Yoga is an ancient practice which seems to have its origins based in India some 5,000 years ago.

The philosophy and its application to everyday life are set out in the 6th century Hindu scriptures. There are 3 main streams:

Hatha yoga, Raja yoga, and Karma yoga. The first starts with physical exercises, the second with meditation and the mind, and the third with applying yoga to everyday life.

The word itself [in Sanscrit], means yoke or union. Its main aim appears to be the linking of body, mind and spirit, whilst at the same time uniting the individual with someone/something greater and transcendent.

In simple terms it is a way of life and a means to understand it.

If you are engaged in the practice of yoga, you are in a sense practicing the Hindu religion.

Those who promote yoga will tell you that anyone can practice yoga whatever their faith or religion. Hinduism is a very broad church accepting almost anyone.

Those who teach yoga are obviously centred in the whole Hindu philosophy of life, and will endeavour to introduce it through the various sessions at some point or other.

What does the bible say ?

Jesus said, “No-one comes to the Father except through me..”

He also said that there are two roads to travel - the narrow one that leads to salvation, to God the Father, and the wide one which leads to hell. Christ is the only way - if it were any different, God would have revealed it to us through his word. This is of course in complete contradiction to what the followers of yoga will tell you.

It is right to have a concern about our physical well-being, but we are not to be obsessed by it. There are many strong pressures in our world today, physical fitness alone is not the answer - only Christ can give us peace in the world in which we live. He is the only way.

To meditate upon God is good: to meditate by emptying our minds is not good. The Bible tells us to take every thought captive to Christ. The devil has a field day with us when we start to empty our minds. It opens the door to a load of other spiritual forces.