Should Christians practice Yoga?

“Yoga is a method of spiritual training whose purpose is to integrate or unite the self.  A physical exercise, its goal is nonphysical-uniting with God.  Yoga teaches that people should attempt to yoke the individual spirit to God, to atman-the individual soul or essence of a person-and to Brahman.”  So we see that Yoga is essentially physical exercises in which one tries to work his or her way to God.

So Should Christians Practice Yoga?
It is not recommended that Christians practice yoga since the intention of yoga is a path in order to attain salvation.  Some Christians do practice yoga and say that all Christians can practice yoga.  So let us answer a few basic objections.
Can a Christian practice yoga without getting caught up in the religious aspects of it?

The problem is that yoga is religious in nature.  The point of the practice of yoga is to unite oneself with God.  Take this quote from the Yoga Journal: “Connecting the mind, body, and breath helps us to direct our attention inward. Through this process of inward attention, we learn to recognize our habitual thought patterns without labeling them, judging them, or trying to change them. We become more aware of our experiences from moment to moment. The awareness that we cultivate is what makes yoga a practice, rather than a task or a goal to be completed. Your body will most likely become much more flexible by doing yoga, and so will your mind.”4  As one can see, Yoga is more than just a physical exercise.  We as Christians do not want to make our mind more flexible.  We do not want to leave our mind open to false teaching.

Is there anything wrong with doing stretching exercises?

This is a question that needs to be answered since a major part of yoga is strecthing.  There is nothing wrong with stretching at all.  In fact stretching is a very useful exercise to help people stay healthy.  The problem comes when one meditates and focuses on the religious aspects of yoga.  One needs to distinguish between purely stretching and yoga.  So if one is just purely stretching and is not practicing the philosophical and religious nature of yoga, then feel free to participate.
If there are medical benefits from practicing yoga, then why should Christians not be able to practice yoga?

With any physical fitness, there are going to be some positive medical benefits.  There are many other great physical fitness programs that are out there with great benefits.  So why take the chance in meddling with something that comes from, and is associated with, a false view of salvation?  Why do we feel like we have to use an exercise that has religious values from a false religious system?  Yoga is different from other exercise systems because it is more than just exercise.  The point of yoga is to combine body, mind, and soul together.  

There are a few reasons why I discourage Christians from practicing yoga.

    Jesus is the only way in order to have salvation.  Salvation is not found in any other religious system, practice or founder.
        Jesus told us that he was the only way to the Father in John 14:6: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
        Acts 4:12: “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
    We are not saved from any works that we can do ourselves.  It's all by grace through faith in Jesus Christ as our Saviour.
        Ephesians 2:8-10: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
            So we see by this passage that we are not saved by our good works.  Our good works are a result of our salvation, but they do not cause our salvation.  Our salvation is to bring glory and honor to God, not to ourselves.
    We as Christians are to be different from the world.  We are not to do things the same way as the world.
        Romans 12:1-2: “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
            As Christians we are not to be conformed to this world.  We are to be different and set apart from the world.  When we try and use the methods of the world in order to get to God, then we are in direct disobedience to God.  Even if a Christian can practice yoga without any of the religious practices getting involved, would you want to take

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