Vatican’s chief “exorcist” says yoga is the work of the “devil.” | Occupy The Vatican

Father Gabriel Amorth has carried out more than 70,000 exorcisms in his capacity as Chief Exorcist at the Vatican. The 85-year-old can boast 25 years in the post after being appointed by the late Pope John Paul II.

At a conference today, he surprised the delegates by revealing some of his greatest dislikes – yoga and Harry Potter.

Father Amorth, a colourful and often outspoken personality, said:’Practising yoga brings evil as does reading Harry Potter. They may both seem innocuous but they both deal with magic and that leads to evil.’

He added:’Yoga is the Devil’s work. You thing you are doing it for stretching your mind and body but it leads to Hinduism. All these oriental religions are based on the false belief of reincarnation.’

Father Amorth, speaking on the subject of People And Religion at a fringe event at the Umbria Film Festival in Terni, spoke of his distaste for JK Rowling’s young wizard.

Vatican’s chief “exorcist” says yoga is the work of the “devil.” | Occupy The Vatican

Fear the Dark Art of Yoga! Why Conservative Christians Are Freaking Out After Yoga “Miracle” | Alternet

When conformity is required, as it is in Christianity, what are the results? To begin with, the sacrifice of truth inevitably follows. One can be committed to conformity or one can be committed to truth, but not both. The pursuit of truth requires the unrestricted use of one’s mind—the moral freedom to question, to examine evidence, to consider opposing viewpoints, to criticize, to accept as true only that which can be demonstrated—regardless of whether one’s conclusions conform to a particular creed. 

ATHEISM: The Case Against God, 184-5

Whether it be The Golden Compass, Harry Potter, yoga, and yoga yet again, or any myriad of non-traditional belief systems, the evangelical or fundamentalist crowd will be up in arms.  Whether the sole purpose is entertainment- as in the movies above - or exercise, the fundies will take all the "fun" out of said pursuit; hell I have had individuals confront my use of mediation and Tai Chi.

In the evangelical or fundie mind they believe that Christ, through the trinity, created and holds the world together. “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-17). They reject the notion of the Tao or an invisible force called chi:  To the fundie mind, Tai Chi, even for physical purposes, is homage to a spiritual belief system at odds with God’s Word.

It is the same mind-set highlighted by Tarico:

When Mike took his first wobbly but unassisted steps, all involved were thrilled and thanked God for a miracle that to their minds was modeled on the ministry of Jesus. But not everyone in Mike and John’s Abundant Living Las Vegas congregation felt the same. When friends set up a GoFundMe page to help Mitch cover income lost during the time he was working with Mike, most parishioners refused to contribute. And when Abundant Living’s pastor blessed the therapy, members (and money) poured out of the church.

Many biblical literalists, and charismatic or Pentecostal Christians in particular, are deeply suspicious of yoga, which they see less as a healing or wellness practice and more as a seductive point of entry into the Hindu religion. Open, inquiring forms of Christianity may teach that “all truth is God’s truth,” or even that there are many paths to God, and even Evangelicals who take a narrower view of Christianity may see yoga as beneficial. But a more common posture among conservative biblical literalists is wariness and suspicion, or outright condemnation. One Christian website, Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry, quotes from Yoga Journal and then adds their own commentary:

“’Your body will most likely become much more flexible by doing yoga, and so will your mind [Yoga Journal].’ 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.”

This is the kind of fear-based Christianity that boycotted Harry Potter movies and seeks to keep fantasy books out of children’s libraries. That is because this worldview takes the idea of sorcery quite seriously. Human development consultant Marlene Winell who coined the term Religious Trauma Syndrome to describe the experience of many who have been wounded by authoritarian, fear-based forms of faith. Winell was raised by Pentecostal Assemblies of God missionaries, and lays out the Pentecostal worldview succinctly, along with psychological harms it can cause.

Fear the Dark Art of Yoga! Why Conservative Christians Are Freaking Out After Yoga “Miracle” | Alternet

When Buddhism Goes Bad: How a Yoga and Meditation Retreat Turned Cult-Like and Deadly | Alternet

When the public learned of 38-year-old Ian Thorson’s death in a cave in the Arizona desert three years ago, the details behind the tragedy were both jarring and ominously familiar. Thorson had belonged to a religious splinter group, headed by a charismatic leader, that had holed up in a remote, isolated enclave. There were rumors of sexual shenanigans, weapons and highly secretive practices. In that respect, it was an old story.

This wasn’t even the first time an insular, renegade sect had chosen that particular apocalyptic landscape for its refuge. In the early 1980s, the Cochise County Sheriff’s Department got into a shootout with a fringe Christian group living in a compound called Miracle Valley. Three people died.

What startled many about Thorson’s fate, however, was that this time the group was not Christian but (ostensibly at least) Tibetan Buddhist. The leader of the sect, a former diamond merchant named Michael Roach, continued to wear the robes of a monk despite growing objections from traditional Tibetan Buddhists, who were pretty sure he’d departed from accepted doctrine and broken some of his monastic vows, particularly the vow of chastity. Even so, the idea of a Buddhist retreat turned cult-like and deadly is a far cry from the popular American view of Buddhists as wise, modest and gentle souls who warn us against attachment to the fleeting things of this world

When Buddhism Goes Bad: How a Yoga and Meditation Retreat Turned Cult-Like and Deadly | Alternet

Christian Yoga

 I don't' think anything can top the  "WOW" factor  of Christian Domestic Discipline (S & M light) but the following is a close second.

