Fr. Seraphim Rose examines the phenomena of “Christian Yoga,” which in his day (1970s) was gaining popularity and acceptance, and offers a sober warning to all, especially Orthodox Christians.

From “Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future”, Fr. Seraphim writes:

“The essence of Yoga is not the discipline itself, but the meditation which is its end. The author (French Benedictine monk, J. M. Dechanet) is correct when he writes: ‘The aims of Hindu Yoga are spiritual. It is tantamount to treason to forget this and retain only the purely physical side of this ancient discipline, to see in it no more than a means towards bodily health or beauty’ (p. 54). To this it should be added that the person who uses Yoga only for physical well-being is already disposing himself towards certain spiritual attitudes and even experiences of which he is undoubtedly unaware…”

“Anyone who understands the nature of prelest or spiritual deception will recognize in this description of ‘Christian Yoga’ precisely the characteristics of those who have gone spiritually astray, whether into pagan religious experiences or sectarian ‘Christian’ experiences. The same striving for ‘holy and divine feelings,’ the same openness and willingness to be ‘seized’ by a spirit, the same seeking not for God but for ‘spiritual consolations,’ the same self-intoxication which is mistaken for a ‘state of grace,’ the same incredible ease with which one becomes ‘contemplative’ or ‘mystical,’ the same ‘mystical revelations’ and pseudo-spiritual states. These are the common characteristics of all who are in this particular state of spiritual deception.”

“Even the purely physical sides of psychic disciplines like Yoga are dangerous, because they are derived from and dispose one towards the psychic attitudes and experiences which are the original purpose of Yoga practice.”

-Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future, p. 38-42, 68-69. 

Buy the book here: https://www.sainthermanmonastery.com/product-p/orf.htm

For more on Yoga from an Orthodox perspective:

Hidden Fire: Orthodox Perspectives on Yoga (article): https://orthochristian.com/80417.html

Yoga: An Orthodox Christian Examination by Fr. Peter Heers: https://youtu.be/SLHuvdMIg8k

Elder Paisios on Yoga and Hinduism: https://youtu.be/ICQzcZ7pS3w

YOGA IS NOT GYMNASTICS-KLAUS KENNETH (An account of a very experienced former Yogi who lived in India and became and Orthodox Christian): https://youtu.be/wfSF2ftcpfw

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