JULY 2013

St Michael’s Question and Answer Forums

St Thomas Aquinas Center for Apologetics, Oblates and Missioners of St. Michael

CATHOLIC Q&A HOME PAGE: http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/default.asp

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=383

July 16, 2007

I practiced kundalini yoga for over 20 years. At one time early on, a beautiful woman in a vision entered into me in the left side of abdomen, and then I saw a golden triangle come out of my forehead. I believed this to be the “goddess kundalini” and felt fortunate.

I have since gotten back with the church, been to confession, and renounced all new age practices. I confessed new age involvement in general, perhaps not this particular experience. My concern is that I may now still have this demon inside of me, and want to get rid of it. I’m concerned that this may fall into the category of a demon stronghold that needs fasting to get rid of. I haven’t had great discipline with fasting recently. Any advice? -Garry

I praise God that you came to your senses and renounced all that nonsense activity. I call it nonsense, but that is not meant to underestimate its danger. This stuff is highly dangerous as you found out.

The sin of your involvement has been forgiven and removed by the Sacrament of Confession, but the consequences of this activity may remain.

Living the good Catholic life such as frequent participation in the Sacraments, daily prayer and devotion, use of sacramentals (e.g., holy water), bible study, good works, etc. will often get rid of the consequences.

If you believe that more needs to be done to remove the consequences (e.g., the presence of this demon), then I suggest that first you avail yourself of the advice given in our Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance which is one of the pages linked on our HELP page linked below. Follow the advice of that document, and also use appropriate prayers found in our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog, linked below. Hedge Prayer of Protection and Rebuking Particular Spirits are two that come to mind that you should pray. Others may be applicable to you too.

If all the self-help strategies do not help, then you may want to contact us for a Personal Consultation.

We will be praying for you.

[Yoga]

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=443
EXTRACT

September 5, 2007

I am a fitness instructor. I do not touch yoga and am very careful as to what stretching movements I teach … because some of them are very similar to some yoga positions.

I have a friend who used to be in an eastern cult. He was a high priest and could contort his body into unfathomable positions. He claims he was addicted to yoga and becoming more and more narcissistic with each passing day. Not to mention the awful supernatural bondages he experienced. He is now delivered and works for a diocese on the West Coast and assists at exorcisms. He is writing a book about scripture and its references to the New Age.
Anyway, he told me these positions were created to give honor and glory to the gods and goddesses of the Hindus.

These “deities” appeared to the people and told them to get into these positions for the positions were sacred and would bring them closer to THE ONE – whoever that is. However, it sounds a bit like Genesis, does it not? When Satan told Adam and Eve they would be like gods if they ate from the tree.

It is important for everyone to be aware that even the fitness industry is saturated with new age practices. My friend told me that getting into one of those positions, even once, will demonize you to some degree. And then the demons will cause you to want more and achieve more in yoga, and you will become fixated on it and have an inordinate desire for it. So even if you have put your foot in the water so to speak, you still have a chance to recognize this practice is not of God and pray against it and any of its negative effects on you. -Raphaela

Thank you for the information about … yoga. -Bro. Ignatius Mary OMSM

How do I pray for priests promoting New Age errors?

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=452

September 14, 2007

Do you know of any powerful prayers for priests and religious who are caught up in and spreading New Age beliefs?

I just had a terrible experience at Mass that confirmed I am, indeed, being demonically harassed because of my past involvement in Reiki, and possibly other spiritual weaknesses.

A visiting priest from Indonesia delivered the homily and said laity in his growing parish were performing miracles and making great things happen… He had us all place our hands out in front of us, palms separated and facing each other, and asked us to feel the power flowing between our hands. I immediately felt powerful zaps of “electricity” and threw my hands down, because I knew it wasn’t from the Lord. Then he had everyone stand, place their hands together below their chins in an Eastern pose, bow to one another and say “Namaste“, which he explained means, “The god in me greets the god in you.” I recognized this as pantheism. (And, indeed, I googled “Namaste” when I got home and found it was linked with all sorts of Wiccan and New Age web sites.)

I stood there not knowing what to do, refusing to make the gesture, trying to nod back politely at those who seemed puzzled by my rudeness. I could somehow sense or hear mocking laughter and taunts saying “See, even your priests worship us!” I came home from Mass feeling very down and discouraged, which was probably what the demons wanted. And all this was after I sent our priest a letter voicing concern that our parish provides yoga classes. He returned my letter with a note explaining that no Eastern spirituality is being taught in the class. I just don’t think he “gets it”. -Carol

I wish I was the bishop of your diocese. I would be slapping some priests upside the head. The Indonesian Priest doing what you say he did is inexcusable. You were right not to participate.

As for a prayer for priests who are numskulls, er, I mean, who are into New Age garbage or other aberrations, try this one:

In the name of the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Trusting in the promise that whatever we ask the Father in Jesus’ name He will do, I now approach You Father with confidence in Our Lord’s words and in Your infinite power and love for me and for Your priest,     [priest’s name]    . I lift up     [priest’s name]     to you Lord. Father, help me to avoid judgmentalism, but to bring my concerns about the soul of     [priest’s name]     to You in love.

With the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, Blessed Archangel Michael, the guardian angel of      [priest’s name]    , and the patrons of Priests, Sts. Philomena and John Vianney, with all the saints and angels of heaven, and Holy in the power of the blessed Name of Jesus Christ, your Son, I ask you Father to send forth Your Spirit to convict     [priest’s name]     and to allow him to see any and all wrongs that he has done and how they offend Your infinite goodness.

Father I ask in sorrow, knowing that You do not intrude upon free will, but that You can give Divine Influence like you did with Hosea’s wife, that You send a hedge of thorns and wall around     [priest’s name]     so that he cannot find the paths that lead him away from You and his priestly obligations, that he shall seek holiness and refrain all else that is not holy in Your eyes, that he will teach and preach the Faith in purity and fidelity without compromise or contamination from rebellious, New Age, or other philosophies not pleasing to You.

Like that You did with Hosea’s wife, may     [priest’s name]    not find satisfaction or happiness until he returns to You and Your Church in the fullness of faith, holiness, and obedience.

I know we are all powerless against these spiritual forces and thus I recognize our utter dependence on You and Your power. Look with mercy upon me and upon     [priest’s name]    . Do not look upon our sins, O Lord; rather, look at the sufferings of your Beloved Son and see the Victim whose bitter passion and death has reconciled us to You.

By the victory of the cross, protect     [priest’s name]     from all evil and rebuke any evil spirits who are attacking or influencing him in any way. Send them back to Hell and place a wall of protection around this beloved priest of Yours. Send your Holy Angels to watch over him and to protect him.

Father, all of these things I ask in the most holy name of Jesus Christ, Your Son. Thank you, Father, for hearing my prayer. I love You, I worship You, I thank You and I trust in You.

In the name of the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Meditation and Yoga-like movements

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=463

October 2, 2007

I’d like to ask a follow-up question on one reply you posted:
“The Catholic Church has nearly 2000 years of experience in meditation and yoga-like movements that are totally consistent with the Church, yet we seem to think we must go outside of the Church to find these things.”
Can you explain what kind of “meditation and yoga-like movements” are totally consistent with the Church? –Joe

There are practices among the Eastern Catholic Monks and Eastern Orthodox monks that are similar to many of the Eastern Meditation techniques and body movements.

Nearly all of these practices are not to the average person but require a lifelong commitment under a Master. This is why it is nearly exclusive to the monastic and hermit communities.

At the moment, the only specific example I can recall are the Hesychasts.

The Hesychast monks and hermits are the ones that use the “Jesus Prayer” with a breathing discipline. On the inhale they pray, “Lord Jesus Christ, son of the living God” and on the exhale, “Have mercy on me a sinner.” Those who are accomplished in this prayer discipline are able to continue this inhale/exhale prayer even when at the same time they are talking with others. The older monks, it is reported, even do this inhale/exhale discipline in their sleep thus literally praying 24 hours per day.

There are also body postures that accompany this discipline but I am not sure what they are at the moment.

The bottom line is that whatever can be borrowed from the non-Christian East as been borrowed and thoroughly tested and Catholicized over centuries. There is no longer any excuse, and it is rather dangerous, to borrow much from the non-Christian East today.