Although the fundie response in regards to Yoga as exercise IMHO is a bit off the wall, at least it can be seen as biblically based (not that I agree with some interpretations, too many hoops to jump through).

The basic argument against Yoga goes something like this:

1] Definition of Yoga - a Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which, including breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is widely practiced for health and relaxation.

2]  The Sanskrit meaning of Yoga - the word “yoga” comes from the Sanskrit root ‘yuj’, which means “to yoke” the spirit and physical body together.  Various traditions of Yoga are found in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.  (It's the "yoking" part the fundies have issue with.)

3]  The so-called "red-flags - Yoga is not an exercise practice, but a religious one. (Did you know Hindus hate Jesus?).  And second, Yoga is designed to prepare the mind to have a spiritual experience.

4]  (Some) Scripture used to condemn Yoga - the idea of yoking oneself to pagan gods and concepts is forbidden. (Leviticus 19:31 Deuteronomy 18:9 Hebrews 10:26-31, Acts 4:12, and this biggie: Joshua 23:16.)  Our bodies created to be “a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God which is our spiritual act of worship” (Romans 12:1).  Jesus says, “I am the truth. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:16)  The list goes on, but you get the idea.

So given that brief synopsis (and there is much more to why fundies are against Yoga but beyond the scope here), how can this be justified?  The "this" refers to "Christian Yoga" and how Laurette Willis justifies her teachings and exemplifies one of the principle reasons I'm anti-religious, anti-Bible, an atheist.

 “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” 1 Corinthians 6:20.

Just like with divination, where I can find verses condemning, I can find just as many verses supporting.  It is called contradiction.

See also: 
Does doing yoga make you a Hindu?

Yoga classes vary. While some feature the chanting of Hindu sutras, others will make vaguer references to a "life force" or "cosmic energy". A session might end with a greeting of "namaste" and a gesture of prayer. There will probably be a moment for meditation, at which point participants may be encouraged to repeat the sacred word "Om", which Buddhists and Hindus regard as a primordial sound which brought the universe into being.

But other classes may make no overt reference to spirituality at all.

[,,,]
The reason many people in the West think yoga is non-religious, Broyles says, is that it falls into a theological blind-spot. "Whereas Protestant Christianity focuses on words and beliefs, ashtanga yoga's focus is practice and experience," he says. Religious intentions may not be there to begin with but practising yoga might lead them to develop.

To an extent, this point of view is endorsed by Hindus themselves. The Hindu American Foundation recently ran a campaign called "Take Back Yoga". Sheetal Shah, from the organisation, says someone raised in an "exclusivist" tradition like Islam or Christianity who becomes very interested in yoga may eventually experience some conflict with their religious beliefs.

So, for American Christians who don't like the idea of yoga, there are alternatives, including PraiseMoves.

This exercise regime combines Christian worship with stretching exercises. As the class adopts a posture, they recite a verse from the Bible. In this way, bhujangasana or the cobra pose becomes the vine posture, with a corresponding verse from John 15:5. "I am the vine and you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

For the record, I am not against Yoga. Though I do not participate in Yoga, I do meditate and I also use Ti Chi. While I do agree that Yoga is or can be a spiritual practice, I also believe one CAN sperate the movements, the exercise, away from the belief system it is "attached" to. I find this "debate" and angst toward Yoga to be very disheartening considering the health of our nation.

In the Marines, Fitness Is a State of Mind

 The practice of yoga has been in the news  quite a bit lately,both pro and con.  But could someone explain this diatribe,,,

In the military, it's out with God--and in with the goofy! Hello, I'm Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council in Washington. U.S. troops are learning how to use another weapon: their minds. As part some new training, Marines are being asked to join weekly yoga and meditation classes. Sergeant Nathan Hampton said the idea took some getting used to. "Why are we sitting around a classroom doing weird meditating stuff?" he wondered. Former Army Captain Elizabeth Stanley says it's to relieve stress. She's the one behind M-Fit, or Mind Fitness Training. She insists the New Age approach "creates a sense of calmness, reduces drug and alcohol use, increases productivity, and improves working relationships." What a coincidence--so does faith! Unfortunately, the military seems intent on driving religion out and replacing it with wacky substitutes. They've added atheist chaplains, Wiccan worship centers, and now, meditation classes. But none of them are effective or as constructive as a personal relationship with God. Unfortunately, though, it's mind over what matters--and that's faith.   [http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=PG12L01&itemType=CM#listing  Jan 8, 2013 In the Marines, Fitness Is a State of Mind]

For those that don't believe in your God, your faith may seem goofy and just as wacky,,,

In the Marines, Fitness Is a State of Mind


Now please note the CORRECT quote from Sergeant Nathan Hampton,,,

There also were weekly meditation classes — including one in which Sgt. Hampton and his squad mates were asked to sit motionless in a chair and focus on the point of contact between their feet and the floor.

“A lot of people thought it would be a waste of time,” he said. “Why are we sitting around a classroom doing their weird meditative stuff?

“But over time, I felt more relaxed. I slept better. Physically, I noticed that I wasn’t tense all the time. It helps you think more clearly and decisively in stressful situations. There was a benefit.”

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/dec/5/marines-expanding-use-of-meditation-training/?page=all

A very thorough article about the above program that Perkins thrashes.