Jesus and Yoga: Works with/from a Negative Appreciation of Yoga for Christians

Works cited here come from a range of Christian traditions. They condemn the practice of yoga by Christians with varying degrees of theological sophistication. There are a variety of works of this nature; the following are a representative sample.

Boyd, Losana. “Through Yoga to Christianity.” First Things, Feb 2011. 

Boyd’s account is a beautiful description of how she rediscovered Christianity through the sacred space of the yoga mat; ultimately, though, Boyd quits teaching yoga because “yoga’s philosophy became increasingly difficult to reconcile with my Christian faith.”

Pavlik, Sarah E. “Is Yoga Really So Bad?” Today’s Christian Woman. 8 Nov 2008. 

Yes, she says, it really is (even while acknowledging a few things that she learned on the mat). The author repeats the familiar trope that modern postural yoga (not her phrase) is inseparable from “Hinduism.” The author lacks depth of understanding of yoga’s multiple roots and expressions. 

Miller, Elliot. (2008) “The Yoga Boom: A Call for Christian Discernment” Parts 1, Part 2, & Part 3. Christian Research Journal, vol 31, n2, 3, & 4.

Miller writes a three-part treatise against Christians practicing yoga, arguing that Raja Yoga is incompatible with Christianity, and promoting Christian alternatives like PraiseMoves.