[Yoga]

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=481

October 28, 2007

About 7 years ago I was roped into doing Yoga meditation by my bother who I looked up to and I genuinely did not understand that this was against the Catholic Church. Anyway, I had an awful reaction to the meditation and felt the Holy Spirit really warning me to stop! Which I did immediately and I was always very Catholic so I continued with my faith. Of course I began to have huge panic attacks and nightmares and awful thoughts!! I went to a good few Catholic healers and have improved!
Then this summer I foolishly watched a horror movie, which absolutely terrified me. I began to go downhill again and became really paranoid thinking I was in the movie?
I had to go to Spain on holidays and to calm myself down I tried being positive by saying the word Tranquility over and over. I listened to Catholic healing CD’s by an Irish man call Joe Dalton who is 100 per cent above board. Then on holiday all of sudden I began to see everything really clearly, and with great beauty, really in the present moment. I still have this (gift)??? but am worried because I do not understand how it happened and am scared that it is not from Jesus – How will I ever know. I cannot tell people and would really appreciate your comments!!

By the way when I did the Yoga thing I was told I had a Kundalini crisis – I do not ever want to go through that suffering again and I Love Jesus as my LORD and GOD. -Ellen

Thank you for your testimony about your experience with Yoga — yet another example of what can happen with practices like Yoga.

As to your panic attacks, nightmares, and awful thoughts when you renounced Yoga, that was probably a demonic attack. The demons didn’t like you renouncing Yoga.

As for your reaction to the movie, it is most likely that you are “psyching yourself out”. Then on the other hand it can happen that watching a movie like that can be a trigger to a negative spiritual episode. Watching horror or demonic movies can sometimes leave us open and vulnerable to attack.

Since you are sensitive to these issues it becomes very important for you to avoid any media with a horror or demonic theme. You can look at his sort of like that of a recovering alcoholic — a need to avoid alcohol altogether but also avoid places where alcohol is served. As for your “clarity” experience you can ask God if this is from Him. But we are to “test the spirits.” One clue to watch for is if your “clarity” leads you to ideas that are inconsistent with the Catholic Faith or Christianity in general. If your “clarity” were to do that, then it is not of God. But, if this “clarity” uplifts you to God, gives you a peace in Christ, and any insights found are fully consistent with the teachings of the Church, then it is most likely from God. That is one of the main ways to “test the spirits”.

Yoga

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=419

August 7, 2007

Are you able to tell me about Yogananda, who wrote “Autobiography of a Yogi,” with its claims of materializations, levitation, etc? What would Catholic teaching be on these? Just lies, or occult powers done by power other than that of God? –Bob

Yogananda was a Hindu yogi whose book, “Autobiography of a Yogi”, and other writings, helped to popularize Yoga to the Western World.

First a comment about Yoga in general:

There are several different kinds of Yoga and some are worse than others from a Catholic point-of-view.
But I cannot recommend getting involved in any kind of Yoga.
The postures, breathing, and exercise of Yoga is specifically designed to effect the body, mind, and soul according to a cosmology, ontology, worldview and philosophy that is contrary to the Christian worldview.
There is some debate as to whether one can practice Yoga without the effects of the philosophy that is behind Yoga. But how can we separate the Yoga from the philosophy that created and fuels Yoga and to which Yoga is purposed? Frankly, the prudent thing is to error on the side of caution I believe.

The Eastern Catholic monks of 1000 – 1500 years ago already looked into these Eastern methods of meditation, contemplation, and exercise and sifting from them all that is not consistent with Christianity. We have more than 1000 years of proven track record from the Eastern Catholic Monks testifying that what they did remains Catholic.
Given that, there is no need for Catholics to borrow today from the East. What “can” be borrowed from the East has already been borrowed and tested over 1000-1500 years of monasticism.
It is better and safer to stay close to the Church and avoid these non-Christian forms.
There is a document from the Church that speaks to this issue somewhat. It can be found at: Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on Some Aspects of Christian Meditation.
Also, in an interview with a former Yoga Master who converted to Christianity, the man said that it was not possible to do yoga without the underlying philosophical cosmology of Hinduism.

Now as to Yogananda himself, he writes in his book:

Yogananda goes on to say in Chapter 26:

Kriya Yoga is a simple, psycho-physiological method by which the human blood is de-carbonized and recharged with oxygen. The atoms of this extra oxygen are transmuted into life current to rejuvenate the brain and spinal centers. By stopping the accumulation of venous blood, the yogi is able to lessen or prevent the decay of tissues; the advanced yogi transmutes his cells into pure energy. Elijah, Jesus, Kabir and other prophets were past masters in the use of Kriya or a similar technique, by which they caused their bodies to dematerialize at will.

Kriya is an ancient science. Lahiri Mahasaya received it from his guru, Babaji, who rediscovered and clarified the technique after it had been lost in the Dark Ages.

“The Kriya Yoga which I am giving to the world through you in this nineteenth century,” Babaji told Lahiri Mahasaya, “is a revival of the same science which Krishna gave, millenniums ago, to Arjuna, and which was later known to Patanjali, and to Christ, St. John, St. Paul, and other disciples.”

In a word, this is hogwash. Yogananda’s own practice of this “prevention of decay” must not have worked very well. The man is deader than a doornail 🙂

It is true that the old yogis of India have demonstrated wondrous things. These “things”, however, are not miracles as suggested by many, but are one or more of the following:

1) Extraordinary control of body systems;

2) Tapping into preternatural abilities;

3) Tapping into demonic powers.

Being able to control the autonomic nervous system is a wondrous feat, but still a natural phenomenon.

In “some” instances, psychic-type abilities may be attributed to preternatural abilities.

But the mainstay of the truly miraculous-appearing feats, such as levitation and materializations (if genuine, and that is a BIG if), are not of God and therefore must be sourced in the demonic (albeit unbeknownst to the yogi himself), or hoaxes. 

Bottom line: Such feats as levitation and materializations, bi-locations, and the like are mostly tricks and lies. If, and I say “if” such feats are in any way real, they are not of God.

Meditation
[Yoga]

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=689

July 22, 2008

I have had visions of angels since I was 21. I have even heard a demonic voice in my ear once right before I had my most vivid angelic like vision where I communicated with angels or guide-type entities on a telepathic level, they came to protect me. I practice meditation and yoga. I induced a transcendental state for 6 days like the type Buddhists strive for. I think maybe I was being asked to be a spiritual warrior like you describe. The sense I had was that I had to be willing to go to hell myself to save everybody on earth with no guarantee that I would be saved. That was the compassion I had to feel for the people to be accepted, because everybody is good really in my mind and everybody suffers. I never heard of the term before, it just came to my mind, during my state of high awareness. I had extra-sensory ability to sense a negative spiritual presence, psychic abilities that I won’t mention also. I could literally feel the negative oppressive spiritual weight that can hypnotize people. I also had attacks by demons that filled my breath with sour smoke and burned my skin, the whole room would fill with red and I got abruptly sick and almost vomited, my heart racing, I would stay as long as I could to fight these forces off. I felt a swirling energy in my house, like a tornado, as I pray and meditate, I felt energy pulsating through my body, there was actually wind in my house, I didn’t know for sure if I could handle it completely, so I drove off, even in the middle of the night. After that I tried to come out of my meditative state. I stopped meditating, but now I’m in a bad state of mind with depression and I somehow feel like an evil person, rotten. Can you give advice? I’m not schizophrenic, bi-polar or anything like that; I’ve been checked out, I’m just hyper sensitive. -Peace

It sounds like you have been involved in ungodly things, such as meditation techniques the make you vulnerable to demons as well as yoga, which is spiritually dangerous.

You also describe a “transcendental” state. This is not of God.

The “bad state of mind” and depression that you feel now may be a direct result of demonic harassment due to your activities.

You need to immediately stop all this mediative, yoga, transcendental stuff and stop trying to communicate with angels. Doing that will get you in contact with something, but it won’t be with the Angels of God. Spirit-guides are demons, not angels.

In addition to stopping all this, you need to renounce involvement and seek confession of the sins of participating in these ungodly activities.

Then you need to begin to live the good Christian life and never again return to any of the activities you describe.

I would recommend the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance in the HELP section of our site linked below.

Only cleansing yourself of all these unChristian activities, renouncing them, seeking forgiveness, and taking back the ground that Satan as stolen from you as a result, and living a good Christian life can you be free of demonic harassment that may be causing your current depression and self-loathing.

[Yoga] T’ai Ch’i

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=496
EXTRACT

November 16, 2007

Is there any harm in this practise of Tai Chi? I was wondering if this is similar to Yoga which is specifically mentioned in “Jesus Christ-the water bearer” Document

Incidentally are Yoga and Tai Chi considered dangerous in the sense that participants invite other forces that may not be of God? –Aggie

[…] As to Tai Ch’i specifically, I think it is very difficult to practice it without the effects of the Oriental cosmology. It is meditative in nature and the movements and practice is specifically designed to interact with the alleged Ch’i.

