Yoga and Religion: Clearing Up a Common Misunderstanding

Even though yoga has been widely practiced in the West for decades, misunderstandings about its relationship to religion still persist.

For some, yoga is simply a form of exercise or stress relief. For others, its roots in ancient Eastern traditions raise questions or concerns. In some circles, yoga is viewed as sacrilegious or incompatible with Christianity.

These concerns are understandable and deserve thoughtful conversation. Many of the questions surrounding yoga stem from misunderstandings about what the practice actually is, what the postures mean, and what a person is—or is not—doing when they step onto the mat.

One of the more common arguments is the belief that yoga poses are named after Hindu gods and that practicing them is therefore a form of worship. While yoga does have roots in ancient Indian traditions and the poses retain their Sanskrit names, this does not mean that practicing yoga postures is a religious act. In fact, very few postures are named after Hindu deities.

Most Sanskrit posture names are simply descriptive. Sanskrit, like Latin in medicine, French in ballet, or Italian in musical notation, is the traditional language used to identify and communicate the practice.

For example:

Vrkshasana Vrksha means “tree” — Tree Pose

Trikonasana Tri means “three” and kona means “angle” — Triangle Pose

Parivrtta Parsvakonasana Parivrtta means “revolved,” parsva means “side,” and kona means “angle” — Revolved Side Angle Pose

Balasana Bala means “child” — Child’s Pose

These are not prayers or invocations. They are simply descriptive names that tell us what the body is doing, the shape it is creating, or the feeling or quality the posture invites.

Even among the few poses that reference figures from Hindu mythology, their purpose is often misunderstood. These postures are not asking anyone to worship a diety or participate in religious ritual. Rather, they invite reflection on qualities represented in ancient stories—strength, courage, devotion, steadiness, discernment, humility, or surrender.

This is not so different from reading parables, reflecting on biblical figures, or contemplating the virtues demonstrated by saints and spiritual teachers. Stories across cultures have long been used to help people embody higher qualities.

At its core, yoga is a practice of attention.

The ancient sage Patanjali describes the purpose of yoga in Yoga Sutras 1.2:

“Yogas chitta vritti nirodhah.”

This is commonly translated as:

“Yoga stills the fluctuations of the mind.”

Yoga offers tools to settle the mind, quiet mental distractions, and cultivate presence.

And that capacity—to become still, attentive, and aware—has benefits for daily life. It can also deepen any spiritual or religious practice, if the practitioner has one.

For Christians, this can mean using breath and movement to prepare the heart and mind for prayer. It can mean creating stillness before reading scripture. It can mean practicing mindfulness that allows one to listen more deeply, reflect more honestly, and connect more fully with God.

Yoga does not tell us who or what God is.

It simply creates the conditions for deeper presence and connection.

How that presence is directed is shaped by the practitioner’s own faith and intention.

For this reason, many Christians have embraced yoga as a way to deepen—not replace—their relationship with Christ. Organizations such as Holy Yoga and Yoga Devotion intentionally integrate Christian prayer, scripture, worship, and contemplative practice into yoga.

These communities recognize that movement, breath, and stillness can become vehicles for devotion when approached with Christ-centered intention.

Of course, every person should thoughtfully consider what aligns with their conscience and beliefs. No one should feel pressured to practice anything that creates spiritual discomfort.

But it is equally important to separate fact from fear.

A Sanskrit word is not a hidden prayer.

A yoga pose is not an act of worship.

A practice originating in another culture is not inherently incompatible with the values and beliefs of others.

Perhaps the most important question to ask is:

What is my intention in practicing?

If the intention is to care for the body, calm the mind, cultivate peace, and possibly create space for deeper connection with God, then yoga can become not a contradiction of faith—but a support for it.

In the end, yoga is a tool.

Like silence, breath, or contemplation, it can be used in many ways.

For those who choose it thoughtfully, it can become a practice that helps us move beyond distraction, settle into stillness, and encounter the sacred more fully.