Yoga is a religion, an offshoot of Indo-Persian Brahmanism.The word is derived from the root /Yuj-/ (Greek /zugos/), meaning "join". Our word "yoke" is from the same root. /Yoga/ can also mean an attachment, tacked on to the atheistic /Samkhya System/ for people who want to worship a personal god. Yoga's full title is /Sesvara Samkhya/, or "TheisticSummation".
The personal god of Yoga is Isvara. He is a particular soul /purusha/ possessed of supremme knowledge and power, and exempt from incarnation. By his will he supports the universe, though he had no part in creating it. His relationship to the world is one of grace and mercy. He can help the devotee on the path to "salvation" (freedom from the endless treadmill of re-incarnation).
To contact Isvara, the devotee uses asceticism. Practices used include: sitting motionless in one of many postures (e.g. the lotus position); making the mind a blank; staring at a candle flame or a /Mandala/ (a complex psychedelic geometric pattern); hyperventilation; concentrating on a fixed word or phrase (/Mantra/). By these means the devotee seeks to obtain an ecstatic vision of Isvara and a sense of unity with him, thus acquiring magical powers. What usually happens is a "close encounter of a third kind" in which the psychic, the mystic and he occult take over, and rationality and reason depart.
Transcendental Meditation (TM) is the American school of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (A "Yogi" is an adept at the Yoga method of meditation). Some westerners use the physical aspects of Yoga as a general aid to concentration and "keeping fit". The postures of Hatha Yoga stimulate the endocrine system of the body. Deep slow breathing improves the action of lungs and heart. This stimulates the brain and central nervous system and brings a sense of wellbeing. Satisfied customers claim relief from ailments such as headache or backache to hypertension (high blood pressure) and thyroid eficiency.
Richard Foster in his much-touted book /Celebration of Discipline, the Path to Spiritual Growth/ (a dreadful book!) recommends Christians using Yoga-like techniques (chapter 2, the Discipline of Meditation) to contact the Spirit of Christ. Beware! this is sheer New Ageism. Mother Basileia of the Lutheran Sisterhood of Mary, Darmstadt, warns very strongly against exposing oneself to occult influences by using Yogic, etc., rather than Christian methods of meditation. What is wrong with the traditional Evangelical "Quiet Time" of daily Bible reading and prayer? Or the well tried methods of Brother Lawrence? The intention of the "god of this world" is to blind us to the Living God of the Bible, and he will use all methods, especially religious ones, to do this.
We must realise that the aim of Yoga is spiritual. It is NOT an ancient discipline to obtain health and beauty. All the postures and exercises are directed towards making the mind susceptible to occult or psychic influences. If you open the door to Isvara, Isvara will get you if you don't watch out! We know that Isvara is a non-entity; but the occult powers behind the facade of Isvara are very real.
If you want to meditate, use a proven Christian method; and if you want to keep fit, stick to jogging and push-ups, or callisthenics or swimming. Join your mind and body to Christ, who said, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:29-30).