Yoga is similar and cannot be practiced by Christians. The postures, breathing, and exercise of Yoga are specifically designed to affect the body, mind, and soul according to a cosmology, ontology, worldview and philosophy that is contrary to the Christian worldview.
There is some debate as to whether one can practice Yoga without the effects of the philosophy that is behind Yoga. But how can we separate the Yoga from the philosophy that created and fuels Yoga and to which Yoga is purposed? The same goes with Tai Ch’i. Frankly, the prudent thing is to error on the side of caution I believe.
The Eastern Catholic Monks of 1000 – 1500 years ago already looked into these Eastern methods of meditation, contemplation, and exercise and sifting from them all that is not consistent with Christianity. We have more than 1000 years of proven track record from the Eastern Catholic Monks testifying that what they did remains Catholic.
Given that, there is no need for Catholics to borrow today from the East. What “can” be borrowed from the East has already been borrowed and tested over 1000-1500 years of monasticism.
It is better and safer to stay close to the Church and avoid these non-Christian forms.
There is a document from the Church that speaks to this issue somewhat. It can be found at: Some Aspects of Christian Meditation. Also read, A Christian Reflection on the New Age
Also, in an interview with a former Yoga Master who converted to Christianity, the man said that it was not possible to do yoga without the underlying philosophical cosmology of Hinduism.

Now as to Yogananda himself, he writes in his book:

Yogananda goes on to say in Chapter 26:

Kriya Yoga is a simple, psycho-physiological method by which the human blood is de-carbonized and recharged with oxygen. The atoms of this extra oxygen are transmuted into life current to rejuvenate the brain and spinal centers. By stopping the accumulation of venous blood, the yogi is able to lessen or prevent the decay of tissues; the advanced yogi transmutes his cells into pure energy. Elijah, Jesus, Kabir and other prophets were past masters in the use of Kriya or a similar technique, by which they caused their bodies to dematerialize at will.

Kriya is an ancient science. Lahiri Mahasaya received it from his guru, Babaji, who rediscovered and clarified the technique after it had been lost in the Dark Ages.

“The Kriya Yoga which I am giving to the world through you in this nineteenth century,” Babaji told Lahiri Mahasaya, “is a revival of the same science which Krishna gave, millenniums ago, to Arjuna, and which was later known to Patanjali, and to Christ, St. John, St. Paul, and other disciples.”

In a word, this is hogwash. Yogananda’s own practice of this “prevention of decay” must not have worked very well. The man is deader than a doornail 🙂

It is true that the old yogis of India have demonstrated wondrous things. These “things”, however, are not miracles as suggested by many, but are one or more of the following:

1) Extraordinary control of body systems;

2) Tapping into preternatural abilities;

3) Tapping into demonic powers.

Being able to control the autonomic nervous system is a wondrous feat, but still a natural phenomenon.

In “some” instances, psychic-type abilities may be attributed to preternatural abilities.

But the mainstay of the truly miraculous-appearing feats, such as levitation and materializations (if genuine, and that is a BIG if), are not of God and therefore must be sourced in the demonic (albeit unbeknownst to the yogi himself), or hoaxes. 

Such feats as levitation and materializations, bi-locations, and the like are mostly tricks and lies. If, and I say “if” such feats are in any way real, they are not of God.

Bottom line: There is no need to gravitate to potentially dangerous Eastern techniques. The Catholic monks have already looked into it 1000-1500 and came away with that which is consistent with Catholicism. What the monks did has been vetted for millennia and thus can be trusted. My advice is to remain close to the Church and avoid Eastern techniques.

Tarot cards and yoga

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=919
EXTRACT

February 26, 2009

I had a deck of tarot cards about ten years ago and I was shuffling around and gave them to my mother to do a reading for me. She is completely ignorant of the tarot deck and simply went along with it in a half-hearted way. Do you think she was negatively affected by this or committed any sins?
Finally, my sister started doing yoga and I told her to stop, but she does it anyway. Since she started, she doesn’t go to church every Sunday anymore and sometimes walks out early after receiving communion. I feel like my involvement with the occult has dragged my whole family down and now nobody cares. I don’t even think my brother ever goes to church anymore at all. –Katie

Tarot Cards are a device for divination and are gravely sinful to use. Is it possible that your mother was harmed even though she did not know what she was doing? It is possible but not a given.

As for the yoga, perhaps your sister ought to consider the following:

The problem is that according to yoga masters and former yoga masters who have converted to Christianity have stated that it is impossible to remove the Hinduism from yoga even if you so not practice any Hindu spirituality in doing it.

The very movements and postures themselves are designed to create states of consciousness that a Catholic should not be messing with. Since these postures are inherently tied to the Hindu spirituality we take a risk in practicing them.

Especially since using yoga postures are utterly unnecessary and other exercises can do what it needed, why take the risk?

Here is a warning from none other than Carl Jung, whose psychology was intertwined with the occult:

“One often hears and reads about the dangers of Yoga, particularly of the ill-reputed Kundalini Yoga. The deliberately induced psychotic state, which in certain unstable individuals might easily lead to a real psychosis, is a danger that needs to be taken very seriously indeed. These things really are dangerous and ought not to be meddled with in our typically Western way. It is a meddling with Fate, which strikes at the very roots of human existence and can let loose a flood of sufferings of which no sane person ever dreamed. These sufferings correspond to the hellish torments of the chönyid state…” -C. G. Jung, Introduction to The Tibetan book of the Dead

I have had a couple of deliverance clients who have been harmed by the “Kundalini Awakening”.
I think anyone interested in Yoga ought to read an article by Subhas R. Tiwari, a professor at the Hindu University of America. He is a graduate of the famed Bihar Yoga Bharati University with a master’s degree in yoga philosophy.
The article is Yoga Renamed Is Still Hindu
Also of interest are the words in an Open Letter to Evangelicals about Hindu evangelization:

Hindus everywhere are becoming stronger and more assertive: … 2) The West is clearly open to the Hindu message, ready to hear about yoga, meditation, mysticism, healing and the ancient ways. Such “products” were too sophisticated for public consumption 30 years ago, but today they’re the hottest item on the shelf. Not a small part of this phenomenon is related, indirectly, to the coming of age of the New Age movement…

Consider these words a warning:

A small army of yoga missionaries – hatha, raja, siddha and kundalini – beautifully trained in the last 10 years, is about to set upon the western world. They may not call themselves Hindu, but Hindus know where yoga came from and where it goes.

This letter was written in 1991. Since then the “missionaries” have already set upon us and in large part have converted many, even those in the Church.

The Hindu writer made a factual error, however, is saying the Vatican permitted the practice of yoga. He misinterpreted the document. A Christian reflection on the “New Age”  mentions yoga negatively as a list of practices inconsistent with Christianity.

As for you being responsible, that responsibility only extends to whatever you may have done to influence others badly. What those people do now is their responsibility. They have free will.

[Yoga] Kick boxing

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=939

March 16, 2009

I used to exercise to a popular kick-boxing DVD which helped me lose weight and get into shape. But one thing I did not like about it was that during the warm-ups and cool-downs the instructor talked about making a ball out of the air surrounding your mid-section, that is, making a ball out of energy centered over one’s gut. The instructor would ask us to move this ball, as if it had real substance, from left to right and so on. There were other types of stretching, breathing, and insight that this instructor “preached” that sounded spiritual in nature. Do you know if the energy ball exercise is derived from yoga?
As a teenager, many years ago, I lost 50 pounds one summer by doing yoga and by controlling what I ate. I honestly believe that through this yoga a demonic influence was introduced into my
life. I had learned yoga from a TV show and there was one instance where I was “displaced”, while being instructed. What I mean is, in what I thought was just a few seconds, 10 minutes had passed and I was physically in a different position on the floor from where I started. It was if I had not moved, but the room moved.
From that time on until my late twenties I had to battle demons who held me down in my bed, uttered curses, and caused dissention between me and my wife to be. I also became interested in occultic matters; not that I wanted to delve into those religions, but I wanted to know about them, which as you have stated before, can be very dangerous. For this reason, I believe, a demon showed itself to me once–the scariest moment in my life.

Luckily these attacks ended when I returned to attending mass regularly and got rid of occultic books, and that was almost 20 years ago.
So I wanted to know if I exercise to this kick-boxing DVD again, can I ignore the energy-ball part, or do you think this is harmless? Or should I just find another exercise program? I don’t want to see a demon again! –Ron

I am glad to hear that you abandoned yoga and the like. The fact that the attacks went away when you got rid of the materials and began attending Mass regularly. The Eucharist and the Sacrament of Confession are powerful in deliverance.

The “energy-ball” exercise in your kick boxing DVD is not harmless. Any idea of manipulating “energies” is something we need to avoid like the plague. There is nothing wrong with kick boxing itself, but it must be done without the “energies” nonsense to avoid opening doors that you do not want opened.

