How Yoga Attracts Both Believers and Atheists Alike to New Age Spirituality
This is the first in a series of articles about yoga, physical fitness and its connection with spiritual health; and how in its typical Western manifestation, yoga seems to have used this connection to draw people into new-age spirituality. The goal is consider whether or not Christianity can do something similar, but in order to lead people to Christ.
These posts will cover the following topics:
How does yoga, a form of physical exercise, introduce people to spirituality? Is there a method here that Christianity can use to direct people to Christ?
The dangers of yoga: what is the problem with the spirituality that people adopt typically when they go to the yoga studio?
What response can Christians make so as to attract those people who are otherwise going to yoga spirituality?
In light of this, I will discuss the possible adaptation of yoga by Christian as a tool for evangelization, and the alternatives. These might be, for example, adding a spiritual dimension to other forms of exercise that currently do not have one. And I will consider whether or not Christians can adapt psychological techniques used to enhance the performance in sport, such as ‘self-talk’ can be developed to both raise performance and raise the self to God. One might ask, for example, is there a possiblity of ‘God-talk’ (otherwise known as prayer!) rather than ‘self-talk’.
How does yoga, a form of physical exercise, introduce people to spirituality? Is there a method here that Christianity can use to direct people to Christ?
The evidence is anecdotal based upon seeing the effect on friends, but it seems to me that it is a common occurrence that yoga introduces people to spiritual practices, which are typically an eclectic blend of Oriental meditation and philosophy that might be termed new-age spirituality or perhaps Western esotericism.
People are attracted from a variety of different backgrounds. On the one hand, you have atheists who become believers in yoga spirituality; and on the other Christians who have now abandoned ‘organized’ religion and, effectively, replaced it with one of their own and with a membership of one - commonly referred to as ‘spiritual but not religious’..
What is attracting many is that the yoga studios harness a truth that many intuit naturally, that the human person is a unity of body and soul. They offer a blend of physical stretches and meditation that, they claim, will nourish both body and soul, so that people will have a happier life.
If one looks at how such studios advertise themselves and attends some yoga classes, there isn’t really any mystery as to how the studios do it. First, they tell us directly that they offer a program that is both spiritual and physical and that you will feel an improvement in your life if you buy what they are selling.
Here are some examples of how yoga studios describe what they do taken from their websites. I found these by googling for yoga studios in my home town, which has a population of just 30,000 people. It is worth noting that there are probably more yoga studios than there are Christian churches:
arq.yoga
Yoga Wellness: practices for optimal health: designed to inspire us to live our very best life in a way that is mindful, intentional and full of purpose.
GratitudeYoga.org
Gratitude Yoga’s mission is to foster compassionate community by infusing the practice of yoga and meditation with a spirit of loving kindness. We see our practice as an offering of love, out of gratitude for our many blessings.
YogaSoul.com
Each class starts with a Yin practice (floor-based poses held 3-5 minutes) that target joints and connective tissues, reduces stress, and improves the flow of energy. Extended holds combined with mindful breathing create deep physical and mental release. These are followed by a guided meditation—usually done in a supported reclined position—that nourishes the body, mind, and soul.
HonorYoga.com
Students come to Honor Yoga day in and day out, from beginners to seasoned Yogis. We are judgment-free yoga and meditation and encourage you to release expectations and embrace yourself, and the truth of who you are and how you show up for the world at this point in your life. We don't have mirrors in our studios on purpose (no comparisons, no competition, no judgements). Our wonderful teachers and class options function as a workout of the body and mind, and allow you to set intentions that work best for you. Come connect with your community, lean into mindfulness, and leave feeling restored.
Yoga studios rely on repeat custom to make their money. So if people did not feel that they were getting the benefits that are claimed from attending they would not come back.
There are some things that should be said about the type of physical exercise that yoga studios offer. It improves flexibility and so very obviously enhances all physical activity outside the studio. It is open to just about all ages and all levels of physical coordination. No one needs to be good as sport or develop a high level of skill to participate and feel these benefits. So there is an extremely low barrier to entry.
