Yoga is a household name – almost everyone knows what it is.
It’s synonymous with being fit, hip and healthy. A “new age” way of living that promotes balance, health, mindfulness and inner peace.
Globally, many of us have jumped on the yoga cart without giving it a second thought.
Why would anyone question it when Yoga encourages you to breathe your way to bliss, be present, and melt stress away. The benefits, both mental and physical, are undeniable.
It’s been praised for reducing depression, anxiety, and chronic pain, while helping many find deeper meaning and emotional grounding.
Off the mat, yoga’s philosophies, like gratitude, mindfulness, and connection to a greater force, have inspired countless people.
The spiritual side of yoga has resonated deeply with many, offering purpose and direction to those feeling lost or stagnant. It’s no surprise that since the 1950s, yoga has surged like wildfire across the West. And today, it continues to grow in popularity.
Yoga was, and still is, attractive to many.
But what if yoga, despite its therapeutic appeal, conflicts with your personal spiritual or religious beliefs?
For people who have secular beliefs or believe in one Creator; whether that is Allaah, God or Yahweh, and believe in excluding Him above everything – Yoga becomes problematic.
The truth is yoga at its core is not just exercise; it is a deeply spiritual discipline rooted in the religious traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Yoga practiced in most studios is a blend of these traditions, shaped by the beliefs of the teachers who lead them.
Yoga Students take on Buddhist and Hindu Traditions
Over the decades the world has tried to secularise yoga so as to tap into its benefits without going into its religious origins.
Some Christians have developed “Christian Yoga,” where they enjoy the therapeutic benefits of traditional yoga, but in their practice they turn their attention towards God and use biblical words for their mantras and chants.
However, no matter if you adhere to secular beliefs or otherwise, as yoga students deepen their yoga practice and meditation, they eventually begin adhering to and practising Buddhism or Hinduism no matter how they may try to keep away from it.
Many will feel an internal conflict, but continue because they feel and see the benefits of the holistic practice of yoga.
Others may feel there are no better alternatives to gain the health or mindset goals they can achieve by attending Yoga classes. Yoga has become that double-edged sword for many.
The longer you learn under teachers rooted in yogic traditions, the more likely you are to adopt their spiritual philosophies, consciously and subconsciously. That’s the truth.
It doesn’t matter how one tries to spin yoga so they can move away from its religious beginnings, Yoga is, and always will be, intrinsically entwined in the religious philosophies of buddhism and hinduism.
Let us delve into a few things that will show us how.
Meaning of the Word Yoga
Yoga is a Sanskrit word which means “to yoke” or “union”.
The name itself perfectly describes the aim of the yogi (person who practises yoga) which is to ultimately yoke “the self” with a “higher power” (the universe), where you become one: a union!
So from the moment you call your practice “yoga,” you’ve already ascribed to the tenets of Buddhism and Hinduism.
Yoga Classes Tap Into Ancient Philosophies
As well as the name itself, yoga classes, from the beginning to the end, are full of philosophies entrenched in buddhism and hinduism.
A student cannot join a class with the intention of keeping away from its origins – it’s impossible and here is why:
1. The Chant: “OM”
Many yoga practitioners will practise chanting “Om” at the beginning of their classes and throughout their meditation practice, where it is needed.
Om is a sacred syllable in Hinduism and Buddhism. It is described by many yogi masters as the sound and vibration of the universe. OM has three sounds that represent creation, preservation and destruction.
The theory behind chanting Om is to allow the participants in a yoga class to connect with each other so that the group can collectively become one with the universe.
By chanting OM, the yoga student is able to recreate the same sound and vibration as that of the universe in their bodies, allowing them to focus the mind thus cultivating the ability to connect the “self” to the universe.
Yoga teachers explain that any word can be used to focus the mind to connect to their own higher power.
However, there are many problems with this concept.
Firstly, if all the yoga students in the class chanted their own word, whether that is God or Allaah or another non religious word, this would break the connection with the other students as they would not be chanting one word in union. The class would be unable to create the same resonating sound to reflect the universe, thus making the whole yoga practice nonsensical.
Using the very definition of the word yoga, a student is trying to “yoke” the self with the universe; chanting a word other than Om, the student is unable to fully achieve this in the way that the ancient yogic texts describe.
2. Surya Namaskar: The Sun Salutation
After students are required to chant Om, they will begin the physical part of the class with a sequence flow called Surya Namaskar, which is often done first thing in the morning as the sun rises, so as to greet it.