[Yoga injury] How to know if suffering is redemptive

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=980

May 19, 2009

I am 34 years old and suffer pain daily from a yoga injury. My yoga “hip opener” turned to totally screw up my hip, with time my other hip and now my lower back. My hips are off kilter and constantly pop as if we pop our knuckes. Its horrible. The doctors say there is nothing to do. It’s now turned to Osteoarthritis.
Well, I definitely stay away from Yoga. But I so much suffer daily. Could God have allowed this to teach me an expensive lesson? (I was very much caught up in Eastern practices) or, is it my own stupidity? I am in so much pain daily.

What is the best way to deal with this? -Ramona

Well, indulging in Eastern practice such as yoga, which a Catholic should never do, has its own consequences without God personally zapping you. God allows us to suffer the consequences of our own stupidities.

Now that you are experiencing this chronic pain, regardless of how it happened, you have a wonderful opportunity to join your suffering with Christ’s. It is such a privilege to suffer and to give that suffering to Christ and share in His suffering.

We can know that suffering is redemptive because Christ was the example. It was His suffering a horrible torture beyond imagination, and his suffering and death on the Cross that redeemed mankind. The redemption gives us the opportunity to spend eternity with Him in heaven. What a blessing that suffering was; what a great love it was to suffer for us.

How can we not join our petty sufferings with our Lord’s who suffered so much?

We can know that suffering is redemptive because the Church teaching it so:

1521 Union with the passion of Christ. By the grace of this sacrament the sick person receives the strength and the gift of uniting himself more closely to Christ’s Passion: in a certain way he is consecrated to bear fruit by configuration to the Savior’s redemptive Passion. Suffering, a consequence of original sin, acquires a new meaning; it becomes a participation in the saving work of Jesus.

618 The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the “one mediator between God and men”. But because in his incarnate divine person he has in some way united himself to every man, “the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery” is offered to all men. He calls his disciples to “take up [their] cross and follow [him]”, for “Christ also suffered for [us], leaving [us] an example so that [we] should follow in his steps.” In fact Jesus desires to associate with his redeeming sacrifice those who were to be its first beneficiaries. This is achieved supremely in the case of his mother, who was associated more intimately than any other person in the mystery of his redemptive suffering.

1502 The man of the Old Testament lives his sickness in the presence of God. It is before God that he laments his illness, and it is of God, Master of life and death, that he implores healing. Illness becomes a way to conversion; God’s forgiveness initiates the healing. It is the experience of Israel that illness is mysteriously linked to sin and evil, and that faithfulness to God according to his law restores life: “For I am the Lord, your healer.” The prophet intuits that suffering can also have a redemptive meaning for the sins of others. Finally Isaiah announces that God will usher in a time for Zion when he will pardon every offense and heal every illness.

1505 Moved by so much suffering Christ not only allows himself to be touched by the sick, but he makes their miseries his own: “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.” But he did not heal all the sick. His healings were signs of the coming of the Kingdom of God. They announced a more radical healing: the victory over sin and death through his Passover. On the cross Christ took upon himself the whole weight of evil and took away the “sin of the world,” of which illness is only a consequence. By his passion and death on the cross Christ has given a new meaning to suffering: it can henceforth configure us to him and unite us with his redemptive Passion.

Also check out the article, Redemptive Suffering, by Father Hardon, a man who knew and lived redemptive suffering. In the last couple weeks before his death from cancer, when pain medication no longer worked, Father Hardon was overheard praying, “Lord, give me more pain.” Now there was a man who understood redemptive suffering.

Also check out the book, Making Sense out of Suffering, by Peter Kreeft.

And, Arise from Darkness: What to Do When Life Doesn’t Make Sense, by Father Benedict J. Groeschel

Yoga posture or legitimate stretch?

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=1124

December 19, 2009

I am trying to find some reliable guidance on what distinguishes a yoga posture from a legitimate stretch (as part of a warm-up or cool-down after exercising).

Over the years, I have participated in cross-country running, basketball, ballet, tap dance, choreography, and fencing. I also have had the misfortunate to take some yoga classes, which I ceased after experiencing a frightening spiritual experience and subsequently learning how dangerous that practice is.

Some yoga postures are clearly specific to yoga, and I know to avoid them. Unfortunately, many warm-up/cool-down stretches that I already knew from sports and dance programs seem almost identical to what was being done in my yoga class. Because that particular yoga class was supposedly to “stretch and strengthen”, I don’t know whether the teacher had incorporated “regular” stretching and physical therapy moves into the yoga class, or whether everything technically was a yoga posture. (At one point, the teacher mentioned that a lot of modern physical therapy has incorporated yoga moves because of their success in stretching and strengthening various parts of the body, particularly the lower back.) So how am I supposed to tell what is yoga and what isn’t?
In the limited research that I have done, it seems that every possible body position could conceivably be labeled yoga. For example, bending over to touch your toes with your legs straight can be called “Uttanasana” (standing forward bend), while sitting down and leaning forward to touch your toes can be called “Paschimottanasana” (seated forward bend). Both of these are extremely common ways to stretch one’s legs before and after exercise, and are commonly used in dance, gymnastics, athletics, etc. to stretch the hamstrings. So is one inadvertently doing yoga when one stretches this way, or there something else that makes common stretches such as these become yoga postures? Is it doing specific breathing exercises or meditations?
Because I am now afraid of inadvertently doing yoga, I have been avoiding all exercise and stretching. I would very much appreciate any guidance on how to distinguish between something that is a legitimate warm-up or cool-down stretch vs. a yoga posture. This yoga teacher even told me that some stretches that I thought I had “made up” years ago to get relief from chronic back pain were actually yoga poses!
I don’t know what to do when even lying down on one’s back with one’s eyes closed (as one might do before going to sleep) can be considered a yoga pose! It can’t be that ALL forms of movement and stretching are now forbidden.
Thank you for any help you can provide. –Jane

If you stick to traditional stretching exercises you will be okay. Basically, any exercise book or guide that was published before the yoga fad will contain long traditional exercises not contaminated by yoga. Usually books or guides that incorporate or borrow from yoga will say so. Nevertheless, staying with the long traditional exercises will be okay.

Remember, because some yoga instructors use some traditional stretching exercises does not invalidate those traditional exercises. It is the postures specific to yoga that represent a danger.

Since I cannot touch my toes, I guess I do not have to worry about that one.

Spouse’s problematic books and music

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=1140
EXTRACT

January 13, 2010

How should one deal with objectionable books and music that belong to one’s spouse?
I am a practicing Catholic, my husband is not… There is no way I can unilaterally throw this stuff out without starting World War III, nor do I think I have the “right” to do so since it does not belong to me. I am praying for my husband’s conversion and have been saying the “Spiritual Hedge” prayers as well. Is there anything else I can or should do?
I am desperate to get rid of this stuff because I experienced a demonic manifestation in the house a few weeks ago that scared me to death. I was asleep, and my dream turned into a nightmare. I prayed to my guardian angel (in my sleep) and almost immediately afterward I felt an overwhelming presence of evil. I was terrified and desperately prayed something to the effect of: In the name of Jesus Christ, begone! I felt a wave of heat go through me and heard a roaring in my ears, and when I opened my eyes, there was something hideous in my room–a blue, glowing, twisted face.
I have gone to confession, given up yoga (which I belatedly realized might be part of the problem). I have also been blessing my children with holy water and holy oil at night because they have been afraid to sleep in their rooms. If you have any other advice, I would very much appreciate it. -Georgia

Kundalini crisis

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=1154

January 27, 2010

Is a “kundalini crisis” or “kundalini awakening” the same thing as a demonic attack? Or related to one in some way? -Jack

The so-called “kundalini awakening” is very dangerous psychologically and spiritually. It, in essence, opens a door whereby demons can enter. We have had clients whose demonization began with the “kundalini awakening”.

For the sake of our readers, here is some detail on Yoga and Kundalini:

According to Yogi Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati, “All Yoga is Kundalini Yoga: While some people use a specific terminology “Kundalini Yoga” for certain practices, all of Yoga actually leads to the activation of Kundalini. Thus, in a sense, all of Yoga is Kundalini Yoga, regardless of whether you use that specific name.”

Kundalini (Sanskrit for “coiled”) is the ridiculous notion that at the base of the spine is coiled an unconscious, instinctive, libidinal force. This force is called Shakti, thought to be a goddess or a sleeping snake.

Yoga and Tantra are specifically designed to awaken this snake, this energy by preparing the body and spirit with the Yoga exercises, chants, etc.

I find it interesting that this “energy” is envisioned as a snake — the symbol of Satan.

There is no such thing as practicing Yoga without the connection to these demonological aspects. Thus, Christian should never practice Yoga, Those who do put themselves at risk.

