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When God gave Susan Bordenkircher the vision for her yoga-based Christian ministry, Outstretched in Worship, she truly believed she was stepping into uncharted territory. And while God has used her ministry as a pioneer of sorts in this movement, she was amazed to see the level of interest and involvement that already existed. She quickly learned that there are approximately 15 million people in this country practicing yoga, and fully 50-60 percent of them say they come from a church background. In fact, many churches, Christian retreats, and denominational conventions are incorporating yoga as one creative approach to cultivating a quiet, receptive spirit and deep prayer life.

Fitness instructor Susan Bordenkircher wondered along with other Christians whether the practice of yoga somehow compromised Christian beliefs. When she tried it she found that it gave her a workout that slowed down her nervous energy and allowed her to get quiet, remain still, and focus her mind on the Lord.

Book: Yoga for Christians by Susan Bordenkircher
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The old version of this post was only a few short paragraphs. It said yoga began in India 3,000 to 4,000 years ago, that it has never been a religion, that about 5 million people in the United States practice it, and that many health professionals feel it can be part of a treatment plan. This rewrite expands each claim and checks the numbers.

How old is yoga, and where did it begin?

The word comes from the Sanskrit for “to join” or “union,” as the old post says. Historians agree that yoga began in India, but they disagree about when. In their introduction to Roots of Yoga, Mallinson and Singleton write that systematic yoga techniques are hard to find in South Asian sources before about 500 BCE, and that popular claims that the oldest Vedic texts prove an ancient yoga practice are speculation. The 3,000 to 4,000 years in the old post is therefore an estimate that cannot be proved. A safer statement is that texts about yoga-like practices date from the first millennium BCE. Our post on Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras covers the best-known classical text.

What are the three parts of hatha yoga?

The old post says that hatha yoga, the kind you see in a gym or YMCA, has three parts: poses (asanas), breathing techniques and relaxation. That matches Harvard Health’s description of a typical class, which starts with breathing exercises, moves on to poses and ends with a final relaxation called savasana. Hatha texts themselves began to appear in the Middle Ages (historians place the first ones between roughly the ninth and eleventh centuries), and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, written by Svatmarama in the 15th century, is the best known. If you want to know what a modern hatha class looks like, read what hatha yoga is.

Is yoga a religion?

The old post says that yoga has never been a religion. That is partly right. Yoga developed within Indian philosophical and religious traditions, including Hindu, Buddhist and Jain ones, and Britannica describes it as something that may be atheistic or theistic and can adopt different principles. In most American classes it is taught as exercise and relaxation, with some teachers adding chanting, meditation or philosophy. If you are unsure, ask the teacher what a class includes and whether you can skip any part you are not comfortable with.

How many Americans practice yoga?

The old figure of 5 million is out of date. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, the share of U.S. adults who practiced yoga rose from 5.0 percent in 2002 to 15.8 percent in 2022, based on a national survey, which is roughly one adult in six. In 2012, 94 percent of adults who practiced it did so for wellness-related reasons. Our post on how yoga became popular in America tells that story.

Do health professionals recommend yoga?

The old post said that you may be given yoga postures by a physical therapist, and that many health professionals feel it can be part of a treatment plan. That is a fair statement if it is read carefully. The NCCIH says that research suggests yoga may help with stress, neck pain and some other problems, but the evidence is mixed in places, and it is not a replacement for medical care. Some therapists do use yoga-based movements, so ask your provider whether a gentle practice suits your condition. For the full picture, see yoga explained: what it is, who practices it and what the research supports.

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Yantra Yoga offers the practitioner a unique approach to Yoga practice, parallel to the Hatha Yoga of the Hindu tradition. Called the “Union of Sun and Moon”, it is a dynamic system of trulkhor (movements) and tsalung(pranayamas) and differs from more widespread yogas in that it is done as a sequence of movements co-ordinated with breathing and specific ways of holding. This practice helps us to relax and achieve a state of well-being and harmony, at the same time enhancing physical health, energy, and mental balance. At a more profound level, it is an important practice to integrate body, speech and mind in a state that is beyond our normal dualistic concepts.Yantra Yoga is a very rich body of knowledge that includes 3 preliminary series, 75 yantras (asanas), 7 breathing practices, 7 lotuses and the vajra wave–108 exercises in all. Profusely illustrated with drawings and photographs,Yantra Yoga presents Tibet’s trulkhor yoga tradition as taught by one if its master exponents, Ch?ɬ?gyal Namkhai Norbu. Yantra Yoga’s movements, exercises, and methods of concentration are all based on an eighth-century text by Vairocana whose translation is included, illuminated by Ch?ɬ?gyal Namkhai Norbu’s commentary. Detailed charts for the timing of the breathing exercises are also included.

