Yoga

[MelanieM]

I believe that the Catholic Church forbids Catholics to participate in Yoga. Can someone please explain why?

[Stephen Spiteri]

The Church does not forbid Catholics from participating in the exercise of Yoga if it is being used to enhance one's physical health and well being, but to distance themselves from the mysticism/spiritualities of it. If the exercise is compounded with the Hindu spirituality (e.g. "focusing energy" or moving energy around your body) then it would not be appropriate for Catholics to use Yoga as part of their exercise routine.

[DavidObeid]

Steve is correct.

The exercises per se are fine, unless you are adopting the postures as a form of idolatry. (Some theories I have read claim that the postures are meant to form characters that spell the names of various pagan deities, I don't know how true this is, but if they do, and if that is the reason you get into those postures, then the action is sinful.)

Also, some of the doctrine that goes along with the techniques are obviously pagan in their origin and seem to dabble in the occult.

Other than that, breathing, stretching and relaxing are innocent. :)

[DavidObeid]

Here's a stronger argument against Catholics doing yoga:

http://patrickmadrid.blogspot.com/2010/07/why-is-yoga-incompatible-with.html