As I was scrolling through my beloved Pinterest feed, I came across a pin that claimed yoga was not for the Christian. Looking deeper into the subject, I realized that there were many people that believe this. But yoga is just exercise; or is it?

Though I've only ever taken yoga in the context of an athletic facility and never with the intent to exercise the philosophy of the practice, it has always been exercise and solely exercise. The poses are challenging, and the instructor always encourages us to further our practice as it will strengthen and lengthen our muscles as we are able to do more complex poses.

There is also a breathing component to yoga, as you are only breathing in and out of your nose, never your mouth. In some phases of the practice we are simply lying on the mat breathing deeply. This gives us an opportunity to release negative energy, so for Christians we are ridding ourselves of negative thoughts and anger toward someone who has wronged us by forgiving them, and we are looking at our inner-selves and reflecting upon the undeserving humans we are, but rejoicing in the fact that God died on the cross despite our unworthiness.

The closest part of my practice that ever comes to traditional philosophy is ending it with namaste (a traditional Indian greeting that means "the divine in me, honors the divine in you"). And quite honestly, it's just a fun word to say, it isn't quite often that I think about it's actual meaning; it's just a word we say to end our practice.

In his article on probe.org, Micheal Gleghorn speaks to whether the philosophy of yoga and the practice can be separated.

One of his main arguments is about the kundalini [coiled serpent power].

“When awakened through the practice of spiritual disciplines, it rises through the spinal column, passes through the various centres, and at last, reaches the brain, whereupon the yogi experiences samadhi, or total absorption in the Godhead.” Or a key to attaining godlike stature.

"Reading such descriptions of the kundalini, or coiled serpent power, the Christian can almost hear the hiss of that “serpent of old…who deceives the whole world.”{24} In Eden, he flattered our first parents by telling them: 'You will be like God.'{25} And though Christianity and yoga have very different conceptions of God, isn’t this essentially what yoga promises?"

Gleghorn has concluded that philosophy and practice cannot be separated.

However, as a Christian that has practiced yoga in the past, I would have to disagree. Never once has the breathing or poses I've been asked to do made me think "Oh now I'm like God." If anything, they've made me feel inflexible, tired, and the practice tends to make me in touch with my inner self. Which when I look at my inner self, I see the imperfect person that Christ died to save.

Therefore, I do believe that a Christian can practice basic yoga with a clear conscience. We are not honoring the gods and spirits of Hinduism. We are exercising and using yoga to relieve stress and take care of the body God has given us.

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. " (1 Corinthians 10:31)