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Dating from about the third century A.D., the Yoga Sutra distills the essence of the physical and spiritual discipline of yoga into fewer than two hundred brief aphorisms. It is the core text for any study of meditative practice, revered for centuries for its brilliant analysis of mental states and of the process by which inner liberation is achieved. Yet its difficulties are legendary, and until now, no translation has made it fully accessible.

Barbara Miller
Barbara entered the real estate business in 1988 with the Century 21 System. Becoming an associate with a fellow Realtor and creating a team proved their move to Morgan Collins was definitely in the best interest of their clients.

Currently holding the Real Estate designations of Certified Residential Specialist and Graduate of the Realtors Institute shows her interest in supplying clients with current information. She finds assisting buyers and sellers with their choices in Real Estate challenging and rewarding.

Book: Yoga by Barbara Miller
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The old title of this post promised a “cure” for modern-day stresses. Yoga is not a cure for stress, and I have changed the headline. It can still be a helpful part of the way you manage stress, and many people take it up for just that reason. This article explains what yoga is, what the research says about stress, and how to start at home or in a class.

What is yoga?

Yoga is an ancient practice that began in India. As the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) puts it, yoga as practiced in the United States typically emphasizes physical postures, breathing techniques and meditation. There are many styles. Hatha yoga, one of the best known in the West, focuses on postures that stretch and strengthen the body and build balance, flexibility, body awareness and concentration. Raja yoga is traditionally the yoga of meditation. Other forms, such as mantra yoga, use chanting. If you want a longer introduction, see what yoga is and yoga explained.

What does the research say about yoga and stress?

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) reports that a 2020 review of 12 studies of yoga for stress management, with 672 healthy adults in total, found beneficial effects on perceived stress in all of the studies. It also says that some, but not all, studies of yoga for stress have shown improvements. So the picture is hopeful but mixed. Studies have also suggested possible benefits of yoga for mental and emotional health and for sleep. The differences from ordinary exercise are the attention to breathing and the meditative quality, and some people find those parts calm them more than a workout does. NCCIH adds that people with a stressful life should talk to a health professional if the stress does not go away.

Can children and families try it too?

Yes, with suitable adaptations. The old post suggested that when family members are quarreling, you invite them to stop what they are doing, raise their arms overhead, lean forward and breathe deeply. That is a reasonable calming break, though the research on yoga is mostly from adults. NCCIH says research suggests yoga may have several potential benefits for children. A 2020 review of 27 studies with 1,805 children and adolescents found reductions in anxiety or depression in 70 percent of the studies, but the quality of the studies was relatively weak and the results cannot be considered conclusive. Slow breathing is easy to teach and costs nothing, and any program for a child should be led by a qualified person.

How do you start?

Try a short routine at home or take a beginner class. Our guide to basic yoga postures shows simple poses, and the gentle morning routine is easy to follow. Before you start, read about warming up and listening to your body. Keep a few safety points in mind from NCCIH: yoga is generally safe for healthy people when done properly with a qualified instructor, injuries are usually sprains and strains, and beginners should avoid extreme practices such as headstands and forceful breathing. Pregnant women, older adults and people with health conditions should talk with their provider first.

Is yoga enough on its own?

No. Yoga is one tool among several. Sleep, regular physical activity, time with other people and a manageable workload all matter for stress, and so does professional help if you feel anxious or low for weeks. If you are in distress in the United States, you can call or text 988 at any time. For more ideas about slowing down, read about a mind and spirit practice that you can fit into everyday life.

Cure for Modern Day Stresses