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- December 15, 2025
- By Brian Lettieri
Christian Yoga and Faith: Is Yoga Biblical?
In recent years, yoga has surged in popularity across the Western world. It’s hard to drive through a town without seeing a studio, or scroll through social media without seeing someone in a Tree Pose. As believers, we often find ourselves drawn to the physical health benefits – the strength, the flexibility, the stress relief, but simultaneously hesitant about the spiritual implications.
Thus, you might be asking, is yoga biblical, or is it a practice Christians should avoid? It is a fair and important question. We want to honor God with our lives, and we certainly don’t want to open doors to anything that contradicts our faith. However, when we look closely at Scripture and the nature of how God created us, we find a beautiful invitation to redeem movement for His glory.
The Roots vs. The Fruit: Understanding the Origins
It is true that yoga, in the form most popularized in the West recently, arrived via Eastern traditions. Because of this, some Christians worry that the practice is inherently tied to other religions.
However, history shows us that forms of prostration, kneeling, and rhythmic breathing have been practiced across many cultures for millennia as ways to focus the mind and humble the body. The key lies in understanding the difference between the form and the intent.
Just as musical scales can be used to write a secular song or a worship anthem, physical postures are neutral tools. What defines the spiritual weight of the action is the heart of the person performing it.
This is the foundation of what Christian yoga is – taking a physical modality and centering it entirely on Jesus. We are not worshipping the roots of a practice; we are worshipping the Creator of our bodies.
The Theology of the Body
The most compelling argument for the biblical nature of yoga is found in the very design of humanity. God created our bodies. He knit us together with muscles that stretch, lungs that expand, and a nervous system that calms down when we breathe deeply.
As Acts 17:28 reminds us: “For in him we live and move and have our being.”
We are commanded to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. When we care for our physical health, we are stewarding the temple of the Holy Spirit. Movement is not contrary to faith. It is a way to express it. When we pursue true mind, body, and spirit wellness, we are honoring the intricate design God placed within us, using our physical bodies to connect with spiritual truth.
The Meaning of “Yoga”
The word “yoga” itself simply means “to yoke” or “to bind.” In an agricultural context, a yoke was used to couple two oxen together so they could pull a load with greater strength. Jesus used this very imagery in Matthew 11:29-30 when He said:
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
In a Holy Yoga practice, we are intentionally choosing to yoke ourselves to Christ. We are binding our wandering hearts to His steadfast presence. Every time we step onto the mat, we are making a physical declaration that we are attached to Him, moving in His rhythm, and finding rest in His strength.
How Holy Yoga is Different
While the physical movements might look similar to a standard class, the atmosphere and focus of Holy Yoga are distinctly different. We do not empty our minds – we fill them! We do not look inward to find divinity in ourselves. We look upward to acknowledge the Divinity who saved us.
Instead of a generic mindfulness, we practice prayer yoga, filling our thoughts with the truth of Scripture. A forward fold becomes a posture of surrender to God’s will. An open-chest pose becomes a posture of receiving the Holy Spirit. The Bible is our primary guide, ensuring that our meditation is always rooted in truth.
Faith Over Fear
God looks at the heart. He knows who you are worshipping. If your heart is set on Jesus, your movement becomes an offering of praise. There is freedom in Christ to move, to breathe, and to be healthy. We invite you to approach the mat not with fear, but with the confidence that God meets you where you are, ready to redeem every part of your life for His glory.
If this is something that appeals to you, don’t hesitate to reach out. At Holy Yoga, we offer resources to help you on your path to spiritual and physical wellness, no matter if you are a beginner practitioner or expert instructor. Contact us today to learn how we can help on your journey.
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