The Truth About Yoga
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The attractive couple on the television screen gracefully moved their bodies into the next yoga pose: arms extended, head tilted slightly back, a deep breath in. In front of the TV set, a seven-year-old girl and her mother did their best to mimic the posture. The little girl, Laurette, loved this special time with her mom.
It was 1965, and Laurette's mom, Jacquie, didn't think twice about exercising along with this yoga program that came on the TV after Jack La Lanne. She developed a passion for yoga, and began instructing free classes in her home. Laurette served as the demonstration model for her mom. The young girl relished the attention—and her family never suspected this seemingly innocent exercise would open the door to a New Age lifestyle that would affect Laurette for the next 22 years.
Speaking Out
Now 46, Christian speaker/author Laurette Willis tells everyone she meets about the dangers of yoga. The Oklahoma resident addresses groups across the country, speaking from personal experience and her knowledge as a certified personal trainer and aerobics instructor. She's developed a prominent presence on the Internet, largely due to her new exercise program, PraiseMoves, which she calls "a Christian alternative to yoga." She shares her testimony on the website (www.PraiseMoves.com) in a pull-no-punches style, and responds to numerous e-mails—some curious, others critical of her stance on yoga. Additionally, she posts comments on the message boards of other fitness and religion websites. She's also self-published a book and video about PraiseMoves.
So what caused Laurette to become vocal about yoga? And is yoga really all that bad? Her testimony is a bold answer to both questions.
Throughout her childhood, Laurette's family regularly attended church. "If someone had asked us, we would have said we were Christians," she says. "But we never heard the message of salvation at our church." Lacking knowledge about the Christian faith, Laurette's mom found herself drawn to New Age practices, and began reading books by Nostradamus and Edgar Cayce (both claimed to have psychic abilities) and taking Laurette to an ashram, a Hindu yoga retreat.
As an adult, Laurette immersed herself in every New Age and metaphysical practice she came across: chanting, crystals, tarot cards, psychics, channeling spirits.
"I tried everything—Kabbalah, Universalism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism —because I was spiritually hungry," Laurette says. "I call the New Age movement 'Burger King' because it's like the fast-food restaurant's motto: 'Have it your way.' That's what the New Age movement tries to do, to achieve God on its terms."
There was one thing Laurette wasn't remotely interested in pursuing: Christianity. "I thought Christians just wanted to give me a bunch of rules and dogma," she says. "I didn't know they were speaking about a relationship with Jesus."
Originally published in: Today's Christian Woman, 2005, March/April, Vol. 27, Issue 2, Page 40
Related Topics:
Christian Alternatives, Exercise, Hinduism, Meditation, New Age, Occult, Yoga
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Jane
Thank you for writing TRUTH and exposing darkness. As believers we have to be educated and not ignorant especially in spiritual matters. So many believers are afraid of the supernatural that this opens them to the false supernatural and occult. But God offers something so much better and something so much fulfilling than the counterfeit. Being pure and wanting to please God have nothing to do with being religious or legalistic. A lot of new age practices look harmless... But they are dangerous... Guys remember satan is an angel of light.. Sometimes we can do stuff just out of sheer ignorance or lack of knowledge but once God shines light on it. We have to repent and turn to Him from any distractive practice whither its yoga or something else... He is Holy and we cannot have any other God's before Him.
Sara
I agree that one must be careful when practicing yoga, but I do not think that yoga in itself is evil. I'm sorry, but that's like saying all alcohol is evil: it's LEGALISM. It's all about how you choose to practice it. For example, I pray and thank God for giving me the body. Christ can redeem ALL things, so I practice yoga and give glory to my Savior at the same time! Don't be legalistic, but definitely be careful. If yoga is a temptation into new age spirituality, then don't do it. It's the same thing if you can not control yourself not to get drunk... then don't drink alcohol! But to say that EVERYONE that practices yoga will turn to new age spirituality is narrow-minded and legalistic.
aeli
the benefits of yoga are endless. It seems author didn't practice it the correct way.
anonymous
Yoga isn't bad. There are two ways of viewing yoga - 1, as part of a religious practice, and 2, for pure physical exercise. As part of religion: before meditating, a practitioner must practice yoga to empty the mind, in a sense to make him/herself peaceful and relaxed. This involves no conscious thinking and the surroundings - only focusing the posture and breathing of the exercise. Therefore, one must not actually think about anything. Yoga is an exercise to warm up for full meditation, therefore one shouldn't worry about how the exercise is going, how much they'll connect with God/Jesus, etc. Then, you start feeling oneness with God, which is entering meditation. As an exercise to feel fit: It's a peaceful exercise to lose weight, increase flexibility, etc, as listed in the article. If you use yoga for exercise for the sake of health, don't be ashamed or feel regret for practising it. This doesn't mean you are not following the Bible, only if you believe yoga is for health's sake!
Sandra
It still amazes me just how unaware we are about spiritual warfare and the true meaning of principalities, wickedness in high places and demonic doors. A True Christian, as some may state would research any activity before getting involved. The enemy is like a lion seeking whom it may devour. It's never loud until it's upon on you. Yoga promotes the body changing the mind. The Word teaches the spirit is in control of the body. Yoga eventually leads them to meditation, thence to modifications of personal and social behavior. It does get you closer to god, but which god is the question? If Yoga is an exercise in physical mental or spiritual conditioning based on Eastern metaphysical assumptions designed to aid the practitioner in enlightenment or self-realization hrough altered states; uniting the person with impersonal pantheistic god, a diety of the universer by worshipping all gods. This by no means is a Christian. Also include Karma Sutra, lamaze to name a few primarily derived from Hinduism. Please, pray. What doors are you opening in your life, hoem and on your loved ones. The biggest trick the enemy ever played was having you think he doesn't exist.
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