| Yoga is extremely popular in the fitness world, and | | | | birthplace of Hinduism and yoga. He told us that yoga |
| many wonder if it has a place in Christian Fitness. Is | | | | postures are actually offerings to the 330 million Hindu |
| there such a thing as "Christian yoga" or a "Christian | | | | gods. |
| alternative to yoga?" While many know that yoga | | | | "Many Westerners who practice yoga today are |
| originated in India, few realize it is part of the Hindu | | | | unaware that the physical positions assumed in yoga |
| religion. | | | | symbolize a spiritual act: worshiping one of the many |
| Those who think yoga is little more than a series of | | | | Hindu gods," Dr. Alexander said. "To a Hindu, yoga is |
| stress-relieving stretching exercises may be surprised | | | | the outward physical expression of a deep spiritual |
| to learn about true foundation of the multi-billion dollar | | | | belief. You cannot separate one from the other." |
| yoga craze in North America. | | | | Since yoga is tied so strongly to Hinduism, can there |
| According to Webster's New World Dictionary, yoga | | | | be such a thing as "Christian yoga," or would that be |
| (coming from an east Indian Sanskrit word which | | | | an oxymoron (a contradiction in terms)? Many |
| means "union with god" or "to yoke") is "a mystic and | | | | practicing Hindus as well as Christians agree that since |
| ascetic Hindu discipline for achieving union with the | | | | yoga IS Hinduism, the two cannot be combined. |
| supreme spirit through meditation, prescribed postures, | | | | Are there other ways to bring flexibility training into a |
| controlled breathing, etc." | | | | Christian's fitness program without doing yoga? Yes! |
| As a child growing up on Long Island, I became | | | | There are plain vanilla stretching courses as well as |
| involved with yoga at the age of seven when my | | | | Christian alternatives to yoga which incorporate |
| mother and I began watching a daily yoga exercise | | | | stretching exercises with Scripture. Practitioners |
| program on television (thinking it was "just exercise"). | | | | meditate upon Scripture or speak verses aloud which |
| For the next 22 years I was heavily involved with | | | | correspond with each stretching posture. For example, |
| yoga, metaphysics and the New Age movement until I | | | | in PraiseMoves, a Christian alternative to yoga, "The |
| became a follower of Jesus Christ in my late 20s. | | | | Angel" posture is accompanied by Psalm 91:11, "For He |
| George P. Alexander, Ph.D., who taught World | | | | shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all |
| Religions at Biola University, is a friend of our family. | | | | your ways. |
| Born in Sri Lanka, George grew up in India, the | | | | |