The problem is that according to yoga masters, and former yoga masters who have converted to Christianity, it is impossible to remove the Hinduism from yoga even if one does not practice any overt Hindu spirituality in doing it.

The very movements and postures themselves are designed to create states of consciousness that a Catholic should not be messing with. Since these postures are inherently tied to the Hindu spirituality we take a risk in practicing them — specifically to awaken the snake, the kundalini.

Especially since using yoga postures are utterly unnecessary and other exercises can do what it needed, why take the risk?

Here is a warning from none other than Carl Jung, whose psychology was intertwined with the occult:

“One often hears and reads about the dangers of Yoga, particularly of the ill-reputed Kundalini Yoga. The deliberately induced psychotic state, which in certain unstable individuals might easily lead to a real psychosis, is a danger that needs to be taken very seriously indeed. These things really are dangerous and ought not to be meddled with in our typically Western way. It is a meddling with Fate, which strikes at the very roots of human existence and can let loose a flood of sufferings of which no sane person ever dreamed. These sufferings correspond to the hellish torments of the chönyid state…”
–C. G. Jung, Introduction to The Tibetan book of the Dead

I think anyone interested in Yoga ought to read an article by Subhas R. Tiwari, a professor at the Hindu University of America. He is a graduate of the famed Bihar Yoga Bharati University with a master’s degree in yoga philosophy.
The article is Yoga Renamed Is Still Hindu
Also of interest are the words in an Open Letter to Evangelicals about Hindu evangelization:

Hindus everywhere are becoming stronger and more assertive: … 2) The West is clearly open to the Hindu message, ready to hear about yoga, meditation, mysticism, healing and the ancient ways. Such “products” were too sophisticated for public consumption 30 years ago, but today they’re the hottest item on the shelf. Not a small part of this phenomenon is related, indirectly, to the coming of age of the New Age movement…

Consider these words a warning:

A small army of yoga missionaries – hatha, raja, siddha and kundalini – beautifully trained in the last 10 years, is about to set upon the western world. They may not call themselves Hindu, but Hindus know where yoga came from and where it goes.

This letter was written in 1991. Since then the “missionaries” have already set upon us and in large part have converted many, even those in the Church.

The Hindu writer made a factual error, however, in saying the Vatican permitted the practice of yoga. He misinterpreted the document. A Christian reflection on the “New Age”  mentions yoga negatively as a list of practices inconsistent with Christianity.

Some of the Church documents that do give us the principles to make a prudent decision include:

Christian Reflection on the New Age

On Some Aspects of Christian Meditation

Some good insights from a former new ager: The Cross and the Veil

Also here is an article by the great Father Hardon, may he rest in peace: Why Yoga is incompatible with Catholicism

Why?

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=1381

January 18, 2011

Why is it that you seem to be the ONLY one in the Catholic Church who speaks out against the NEW AGE? I have tried to say things to people about Yoga after first hand knowledge of the harmful effects but everyone just thinks you are a fanatic. If priests in general spoke on a Sunday off the Altar about the dangers of the New Age it would really influence people but absolutely NO priest does or Friar.

Why doesn’t the POPE give them an Order to speak out against all these things and I reckon there would be a real change. Actually I might write to the Pope about it. -Rachael

Thanks for the compliment, but I am not the lone voice in the wilderness, though sometimes it seems like it.

The Pope and his Curia, and some bishops, have given out warnings about the New Age. It is ultimately up to the bishops to see to it that the priests understand the issues and to preach on it. But, the Church is not a military dictatorship. It does not hold a gun to the heads of bishops or priests to force them to do what is right.

The Pope, some bishops, and many laity have done everything they can do. For example, the following documents have been published:

Confronting the Devil’s Power, Pope Paul VI, General Audience, November 15, 1972

On Some Aspects of Christian Meditation, Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, October 15, 1989

Jesus Christ, the Bearer of the Water of Life: A Christian Reflection on the “New Age”, Pontifical Council for Culture / Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue

Guidelines for Evaluating Reiki as an Alternative Therapy, Committee on Doctrine, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Instruction on Prayers for Healing, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, September 14, 2000

We, the faithful, have a responsibility to know our faith even if our priests do not teach it to us. While this may have been difficult in the past, there is really no excuse to the contemporary laity living in countries like the United States where computers and the Internet is in most homes. 

We have the Catechism of the Catholic Church available in any Catholic bookstore, plus books on many Church documents. On the Internet virtually every document the Church produces may be located.

Then, while one must be careful as there are many websites that are non in communion with the Pope, there are sites, like ours, that will give you the 100% accurate scoop on any issue to the best of our ability.

To help in fighting this battle we are forming a confraternity called the Legionnaires of St. Michael. This will be a military-style confraternity using the motif of the ranks of Knighthood, similar to the many Papal Orders of Knighthood that exist today. You can get a sneak peak of this new confraternity and its mission by clicking here. More will be added to that page as it becomes ready. We just finished today the page that describes the Knighthood ranks.

Keep up the good fight.

Use of body movements in prayer -I

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=1226

May 25, 2011

This is in regard to use of body movements as part of spiritual warfare, praise prayer; would like to get your discerned opinion on same, on using such movements like a gentle tap with feet, while asking our Lord to let the power of The Spirit to flow in like at Resurrection and praising Him with little hallels at the same time; same format during exercise time too or a little bending and raising at the knee, while standing and so on. It seems benign, yet may be bringing a little more involvement. With schools out, good way for the youngsters to be involved in warfare prayers too. Wondered if this could even help those who are struggling from effects of misuse of bodies or even in such areas like natural family planning!–Philo

The danger of something like the tapping of feet during prayer is to begin to think that means something, that it effects us in some way. It doesn’t. The danger here is superstition. The Holy Spirit does not need taps of our feet to flow into our life.

A hallel is Jewish custom whereby Psalms 113 to 118 is sung as an expression of joy and thanksgiving every morning of Hanukkah, at the Passover service, and at the morning service of most major Jewish holidays. There is certainly nothing wrong with this, although there are similar traditions within Catholicism.

I am not sure what you are referring to with the “little bending and raising at the knee” – a half genuflection?. It reminds me of the Jewish custom of little repeated bows during prayer, but that is bending at the waist.

The overall problem is that it seems you are trying to assign some significance to these postures. Also the types of physical postures you describe lends itself to obsessive-compulsive issues.

The primary way to involve ourselves physically in our prayers it to clasp our hands in a gesture of prayer, and to stand, sit, and kneel at certain prayers (such in the Liturgy of the Hours and at Mass). Kneeling, bowing, and bowed head and clasped hands are the primary gestures of bodily involvement in prayer. These gestures are postures of humility, worship, and adoration.

Because of the danger of superstition and/or obsessive-compulsive issues I could not recommend what you are suggesting.

Use of body movements in prayer -II

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=1457

July 9, 2011

Thank you for your helpful answer to a previous question on 5/25/10.
Recently, sitting at a day long retreat, I realised how body movements are a help – such as pulling in the stomach muscles, exerting pressure with the heel on the floor, small rotating movements of the shoulder blades, clasping of hands etc, as good isometric exercises; offering them up as means for the Holy Spirit to take dominion in related areas – such as the movements of abdominal muscles for power of the Spirit over various appetites, of the heel against the enemy, in union with that of blessed Mother, shoulder blades for The Spirit to be set free, clasping movements for power of the Crucified One into many hands and so on, on behalf of all those who are at the retreat and many others too, since when handed over to our Lord through our Bl. Mother it can be helpful for!
Bending at the knee like in a semi-sitting manner, standing up again, in repeated movements is also considered as an excellent exercise and when done with the intention of doing so, on behalf of all those who need to bend their knee, in adoration to our Lord, that also seems to make same more worthwhile/anointed.
One concern though has been after having noted how in Church exorcism prayers the enemy is addressed with respect, as ‘thou’ and may be that is understandable, considering how they are fallen angels and a God of love still has love and respect for them. Thus, would it be considered as inappropriate to do any thing (such as the heel movements) that would be disrespectful, even if it is against the enemy! Now, true, such movements can be done as just exercise; just that, doing same with a higher intent seems more helpful. –Philo

As I mentioned on my previous answer
[see above] on this, the body movements you suggest have no significance and no purpose in prayer, and especially on spiritual warfare prayer.

If you are exercising, prayer can be part of the exercise. The saints teach us that all actions can be made a prayer, even the simple act of picking up a pencil from the floor can be a prayer. 

But, these gestures are not helpful in terms of making the prayer more powerful and they have no meaning or significance in-and-of-themselves. The heel movement you mention is not an exercise that I am aware and thus it is meaningless. To think that this movement has any meaning is superstitious thinking, or obsessive-compulsive at best. You need to stop this type of thinking.

