Yoga, God and My Mat

Recently, I came across an article claiming that Christians shouldn't practice yoga because it's rooted in idol worship. The message was strong, and it sparked my curiosity.

Not fear. Curiosity.

So I went down the rabbit hole.

I wanted to understand the history, the beliefs, the arguments and the concerns. I wanted to know where this idea came from and whether what I practice today is truly what people are warning against.

What I discovered is that the yoga of ancient times and the yoga I practice today are not the same thing.

And more importantly, I became even clearer about what yoga means to me.

What Yoga Is Not for Me

Yoga is not my religion.

It is not idol worship.

It is not a substitute for my relationship with God.

It is not me calling on other gods, spiritual entities or "the universe."

I don't chant words I don't understand.

I don't say "om" simply because everyone else is saying it.

I don't participate in practices that don't align with my faith or that I can't spiritually stand behind.

And I don't see a pose as an offering to anyone or anything.

That's simply not what is happening on my mat.

What Yoga Is for Me

Yoga is intentional movement.

It is breath.

It is stillness.

It is discipline.

It is gratitude.

It is caring for the body God gave me.

And most importantly, it is another way that I connect with God Almighty.

Every deep breath I take on my mat is rooted in my faith.

Every moment of stillness is an opportunity to become present with God.

Every challenging pose reminds me that the strength I have comes from Him.

When I want to go deeper into a pose, I don't call on the universe.

I don't call on an idol.

I don't call on some unknown force.

I call on God Almighty.

Because He is my source. Always.

The Difference Between Origins and Intentions

Yes, yoga has ancient spiritual roots.

That part is well documented.

But from what I found, what most people practice in studios today looks very different from those ancient traditions.

Modern yoga is largely centered around movement, flexibility, breathwork and mindfulness.

And while some people may choose to incorporate chants, mantras or spiritual beliefs from other traditions, that isn't what I choose.

Because I believe discernment matters.

Not fear. Discernment.

I don't believe every practice needs to be accepted blindly, nor do I believe every practice needs to be rejected out of fear.

I believe we should understand what we're doing, know why we're doing it and ensure that it aligns with our faith and convictions.

That's exactly what I've done.

My Faith Is Not Fragile

One of the claims I often hear is that Christians cannot separate yoga from idol worship.

Respectfully, I disagree.

Worship isn't determined by the position of my body. It's determined by the posture of my heart.

My relationship with God is not threatened because I'm stretching my hamstrings.

God doesn't lose His place in my life because I'm holding Warrior II.

My faith isn't fragile.

And my connection to God doesn't disappear because I'm breathing deeply in a room full of people.

God is with me wherever I am.

Including my yoga mat.

What I've Learned

This journey taught me something bigger than yoga.

It taught me that not every conviction is universal.

What one person chooses not to do out of conviction, another person may approach differently with equal sincerity and faith.

And that's okay.

For me, yoga is not about worshipping anything other than the God I serve.

It is not about replacing Him.

It is not about blending beliefs.

It is not about spiritual confusion.

For me, yoga is about presence.

It's about gratitude.

It's about caring for my body.

It's about stillness.

It's about peace.

And it's about connecting with God Almighty through my breath, my body and my awareness.

So Where Do I Stand?

I stand in clarity.

I stand in discernment.

I stand in faith.

Yoga is not my source. God is.

Yoga is simply one of the ways I experience His presence, appreciate the body He gave me and cultivate peace in a busy world.

No confusion.

No spiritual tug-of-war.

No divided allegiance.

Just breath.
Just movement.
Just gratitude.

And God Almighty at the center of it all.