Further, while meditation session are usually offered separately from the physical programs, there is always at the very least a period of silence or reflection attached to the physical activity. Anyone who has done physical exercise is aware that the period of rest after exercise in one in which it is easy to sit peacefully at rest and reflect.
The yoga studios have latched on to a truth by making a simple and explicit connection between physical and spiritually directed activity. Yoga responds to people’s natural desire for a spiritual dimension by connecting the physical activity and the improved physical health, to a promise of spirituality, through the following:
As described, stating directly in its promotional literature that it is the case.
The physical benefits are felt immediately. When the body is releived of aches and pains, and is more flexible the individual feels more at ease and more inclined to sit and reflect peacefully. These are all good things, if the reflection or meditation is in accord with our human purpose.
The atmosphere in the studios and the way in which the yoga is performed supports the idea of their being a spiritual dimension. The decoration and even the tone of voice in which the instructions are delivered is suggestive of a peaceful, reflective approach to physical activity.
Integrating the instructions on how to adopt a physical pose with directions to adopt a specifically religious frame of mind. Embedded within them are subtle and ambiguous references to the self-oriented philosophy of yoga - we are implored to love ourselves and be good to ourselves, to connect with ourselves, with our personal power, and with our potential. At times we are implored to relax and surrender. Exhortations to be open to what the universal spirit is telling us’ originate in a desire to open our spirits up to and call in Hindu gods. These reflect the flawed yoga religion and are in effect incantations. The traditional view of Christianity is that these gods do exist, but are in fact malevolent spirits. There is a risk of possession by such spirits.
Creating a ‘spiritual’ environment that uses incense and promotes a peaceful frame of mind. Also the physical activity is presented in a way that is reminiscent of ritualized practice - even adopting prayer poses regularly through the routine. One might say that it presents mystique masquerading as mystery.
It succeeds, because Christianity is not feeding the desire of modern man for mystery. The sense of another world, the supernatural, that is true and good and beautiful. The local parish church should be the place that all would look first for this but it is not apparent to many. The sacraments are, traditionally, otherwise known as the ‘mysteries of the Faith’. Spiritual direction that deepens our participation in them after initial catechesis is called ‘mystagogy’. Typically, mystogogy is not available to any Catholics, and if it is, those outside the Church are not aware that such a wonderful gift, the product of revelation and centuries of tradition, is available to them.
There is another possible reason for which yoga attracts people and this is that it is presented as a short cut to the supernatural. In common with the whole new-age movement that is characterized by the phrase ‘spiritual but not religious’, it promises contemplation of the divine or something analogous to it at least, without the ‘burden’ of living out the full Christian life. There is no imposition of a moral authority, no rigorous demand that we love of neigbor to the point of self sacrifice if necessary, and no need to attend church on Sundays or participate in the sacraments. Many today, including many who identify themselves as Christian, possess a liberal mindset (this can apply to both the 19th and 20th century varieties) and assert their right to liberty. In practice what many of them think is an exercise in personal freedom, is in fact a claim of individual license. Their approach to life is that of a consumer who considers first, what’s in this for me? rather than, what can I give? As fallen people there is very likely an aspect of this in nearly all of us in the West today, to some degree. The yoga studio appeals to this desire for license in spiritual matters, by claiming to offer the rewards of a spiritual life, but without the drawback of having to love God or neighbor. They effectively offer the opportunity to establish a personal hotline to God. Those who measure spirituality and the quality of a religious experience simply by how they feel, yoga will appear to deliver this. From the Christian point of view this is the possession of malevolent spirits who are happy to give some pleasure to the person, in exchange for control and the assurity that they will not attain eternal life with God in heaven.
Part two will look at the anthropology and spirituality of yoga, and how Christianity can look at these, rejecting the bad and explaining the good in the light of the Faith.