As for using this heel movement “against the enemy”, a demon would only laugh at you. I am not kidding. Physical movements have no effect on demons at all.

Also, please do not presume things about the exorcism prayers. You are not qualified. The “thou” language is merely an outdated word for “you.” It has no meaning beyond that.

We do not respect demons other than to respect them in the the same way we respect a rattlesnake. We respect the fact that a rattlesnake is dangerous and can strike faster than we can move out of its way. With that understood we then go about to kill the snake.

Are these stretches acceptable alternatives to yoga?

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=1532

December 4, 2011

I have some recurring back problems that were, in the past, alleviated by regularly doing a series of yoga stretches. I understand now that the stretches themselves are part of eastern mysticism, so I do not want to do them at all any more. (My back hurts as I am typing this.) I found an alternative regimen on the Mayo Clinic website, but some of the stretches are very similar to the yoga I used to do. How do I know if they are okay? -Christine

Unfortunately, we must be very careful even with major hospitals and clinics like the Mayo Clinic. For some unexplainable reason the medical profession is now promoting unscientific treatments, some of which are New Age and occultic. It is amazing that a profession that prided itself as scientific is so willing to abandon science and adopt Eastern techniques that hold spiritual danger.

As far as your specific question, since you did not provide a link to the exercises at the Mayo Clinic I cannot speak to what you are referring to.

I did find some exercises for the back at the Mayo Clinic website. I do not know if this is the same set of exercises you are asking about. The exercises at the link I provided are perfectly okay.

Alternatives to yoga

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=1534

December 8, 2011

I know that Yoga is something that I should avoid, but I am wondering about alternatives to Yoga, such as PraiseMoves and Wholy Fit? These programs are NOT the same as Christian Yoga. PraiseMoves and Wholy Fit involve performing stretches while meditating on Scripture. Do you think that such stretching programs are acceptable? –Mel

There is no such thing as a “Christian” alternative to Yoga. The problem with Yoga is not just what or who one meditates upon. The very postures are designed to align one’s “Ch’i” with the “cosmic energy”.

This is not just my opinion that Yoga cannot be Christianized. Even Carl Jung, who was into the occult, warns about Yoga: 

“One often hears and reads about the dangers of Yoga, particularly of the ill-reputed Kundalini Yoga. The deliberately induced psychotic state, which in certain unstable individuals might easily lead to a real psychosis, is a danger that needs to be taken very seriously indeed. These things really are dangerous and ought not to be meddled with in our typically Western way. It is a meddling with Fate, which strikes at the very roots of human existence and can let loose a flood of sufferings of which no sane person ever dreamed. These sufferings correspond to the hellish torments of the chönyid state…” –C. G. Jung, Introduction to The Tibetan book of the Dead 

Yoga Masters from India also make the point that Yoga under any other name is still Yoga.

I recommend that people read the article, Yoga Renamed Is Still Hindu by Subhas R. Tiwari, a professor at the Hindu University of America and graduate of the famed Bihar Yoga Bharati University with a master’s degree in yoga philosophy.

Also of interest are the words in an Open Letter to Evangelicals about Hindu evangelization:

Hindus everywhere are becoming stronger and more assertive: … 2) The West is clearly open to the Hindu message, ready to hear about yoga, meditation, mysticism, healing and the ancient ways. Such “products” were too sophisticated for public consumption 30 years ago, but today they’re the hottest item on the shelf. Not a small part of this phenomenon is related, indirectly, to the coming of age of the New Age movement…

Consider these words a warning:

A small army of yoga missionaries – hatha, raja, siddha and kundalini – beautifully trained in the last 10 years, is about to set upon the western world. They may not call themselves Hindu, but Hindus know where yoga came from and where it goes.

Also refer to the article, Former Hindu guru Rabi Maharaj, No part of Yoga can be separated from the philosophy behind it by Marie Anne Jacques.

Other reads are from the Church, Some Aspects of Christian Meditation and A Christian Reflection on the New Age.

I would advise not participating in PraiseMoves and Wholy Fit, and any other program advertised as a “Christian alternative to Yoga”. Yoga under any other name is still Yoga.

Stick with traditional exercises.

Is yoga’s effects related to alienation from The Lord

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=1536

December 11, 2011

You are right about the promotion of yoga in many medical centers; may be not to be surprised, since many in the health care field could be guilty of sins against life, by prescribing contraceptives, not opposing other sins against life etc.
There was mention of how, in a conference of 300 + doctors, by a well known entity about health care for teens, only various forms of contraception were mentioned – with no mention of the well known and long term ill effects from same or how to promote chastity and no one objected!
Could it be that yoga tends to keep persons somehow numb in the awareness of the inner brokenness (which is a gift of the Holy Spirit, leading to trusting repentance in the Lord’s mercy) and from taking all areas of life, with trusting love to Him, pleading for mercy on behalf of whatever/whoever can be the reason, thus all such occasions becoming occasions for deeper union with The Lord, in His Passion! Thus, it could be like a silent cancer which keeps one blind from good preventive and early care of the soul, of areas such as unforgiveness, pride etc. -Pia

Anytime we venture off the path, the narrow road, of Christ, we endanger ourselves. We risk contamination that may blind us to God’s grace and God’s teachings. With Yoga, there is a direct spiritual element as Yoga is a spiritual exercise. Even if the person does not delve into Hindu spirituality, the very postures of Yoga cannot be divorced from Hindu spirituality and cosmology. That is not my opinion, but the opinion of Yoga masters in India.

There is a cancer in the Church. The cancer of, what can collectively be called, the New Age. There are religious orders, retreat centers, and 100s of parishes that have now adopted New Age ideas and allow the practice of the New Age.

Yoga, and all activities and philosophies like it, seduce the person into areas that no Christian should enter. The Seducer is Satan. We need to stay close to Mother Church for protection. If we stray we are vulnerable to the wolf.

Yoga poses vs. yoga stretch

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=1539

December 18, 2011

I see that there have been several questions posted recently regarding yoga. I am trying to understand what constitutes the essential difference between engaging in a yoga “pose” and doing a “stretch,” as I want to avoid doing yoga inadvertently.
It seems to me that it is pretty easy to identify and avoid the more elaborate yoga poses because there is really no reason that any sane person would want to put their body in those positions. However, there are some basic yoga “poses” that correspond to simple leg and back stretches, such as some of the back stretches you referenced previously in a link to the Mayo Clinic (specifically, the “bridge” pose and the “cat” pose). I have also discovered that some of the ways I was spontaneously stretching to relieve a sore back would technically be considered yoga poses.
As I am trying to reason this through, it seems to me that there are only so many ways the human body can move and stretch, and that yoga wants to claim pretty much all of those movements and label them as “poses”. It doesn’t seem reasonable that we could end up being “accidental Hindus” simply by virtue of trying to relieve a sore back or tight hamstrings.

So, my question is this: Do I have to worry about any potential spiritual fallout from engaging in straight-forward stretches that are commonly used in dance, athletics, physical therapy, etc. (such as the ones I linked to above), AND that also happen to correspond to some basic yoga poses? I want to make it clear that it is not my intention to engage in the practice of yoga in any way.
I think I am getting a little paranoid about this because it seems like just about any stretch I could try could technically be labeled a yoga pose and therefore be off limits. I would really appreciate it if you could help put my mind (and aching back) to rest. –Angela

Although there can be similarities in the stretches between traditional exercise ande yoga the difference is that yoga is a spiritual endeavor, whether or not the person doing it knows it or not, that is based on a cosmology that is hostile to Christianity.

The Mayo Clinic stretches to help the back are fine.

I do not know what links you are referring to as your question does not contain any links; you must have forgot them. But, generally speaking the primary way to avoid yoga is to not sign up for yoga classes.

If you suspect that some exercise may be yoga in disguise, or have elements of yoga, ask the instructor the instructor about it. Ask if he as borrowed from yoga in any way.

Also, be on the lookout for these new-fangled exercise programs being marketed to Christians that are just yoga under a different name. These mixed-up people often say their “system” is not yoga, but an “alternative” to yoga. No, it is yoga.

Stretches – NOT yoga

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=1542

December 27, 2011

Thank you for answering my previous question about yoga poses vs. stretches. When I originally posted the question, the form on your website would not allow me to include the links. I am going to try to include them now:
The general link to the back stretches from the Mayo Clinic:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/back-pain/LB00001_D

The specific stretches I had questions about–your website won’t allow me to post the direct links because they have html code embedded in them:

The Bridge stretch (called the same thing in yoga classes): (which is slide 5 on the Mayo Clinic site)
The cat stretch (called the same thing in yoga classes): (which is slide 6 on the Mayo Clinic site)
My confusion stems from the fact that these stretches are called the same thing, whether they are taught in a yoga class or shown on a well-respected medical website, like the Mayo Clinic, in what is clearly a non-spiritual context. That’s why I was having a hard time figuring out what made them problematic in one context and not another. -Angela

Yes, I linked the Mayo Clinic page of those exercises and said they are okay in a previous post.

