Arise

One of the things I am up to this Autumn is finding a way to bring yoga to friends and colleagues in Anabaptist community. We will see if we have a sustainable group of “yogis,” and I hope to incorporate conversation about the relationship of practices like yoga to our faith as Christians.

​On that theme, I want to share a collection links and resources for those who have earnest questions about the compatibility of Christianity and yoga. ​

Why are some people concerned about the compatibility between Christianity and yoga?

• “A Hindu View of ‘Christian’ Yoga” — it’s not just Christians who wonder about this question
• “The Truth about Yoga” featured the critique of Laurette Willis in Today’s Christian Woman
• “Is it Okay for Christians to Do Yoga?” a response to Mark Driscoll’s critique of yoga

Then there are some folks who have developed an explicitly Christian form of yoga:

• PraiseMoves
• Scripture Yoga

Others have taken an integrative approach:

• “Just Because I’m Christian Doesn’t Mean I Can’t Practice Yoga” by Jennifer Chisam

• Christians Practicing Yoga — a network of Christians practicing yoga to go to God the way God came to us, in and through the body (click here to read the group’s history by Fr. Tom Ryan, CSP)
• ​“Yes to Yoga: Can a Christian breathe air that has been offered to idols?” by Agnieszka Tennant
• “Learning to Love Our Bodies” by Suella Lehman Gerber

To close this post, I want to simply say that I’m looking forward to sharing my practice of yoga for spiritual, emotional, and physical health with others in a setting where we are also committed to practicing Christian faith. And if you’re ever at AMBS, I hope you will join us!