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Is Yoga A Religion?
From chants in an ancient language to practitioners who sit in prayer-like silence, there is much about yoga that gives the impression of the religious. Despite these appearances, is yoga a religion?
In traditional Indian culture, it’s true that some aspects of yoga are used as religious tools. For example, someone who practices the Hindu faith might choose to meditate on a deity, much like a Jew or Christian might use prayer to create a dialogue with God. Additionally, some yoginis, or people who practice yoga, regard certain yoga texts with the same sacred reverence and regard that a Christian would show for the Bible.
However, for most people yoga is viewed as a philosophy or lifestyle. According to the American Yoga Association, there is evidence that the ancient Indian cultures began to incorporate yoga practices into their lives centuries before Hinduism became a religion. Over the eons, yoga’s physical and mental disciplines became a way to join the mind, body, and spirit in harmony.
The American Yoga Association states that yoga is not a religion because it doesn’t promote the worship of a deity. What’s more is that yoga practice does not endorse a creed or feature any religious organization or bureaucracy.
Most American yoga students seem to agree that yoga not a religion. According to one survey, a mere 15% of American practitioners used yoga as a religious practice. In contrast, the majority of yoga students use the discipline as a tool to create a balanced lifestyle.
The form of yoga practiced most frequently in the western world is Hatha yoga. This style, which has origins in the 15th century, strives to bring together the body and mind through physical postures, or asanas, and controlled breathing exercise, or pranayama. Hatha yoga also uses meditation as an effective way to relieve the stress that so many of us feel.
Many practitioners, regardless of whether they follow Christianity, Islam or another religion, engage in Hatha yoga without compromising their own beliefs. In many cases, yogic philosophy actually complements common religious teachings. Yoga, like many religious faiths, teaches the student to respect his or her body, show respect for others, and accept freedom from jealousy, resentment, and anger.
Despite these views, some still consider Hatha yoga to be a practice rooted in the Hindu religion. In 2008, parents and religious leaders stopped an American high school’s yoga program, which was implemented to help students relieve stress before exams. Opponents argued the classes promoted Hinduism and, as a result, had no place in an American public school. The classes resumed only after they were renamed 'relaxation' sessions.
During a typical yoga session, an instructor may lead students in a chant that uses one or more Sanskrit words, such as om. In traditional Hindu culture, this chant is supposed to imitate the sound of the universe being created. However, it’s common to view the mantra as a sound that helps focus and calm the mind. Yoga instructors may use other mantras as well. If you’re not sure what a particular word means, it’s okay to ask the instructor. You can also consult one of the many online yoga dictionaries.
If you object to a chant that has its origins in religious meaning, substitute a word you’re more comfortable with. For example, if you’d like to incorporate your own religious beliefs consider using the word 'God' or perhaps a phrase such as 'Come, Lord'. You might also remove any religious meaning from a meditative chant by changing it to a syllable like 'ahhhh' or a neutral term like 'calm'.
Hatha yoga is not a religion. Whether you worship every Sunday or don’t worship at all, you can rest assured that yoga will not interfere with your belief system. At the heart of yoga is the same belief that permeates the world’s great religions—that each person has the potential to transform into a more compassionate and more centered citizen of the world.
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