However, yoga is not an organized belief system. It requires no particular faith and is open to everyone, regardless of religion or culture. In yoga, there are no requirements for believing in a God and there are no religious rituals, such as First Communion or the Bar Mitzvah. Yoga is not religion, but it is religious.
Iswarapranidhana, or surrender to God, is mentioned several times in the Yoga Sutra. Iswarapranidhana is a mandatory daily practice, as part of the Nyamas. It is a religious ritual, without which the name of yoga cannot be achieved. Ultimately, it depends on how you define religion for yourself.
Despite its religious nuances, yoga is not usually classified as a religion. It is seen more as a way of life, with its own set of beliefs and practices. For many people, yoga is simply a way to stay healthy and connect with their spirituality. Yoga therapists Smitha Mallaiah, MSc, C-IAYT and Tina Walter, C-IAYT, demonstrate the anjali mudra, which is often used at the beginning and end of a yoga practice.
For the most part, the Yoga Sutras have defined an ethical life path that encompasses respect for all. In the classical Astanga yoga system, the ultimate goal of yoga is to achieve samadhi and remain in that state as pure consciousness. Holy Yoga uses the practice of yoga to strengthen Christian spirituality and increase understanding of the Gospel. In addition to worrying that your warrior posture is correct, some people worry about whether or not they should do yoga.
The linear model holds that yoga has Vedic origins (as reflected in Vedic texts) and influenced Buddhism. Originally, yoga focused more on philosophy, ethics, meditation, sound and breathing than on posture and physical fitness. Many people who practice yoga believe in a type of universal energy or consciousness that connects all things. The Bhagavad Gita (Song of the Lord), which is part of the Mahabharata, contains extensive teachings on yoga.
Others, outside or within the Christian faith, have discovered that this reaction ignores the health benefits of yoga. Although the modern branches of yoga are no longer religious, yoga retains its roots in contemplation and reflection. Regardless of whether practitioners imbue these spiritual connections within their asana practice, it is for this reason that yoga has been stigmatized in certain communities. However, if you are using yoga as a way to achieve spiritual enlightenment or to get closer to God, then this may not be compatible with Catholic teachings.
Despite the frequent separation of spirituality from the practice of yoga, the roots of yoga are religious. The Patanjali Yoga Sutra, an ancient text that explains the application of yoga in real life, was heavily influenced by Buddhism. The conservative Theravada school developed new ideas about meditation and yoga in its later works, the most influential of which is the Visuddhimagga.