Surya means sun and Namaskar means salute. To translate this into English it means sun salutations or to salute/worship the sun.
In ancient yogic philosophy, one of the most revered gods in Vedic culture (the culture that was said to have given birth to yoga), was Surya – the God of the Sun.
The God Surya was considered as “giver of life.” As we all know the sun is vital in giving life, and therefore Yogis considered it important to recognise the sun, connect to it, and worship it.
The Surya Namaskar flow is made up of 12 postures so as to represent the twelve astrological houses the sun moves through.
These postures are designed so that the student can connect with the sun, take on its life-giving energy and recognise its importance of giving life to the universe. This flow focuses the student’s mind, enabling them to connect to the universe during the meditation part of their yoga practice.
For those who believe in one creator or have secular beliefs, surya namaskar becomes problematic. How does one reconcile sun worship with belief in one Creator?
3. Asana (postures)
There are many postures, otherwise known in Sanskrit as “asana.”
Ancient yogis used asana practice to physically depict many religious and philosophical concepts entrenched in buddhism and hinduism.
Let us take Trikonasana as one example. This Sanskrit name means three (tri), angle (kon), posture (asana).
Trikonasana, the three angle posture, is commonly known as the triangle posture. In ancient yogic texts, this asana has many symbolic meanings. One is that the triangle represents the mind, spirit and body.
Some ancient texts say this asana personifies the three forces of the universe: Lord Brahma (Creator), Lord Vishnu (Preserver), and Lord Shiva (Destroyer or Transformer).
Other texts say that Trikonasana is symbolic to the three audible sounds of the universe A-U-M that make up the sacred sounds in OM, which is frequently chanted by yogis in order to deepen their meditation practice, helping them to unify themselves with a higher power – the universe.
So when you practice these poses, you’re physically embodying religious ideas—whether you realize it or not.
All yoga postures are linked to ancient Buddhist or Hindu philosophies in one way or another.
Why wouldn’t they be, they were designed by yogi masters who were either buddhist or hindu.
4. Pranayama (Breath)
In Sanskrit, prāṇa means life force.
Yogic breathwork (pranayama) is used to move energy through the body and release any stagnant energy in “energy points” known as chakras.
This release of blockages aids the student to be able to sit in meditation for hours without being bothered by aches and pains.
According to Hindu belief, prāṇa originates from the sun and connects the elements of the universe. The yoga student is encouraged to keep this as a focal point in their mind as they breathe in the “sun’s energy”
Breathing exercises are done not just for relaxation, but to deepen your connection to this cosmic energy—again, aligning with buddhist and hindu theology.
5.Meditation
The ultimate purpose of asana and breathwork is to prepare the body and mind for meditation, the heart of yoga.
In meditation, the goal is to completely detach from the physical world and unite with the universe. This state is often referred to as nirvana or samadhi, key tenets of Buddhist and Hindu philosophy.
This level of deep mediation, a complete release of both mind and body, cannot be achieved without aligning oneself to the tenets of ancient buddhist and hindu philosophy; it’s impossible to do so.
6. The Farewell: Namaste
And finally, teachers and students will use the commonly known Sanskrit greeting “namaste” meaning “I bow to you,” to end the class.
This greeting often conflicts with some beliefs, as many only bow to their Creator – be it Allaah, God or Yahweh. Others who don’t ascribe to a creator – simply do not wish to bow to anything or anyone.
The Ultimate Aim of Yoga
Yoga was never meant to be “just exercise.” It was developed as a complete spiritual system, uniting body, breath, and mind to achieve enlightenment, being one with the universe or nirvana.
Ancient Yogis created the practice of Yoga, a way of life, so that students could strengthen their body with asanas (poses), combine their breath (pranayama) with movement and release their mind with chants, mantras and meditation.
From the first “Om” to the final “Namaste,” yoga is steeped in Hindu and Buddhist thought.
A yoga student cannot join a yoga class with the intention of not practising Buddhism and Hinduism. Over time, students naturally start adopting these beliefs. As the saying goes, “if you sit with a group of people, you become them.”
Yoga was created by Hindus and Buddhists, for Hindus and Buddhists. Trying to fit other beliefs into this structure can feel like forcing a puzzle piece where it doesn’t belong.
Many yoga teachers attempt to persuade students by saying yoga can be practised by anyone and it does not impede on other spiritual and religious beliefs.
However, the truth is – these statements are incorrect.
When practiced in its traditional form, yoga is not religiously neutral.
So what is the alternative?
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