The Intersections of Yoga and Christianity

In our mission statement, we write that “We are an organization that studies the intersections of yoga philosophy and Christian theology—and the practices of both.” 

Intersections, plural. 

Why plural? Isn’t there just one intersection between yoga and Christianity?

When I first typed “Christianity and Yoga” into a search engine online, I was looking for something--anything--that other people were writing about these two concepts together. It was 2007, and there weren’t too many websites out there. I found one Christian Yoga studio on the other side of the country and corresponded with the owners. They helped me gain confidence that the two could go together. 

As I talked with them, however, I realized that my path of faith was a little different from theirs. This difference wasn’t surprising: there are many Christian denominations out there. We all walk different paths--they might be in the same meadow, but we certainly have different paths. 

The intersection of Christianity and Yoga is not just one crossroads within that meadow: it is many. Many intersections. 

I think it’s a little bit like the intersections of Pittsburgh, where I live, where the hills prevent the city from drawing any straight lines: 

Intersections of Pittsburgh by Barely Maps on Etsy

Like flowers and herbs in a great big meadow, there are so many varieties of Christians who practice yoga: Catholics, Charismatics, Presbyterians, Orthodox, Baptists, Post-Evangelicals, used-to-be-Christians. And none of us practice yoga in the same way–none of us merge the two in the same way. 

Some practice yoga at home, alone as prayer. 

Some practice yoga with worship music on, as more of a flowing dance of praise. 

Some practice yoga in silence, praying with each breath.

Some read or recite a verse while holding poses. 

Some practice yoga in nature, the creation of Christ.

Some incorporate a hymn of devotion, moving with the breath and the prayer (like Fr. Tom). 

Some do not mention God or Jesus at all during their yoga practice, believing that as they get still, they find the still small voice of Spirit within them. 

Some have found that practicing yoga leads them deeper into Christian scriptures, finding more of God’s ruach breath in the Bible. 

Some have found that practicing yoga leads them deeper into studying yoga in India, honoring its Hindu roots, that the practice of yoga leads them deeper into the appreciation of finding God in all places. 

All of us have found that practicing yoga leads to an experience of transformation with an incarnate God–a God who became a baby, a person on this planet who walks among us. 

In the same way that there are many varieties of Christianity, there are also many varieties of yoga. Think of that great big meadow again, all the different shapes of leaves and petals. Consider just the types of postural yoga you might find in a North American studio: 

• vinyasa flow

• Iyengar Yoga

• hot yoga

• Ashtanga yoga

• Kundalini yoga

• restorative yoga

• yin yoga

• yo-lates

Add to that the yogas mentioned in the sacred yogic texts:

• Raja Yoga

• Jñana Yoga

• Karma Yoga

• Bhakti Yoga

• Hatha Yoga

What happens when one variety of Christian begins to practice one variety of yoga? The possibilities of cross-pollination, bouquets, and fruitful encounters are endless.

I love learning about how each person finds God on their mat–whether yoga led them to Christianity or Christianity led them to yoga or however they found the two of these elements together. I have spent the past fifteen years listening to people share about how their practices of yoga and faith inform each other. And there’s no one way that Christians practice yoga. 

So that’s why I’ve come to see the intersections of yoga and Christianity like the intersections of Pittsburgh. A bit funky, a bit nontraditional, a bit messy, and oh-so-beautiful. 

And, lest you think Pittsburgh is the only city with funky, beautiful intersections–check out all the other cities that BarelyMaps has created! You can purchase a map here. (And, no, we do not receive financial kick-back from their sales: we just think their maps are super cool illustrations for what we’re talking about here!)

Feature image by @justjohnl via Unsplash