I think I now get it as to what the confusion is. These stretching exercises are not part of yoga, even though yoga classes may use them to warm up. There are only so many ways to warm up the muscles before exercises.

Some of the exercises on the Mayo Clinic site were used when I was in Boot Camp. This was back during Vietnam and I can tell you that the military would not have use yoga back then. In fact, if a training instructor caught someone doing yoga he would problem rip the guy a new orifice and ridicule him as a sissy.

The warming exercises, such as those at the Mayo Clinic, even those similar or the same as the warming exercises to prepare to do yoga, are fine. These warming exercises are not yoga.

Catholics – YOGA

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Catholics-955/2009/1/Yoga-1.htm

January 18, 2009

I have been practicing “yoga” for several months now. And by “yoga”, I mean stretching and breathing. I started doing it because I was having chest pains from holding my breath, usually because of stress. I recently read something about Catholicism and Yoga being incompatible. In the DVD I use, there is no mention of any gods, or spirits, or even meditation, and I would not use the DVD if there was. It’s all just stretching and breathing, which is absolutely all I use it for. The breathing and stretching has done wonders for my stress levels, and my chest pains have gone away. It’s been an especially good exercise program for me since I recently found out I am pregnant. I guess my question is: Is it a sin to use a yoga DVD purely for its physical exercise? Thank you so much. –Liz

Just sitting in a comfortable position that merely “happens” to be a position similar to yoga is not a problem. There is no yoga or meditation taking place in such a case.
Yoga itself is not “just an exercise.” The very design, the postures and movements, are all designed according to a Hindu cosmology and are designed to place one in an altered state of consciousness, to open on up to the “energies” within the body and in the universe. This is what is meant by becoming “more aware of your body, mind and environment” mentioned by the Yogi Master in the article.
Yoga cannot be performed without this effect regardless of whether or not one intends this effect.
Here is a warning from none other than Carl Jung, who’s psychology was intertwined with the occult:
quote: “One often hears and reads about the dangers of Yoga, particularly of the ill-reputed Kundalini Yoga. The deliberately induced psychotic state, which in certain unstable individuals might easily lead to a real psychosis, is a danger that needs to be taken very seriously indeed. These things really are dangerous and ought not to be meddled with in our typically Western way. It is a meddling with Fate, which strikes at the very roots of human existence and can let loose a flood of sufferings of which no sane person ever dreamed. These sufferings correspond to the hellish torments of the chönyid state…” –C. G. Jung, Introduction to The Tibetan book of the Dead
I have had a couple of deliverance clients who have been harmed by the “Kundalini Awakening”.
I think anyone interested in Yoga ought to read an article by Subhas R. Tiwari, a professor at the Hindu University of America. He is a graduate of the famed Bihar Yoga Bharati University with a master’s degree in yoga philosophy.
The article is Yoga Renamed Is Still Hindu: http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/2006/1-3/09_opinion.shtml
You will see a sentence in that article, “In 2003, the Vatican issued a more conciliatory directive permitting Catholics to engage in the “New Age ” in general and yoga specifically, but still warning against its spiritual and meditation practices.”
The author of the article [Subhas R. Tiwari] is wrong on that statement. The Vatican warns against the New Age and does not permit Catholics to participate in it.
The Vatican document he is referring to is “A Christian Reflection on the New Age” (http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/interelg/documents/rc_pc_i…)
Nowhere in that document is new age practices permitted. Yoga is mentioned twice in the document and neither time is that mention a positive one.
Thus, other than that one mis-statement in the article, the article gives good information about yoga from a person who is an expert in yoga.
Also of interest are the words in an Open Letter to Evangelicals about Hindu evangelization:
http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/1991/01/1991-01-06.shtml
Quote: Hindus everywhere are becoming stronger and more assertive: … 2) The West is clearly open to the Hindu message, ready to hear about yoga, meditation, mysticism, healing and the ancient ways. Such “products” were too sophisticated for public consumption 30 years ago, but today they’re the hottest item on the shelf. Not a small part of this phenomenon is related, indirectly, to the coming of age of the New Age movement…

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=1637

June 5, 2012

When I tried to warn my mother in law about the dangers of yoga, she refused to listen and asked me instead that if it was so bad why were there Catholic priests practising and promoting it? I didn’t know what to say at the time. But I would like to have a suitable answer for the next time I have advise a Catholic relative. -Genny

According to Yogi masters, Yoga cannot be Christianized. No Christian has any business practicing this non-Christian and potentially dangerous activity.

We have an article in our Spiritual Warfare Library that explains some of this. The article is called, Former Hindu guru Rabi Maharaj, “No part of Yoga can be separated from the philosophy behind it.”

This article also goes into other practices that need to be avoided by Christians, such as Reiki and Centering Prayer. 

The Holy See, in A Christian Reflection on the New Age, mentioned yoga as one of those Eastern Practices to avoid.

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=1843

June 25, 2013

In a post that you responded to back in 2008 titled Christian Yoga, you said: “The Catholic Church has nearly 2000 years of experience in meditation and yoga-like movements that are totally consistent with the Church.” [See http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=463]

The Church has written a document about meditation called, On Some Aspects of Christian Meditation. There are other documents on similar subject in our Spiritual Warfare Library.

[Hindu-influenced maid under demonic attack]

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=237

January 25, 2005

My maid aged 30 (recently employed) who looks after my two children confided in me that a demon appears to her in the night as soon as the lights are out (she lies wide awake in fear) in a form of a handsome man and has sex with her which she says is very pleasurable. She has no idea how long it lasts but she feel completely drained when she wakes up in the morning.

She is unable to speak at the time this happens and cannot call for help. She is unable to tell anyone for the fear that they might think she is out of her mind. She spoke to her husband (he works the night shift and comes home after 1:00 am) and he does puja to the Hindu gods and goddess (Kali ma) as he is a Hindu.

My maid is a Christian but believes in Hinduism also. I am really scared and I ask your help as to what I should do. I am worried about my children who are looked after by her.

Besides this incident she has had other paranormal experiences too, for e.g. seeing dead family members, seeing other spirits and hearing sounds at night. I spoke to one of my friend who is protestant and she told me about the demons incubus and succubus, so I checked it out on the internet and found out that other people have also experienced similar experiences.

Should I say the Spiritual Warfare prayers for her safety or is it unsafe for me to do so? I mean will I be putting myself at risk?

She described that this demon as a hairy creature that has long, broad, webbed feet and is tall, very dark and handsome. I do believe her, but when I told my husband about it, he just dismissed the issue by saying that she is imagining things and that demons do not exist. -Judy

What you are describing does sound like your maid is in trouble. The fact that Hindu magic is being used makes matters worse. She needs to abandon any and all belief in Hinduism and ask her husband to stop the Hindu magic rituals on her behalf.

She needs to come back to Christianity 100% and begin to cleanse her life from any and all unChristian notions. It is only through Jesus Christ that she can truly find freedom from these demonic attacks.

You can certainly pray Spiritual Warfare prayers for her. You could be attacked yourself, and even your children if you pray for your maid, but God will protect you and not allow anything to happen that you cannot handle.

My biggest concern is for your children and household. I hate to say this as I do not wish to cause anyone to lose a job, but given the experiences she is having and the Hindu magic that is being applied, I think that it is best that she not be around your household, unless….

If she is willing to return to Christianity completely, and to do what needs to be done to rid herself of the demonic attacks (including, if necessary, seeking Deliverance Counseling) and if you are willing to take the risk, you could keep her as a maid and give her support in doing what is necessary for her to be free of this.

