligning with God’s will and embodying the love, light, and wisdom of Christ. As Jesus taught in the Lord’s Prayer: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Yoga provides tools to release the denser energies—trauma, pain, and subconscious patterns—that prevent us from fully embodying our divine nature.
When we heal ourselves, we clear space for our higher self, soul self, or Christ-consciousness to dwell more fully within us. This is the essence of enlightenment: allowing our divine self to be present in our earthly body, bringing harmony, love, and light into the world.
Healing the World by Healing Yourself
The concept of healing yourself to heal the world is reflected in the often-quoted idea: “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” This sentiment, widely attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, reflects a profound truth: transformation begins within.
When we address the subconscious programs, generational patterns, and emotional pain within us, we become clearer vessels for divine energy. This personal transformation ripples outward, creating positive change in our families, communities, and beyond.
This aligns with Jesus’s teaching to first examine and transform ourselves:
• “First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:5).
Yoga and meditation can be tools to help us do just that—through intentional self-reflection, healing, and alignment with God’s truth.
Yoga Isn’t About Worshiping Animals
Some Christians argue that yoga postures mimic animals and therefore involve idol worship. But this is a misunderstanding of the practice. For example:
• Poses like the dolphin stretch or eagle pose are not about idolizing animals. Practitioners of yoga know the difference between God, the divine creator of everything, and a dolphin or an eagle.
• It’s no different than a child pretending to be a kitty cat. When children crawl on the floor and meow, they aren’t worshiping cats—they’re exploring creativity and connection with the world God made.
Yoga poses often honor the strength, balance, and grace that God instilled in His creation. Rather than worshiping animals, these postures encourage us to reflect on and embody the beauty of God’s work.
The Warrior Breath: A Healing Tool from Yoga
The Warrior Breath is a yogic breathing technique that involves controlled breathwork with a sound made at the back of the throat. While it originated as a yoga practice, modern science now recognizes its ability to regulate the nervous system, reduce stress, and promote healing by activating the vagus nerve.
God designed our bodies with an incredible capacity for self-healing, and techniques like the Warrior Breath simply tap into the natural systems He created. These methods are now studied and applied in modern biohacking and healing practices, showing how ancient wisdom aligns with God’s design for our well-being.
Paramahansa Yogananda’s Biblical Insights
Paramahansa Yogananda’s mission through the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) was to unite the teachings of Christ with the spiritual wisdom of Kriya Yoga. He dedicated two volumes of his book, The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ Within You, to exploring how the Bible supports Kriya Yoga practices.
For those interested in learning more, Yogananda’s work offers profound insights into how Kriya Yoga harmonizes with Christianity and provides techniques to help practitioners commune directly with God.
Judgment vs. Discernment: A Christian Perspective
Some Christians may feel hesitant about practices like yoga due to concerns about their spiritual roots. While caution and discernment are important, it’s also essential to differentiate between judgment and discernment:
• Discernment: Recognizing whether a path aligns with God’s will. For example, you might discern that a certain practice or teacher doesn’t feel aligned with Christ’s teachings.
• Judgment: Condemning others as sinners or assuming their actions will lead them to hell.
As a rabbi once said, “Some of us will be surprised when we get to heaven and see that what we thought was true isn’t true.” This wisdom reminds us of the humility needed to navigate life on Earth—we don’t know what we don’t know, and only God fully understands the bigger picture.
A Hawaiian Saying to Reflect On
There is a beautiful Hawaiian saying:
• “‘A‘ohe pau ka ‘ike i ka hālau ho‘okahi.”
• Translation: “Not all wisdom is found in one school of thought.”
This reminds us that God’s wisdom is reflected across many traditions and cultures. While we must exercise discernment, it is also important to remain open to learning from others and exploring how their truths align with our own.
Replace Fear with Love
Sometimes, judgment comes from fear—fear that what we believe might not be true, or fear of the unknown. But Jesus invites us to release fear and replace it with love.
• “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18).
When we trust in Jesus and follow His teachings, we can rest in the assurance that God knows our hearts. He knows we’re trying our best, even though we aren’t perfect. The ultimate goal is peace on Earth, and if we’re not contributing to peace, we’re not doing Jesus’s work.
An Invitation to Heal
If you’re a Christian who feels hesitant about yoga or other healing practices, I encourage you to approach these conversations with curiosity and openness. Together, we can explore tools and techniques that honor your faith while supporting your healing journey. Whether you prefer fully Christ-centered healing or an integrative approach, I am here to meet you where you are.
Contact me today to learn more or schedule a session.
Healing begins with ourselves. By releasing the burdens within us and aligning with God’s truth, we become clearer vessels for His love and light in the world. Yoga, when practiced with discernment, can help us embody our divine potential, bringing heaven to earth through our lives. If you’re ready to begin your journey, I would be honored to walk alongside you.