If she is truly interested in being free from this harassment and willing to do what is necessary, we might be able to help her in our Deliverance Counseling ministry. -Bro. Ignatius Mary OMSM

Christian yoga [WCCM]

http://www.saint-mike.net/qa/sw/viewanswer.asp?QID=87

August 6, 2004

Is there such a thing as Christian Yoga? This is being offered at a Jesuit Retreat Center. My feeling is, one cannot Christianize Yoga. This retreat center also has Christian Meditation (John Main, OSB). I quit going to retreats at this center after experiencing this so called Christian Meditation (World Community for Christian Meditation*) there. –Susan

The entire presumption behind Yoga, behind the specific movements and gestures and positions is based upon an Eastern Cosmology that is utterly inconsistent with Christianity. Yoga is designed to align the “energies” within the body with the “energies” of the universe. This is false cosmology and false philosophy.
A former Yoga master said who converted to Christianity said once that it was impossible to translate Yoga for Christian purposes. *See report serial no. 5 further below

I am always amazed at these people. The Catholic Church has nearly 2000 years of experience in mediation and yoga-like movements that are totally consistent with the Church, yet we seem to think we must go outside of the Church to find these things.
There are elements of Eastern meditation that are useful, but the point is that anything that can be co-opted from the Eastern mediation technique has been co-opted and vetted over the last 1500 years. There is no new technique in the East to investigate. The Eastern Catholic monks have already found what can and cannot be used in the Church.
If we wish to experience Mediation and even posture-style techniques we need not go one inch away from the Catholic Church.
It is also best to stay with the Church to avoid possible contamination that can come from trying to co-opt something from a different philosophy and worldview. My advice is to not participate.
Unfortunately retreat centers are notorious for adopting new age and other non-Catholic techniques and philosophies. Some of what many Retreat Centers do is outright occultic.
I hate to say this, but the situation with Retreat Centers is so bad that I recommend that we automatically presume all Retreat Centers to be problematic unless demonstrable evidence proves otherwise.
Now if one wish to go on a private retreat at a Retreat Center to take advantage of the pastoral and peaceful setting, this is not a problem. But beware of receiving Spiritual Direction from a Retreat Center, or in participating in any of its activities or courses, unless you thoroughly check out their orthodoxy AND orthopraxy. Thing like Enneagrams, Centering Prayer, Jungian psychology, Eastern mysticism, Eastern mediation and the like do NOT conform to the orthopraxy of the Catholic Faith.

-Bro. Ignatius Mary OMSM

See

BRO IGNATIUS MARY

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/BRO_IGNATIUS_MARY.doc

CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC RENEWAL-BRO IGNATIUS MARY

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/CATHOLIC_CHARISMATIC_RENEWAL-BRO_IGNATIUS_MARY.doc

LITURGICAL ABUSE-BRO IGNATIUS MARY

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/LITURGICAL_ABUSE-BRO_IGNATIUS_MARY.doc

NEW AGE-BRO IGNATIUS MARY

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/NEW_AGE-BRO_IGNATIUS_MARY.doc

VASSULA RYDEN-BRO IGNATIUS MARY

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/VASSULA_RYDEN-BRO_IGNATIUS_MARY.doc

SPIRITUAL WARFARE-BRO IGNATIUS MARY

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/SPIRITUAL_WARFARE-BRO_IGNATIUS_MARY.doc

TESTIMONY OF A FORMER PROTESTANT-363
BRO. IGNATIUS MARY OMSM

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_PROTESTANT-363.doc

REPORTS

1. BRAHMA KUMARIS WORLD SPIRITUAL UNIVERSITY

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/BRAHMA_KUMARIS_WORLD_SPIRITUAL_UNIVERSITY.doc

2. CARDINAL OSWALD GRACIAS ENDORSES YOGA FOR CATHOLICS

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/CARDINAL_OSWALD_GRACIAS_ENDORSES_YOGA_FOR_CATHOLICS.doc

3. CATHOLIC YOGA HAS ARRIVED

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/CATHOLIC_YOGA_HAS_ARRIVED.doc

4. DIVINE RETREAT CENTRE ERRORS-05
YOGA PROMOTED

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/DIVINE_RETREAT_CENTRE_ERRORS-05.doc

5. FR JOE PEREIRA-KRIPA FOUNDATION-WORLD COMMUNITY FOR CHRISTIAN MEDITATION

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/FR_JOE_PEREIRA-KRIPA_FOUNDATION-WORLD_COMMUNITY_FOR_CHRISTIAN_MEDITATION.doc

6. FR JOHN FERREIRA-YOGA, SURYANAMASKAR AT ST. PETER’S COLLEGE, AGRA

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/FR_JOHN_FERREIRA-YOGA_SURYANAMASKAR_AT_ST_PETERS_COLLEGE_AGRA.doc

7. FR ADRIAN MASCARENHAS-YOGA AT ST PATRICK’S CHURCH BANGALORE 

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/FR_ADRIAN_MASCARENHAS-YOGA_AT_ST_PATRICKS_CHURCH_BANGALORE.doc

8 FR JOHN VALDARIS-NEW AGE CURES FOR CANCER

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/FR_JOHN_VALDARIS-NEW_AGE_CURES_FOR_CANCER.doc

9. NEW AGE GURUS 01-SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR-THE ‘ART OF LIVING’

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/NEW_AGE_GURUS_01-SRI_SRI_RAVI_SHANKAR-THE_ART_OF_LIVING.doc

10. PAPAL CANDIDATE OSWALD CARDINAL GRACIAS ENDORSES YOGA

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/PAPAL_CANDIDATE_OSWALD_CARDINAL_GRACIAS_ENDORSES_YOGA.doc

11. YOGA AND THE BRAHMA KUMARIS AT A CATHOLIC COLLEGE IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF BOMBAY

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA_AND_THE_BRAHMA_KUMARIS_AT_A_CATHOLIC_COLLEGE_IN_THE_ARCHDIOCESE_OF_BOMBAY.doc

12. YOGA IN THE DIOCESE OF MANGALORE

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA_IN_THE_DIOCESE_OF_MANGALORE.doc

13. YOGA, SURYANAMASKAR, GAYATRI MANTRA, PRANAYAMA TO BE MADE COMPULSORY IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA_SURYANAMASKAR_GAYATRI_MANTRA_PRANAYAMA_TO_BE_MADE_COMPULSORY_IN_EDUCATIONAL_INSTITUTIONS.doc

ARTICLES/COMPILATIONS

1. TRUTH, LIES AND YOGA-ERROL FERNANDES

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TRUTH_LIES_AND_YOGA-ERROL_FERNANDES.rtf

2. WAS JESUS A YOGI? SYNCRETISM AND INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE-ERROL FERNANDES

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/WAS_JESUS_A_YOGI_SYNCRETISM_AND_INTERRELIGIOUS_DIALOGUE-ERROL_FERNANDES.doc

3. YOGA

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA.doc

4. YOGA-02

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA-02.doc

5. YOGA AND DELIVERANCE

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA_AND_DELIVERANCE.doc

6. YOGA IS SATANIC-EXORCIST FR GABRIELE AMORTH

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA_IS_SATANIC-EXORCIST_FR_GABRIELE_AMORTH.doc

7. YOGA-SUMMARY

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA-SUMMARY.doc

8. YOGA-THE DECEPTION-FR CONRAD SALDANHA

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA-THE_DECEPTION-FR_CONRAD_SALDANHA.doc

9. YOGA-WHAT DOES THE CATHOLIC CATECHISM SAY ABOUT IT

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA-WHAT_DOES_THE_CATHOLIC_CATECHISM_SAY_ABOUT_IT.doc

10. YOGA-WHAT DOES THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SAY ABOUT IT?

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA-WHAT_DOES_THE_CATHOLIC_CHURCH_SAY_ABOUT_IT.doc

DOCUMENTS

1. LETTER TO THE BISHOPS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ON SOME ASPECTS OF CHRISTIAN MEDITATION CDF/CARDINAL JOSEPH RATZINGER OCTOBER 15, 1989

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/LETTER_TO_THE_BISHOPS_OF_THE_CATHOLIC_CHURCH_ON_SOME_ASPECTS_OF_CHRISTIAN_MEDITATION.doc

2. JESUS CHRIST THE BEARER OF THE WATER OF LIFE, A CHRISTIAN REFLECTION ON THE NEW AGE COMBINED VATICAN DICASTERIES FEBRUARY 3, 2003

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/JESUS_CHRIST_THE_BEARER_OF_THE_WATER_OF_LIFE_A_CHRISTIAN_REFLECTION_ON_THE_NEW_AGE.doc

TESTIMONIES

1.
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-01
MIKE SHREVE

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-01.doc

2. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-02
TERRY JUSTISON

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-02.doc

3. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-03
KENT SULLIVAN

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-03.doc

4. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-04
MICHAEL GRAHAM

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-04.doc

5. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-05
BRAD SCOTT

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-05.doc

6. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-06
JANICE CLEARY

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-06.doc

7. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-07
CARL FAFORD

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-07.doc

8. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-08
ANONYMOUS

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-08.doc

9. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-09
DEBORAH HOLT

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-09.doc

10. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-10
DANION VASILE

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-10.doc

11. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-11
MICHAEL COUGHLIN

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-11.doc

12. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-12
LAURETTE WILLIS

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-12.doc

13. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-13
KEITH AGAIN

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-13.doc

14. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-14 VIRGO HANDOJO

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-14.doc

15. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-15 PURVI

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-15.doc

Categories: new age