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Is Yoga Really Effective in the Long-Term?

Discern!

To those who’ve bothered to read this post, my guess is that you’re here to find out if yoga is really effective in the long-term scenario. And so, I am going to talk about yoga in this post as I look at it from a Christian perspective, a mental health perspective, and a practical perspective. My goal is to go into the depths of analysis as I deal with the question and I hope you find something helpful from this post.

Stretching One’s Self for Mental Peace? Is Yoga Really Effective in the Long-Term?

For those who don’t know, yoga is a series of stretches and breathing exercises originating from the East (India). Interestingly enough, the West (America & Canada) actively embrace yoga.

And what does yoga promise? Rather, how do gurus and yoga instructors mass-market yoga as? Well, they say “yoga is good for your mind, it eases the muscles, and reduces stress.”

I mean, sure, it’s an exercise that eases the muscles, but, why do people idealize yoga so much? So, in the next subsection, I’ll be taking a closer look at what it means to do yoga. As yoga protrudes beyond the boundary of exercise and into the territory of spiritual matters.

Why the Hype?

Ever wondered why yoga is so popular right now, especially in the West? Well, I think I’ve found the reason why. It’s because it’s foreign.

There’s a part of human nature that loves things which are foreign. People crave something unknown and that’s why advertisings of healthy protein shakes or perfumes always mention some tropical fruit or ingredient foreign to the Western climate.

But, aside from its physical risks, yoga poses spiritual risks often too grim for imagination. Remember, I said that it originates from the East?

Well, it originates as a practice meant to yoke with the so-called “gods” or “universal consciousness” of Hinduism. As a matter of fact, the word “yoga,” comes from the Sanskrit word “Yuj,” defined as “to unite.”

And just take a look at the meanings behind poses in popular types of yoga such as Hatha yoga. One pose is the Warrior pose which embraces the story of a Hindu deity’s son known as “Virabhadra.”

Another pose is the Corpse pose, a pose where one stretches with their back touching the floor. This yoga pose intends to prepare one for death. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to embrace death in any way or manner.

Psalm 118:17 King James Version (KJV)
17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.

Continuing on, this craving for the foreign is exactly why Eve ate the forbidden fruit.

Genesis 3:6 World English Bible (WEB)
6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took some of its fruit, and ate. Then she gave some to her husband with her, and he ate it, too.

The Bible says that Eve saw that the one tree which God told her not to eat from as visually appealing and it promised her wisdom. Yoga is similar to this forbidden fruit in that it is visually appealing to many with its foreign, Eastern charm and promise of peace.

The tree Eve ate from was unlike any of the trees which God had made for Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. So, she disobeyed God and ate from that tree.

Both Adam and Eve disobeyed God but obeyed the devil which tempted them to eat from that tree. And this disobedience allowed sin, death, sickness, injustice, and more to enter the world of humans.

Romans 5:12 World English Bible (WEB)
12 Therefore as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin; so death passed to all men, because all sinned.

Bearing the Yolk of Lord Jesus, Alone

At the end of the day, yoga is endued with many spiritual implications. It is a result of Hinduism and is saturated with various Hindu concepts and spiritual meanings.

I know people who’ve practised yoga, and if anything, it’s made things worse for them. But, I’ve seen the transformative power of God’s love in Christ Jesus which changed the lives of various people who I know.

As a Christian, it is spiritually wrong to practice yoga. If you want mental peace, calmness, and no stress, then ask God. Ask Christ Jesus for the peace and grace which He promises to those who trust Him.

John 14:27 World English Bible (WEB)
27 Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.

Lord Jesus Christ is God who came down to Earth in the form of a human being and He bore the punishment for your sins on the cross and sacrificed Himself for you. Three days after dying, Lord Jesus Christ rose again, conquering death in your place, which I talk more about in this post. Now, when you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, you can enjoy a relationship with God, Himself.

Romans 5:15 World English Bible (WEB)
15 But the free gift isn’t like the trespass. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.

Trust God for the peace that surpasses human understanding, and read His lovely word, the Bible.

Pray to God, and tell Him about the things that trouble you. He will take care of you and make everything turn out for your good.

Philippians 4:6-7 World English Bible (WEB)
6 In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

In the end, yoga follows the principles of Hinduism, by nature. If you do yoga, you are embracing a worldview contrary to the Christian worldview.

1 Corinthians 10:21 World English Bible (WEB)
21 You can’t both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can’t both partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons.

And Jesus makes it clear in His Word to only bear His yolk instead of doing yoga and yoking with spiritual beings.

Matthew 11:28-30 World English Bible (WEB)
28 “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

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The Symbol of Hope, Peace, and Salvation

This world is saturated with symbols. Symbols are a reoccurring thing and they appear almost everywhere. They appear in literature, movies, culture, and more. Moreover, symbols act as memorable reminders of bigger ideas. Examples of symbols include the statue of liberty which is a symbol of freedom in the United States while the butterfly is a symbol of transformation. But what is the symbol of hope, peace, and salvation? To find out, continue reading.

Hope and Its Symbolism

Hope is such a magnificent and scriptural virtue. I talk specifically about hope in this post. But, when you hope for something, you aspire to what will be coming to your hand. So, if you are collecting money to buy a new car, you are working and hoping for that new car.

Some of you are hoping to have a child while others are hoping to buy a house. The thing with hope is that it requires you to set a goal and to work for that goal until it becomes reality.

The Biblical version of hope is when you aspire to what God is going to do in your life. Furthermore, the Bible clearly states that God is willing to help you.

Psalm 54:4 World English Bible (WEB)
4 Behold, God is my helper.
    The Lord is the one who sustains my soul.

For me, the thing that really symbolizes hope is the empty tomb. When I recall that the grave could not hold our precious Lord Jesus Christ even after He died on the cross for me, my heart jumps in joy.

And when you hear that Lord Jesus Christ is the God of the Living, your dream ought to come to life. He introduces Himself as the God of the living because He conquered death, and He wishes to give you a life worth living.

Mark 12:26-27 World English Bible (WEB)
26 But about the dead, that they are raised; haven’t you read in the book of Moses, about the Bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? Exodus 3:6 27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are therefore badly mistaken.”

So, when you make plans and set goals to accomplish, God will bless those plans. He will make sure that your plans come to fruition as long as they are good plans. If they are bad plans which will ultimately harm you or someone else, then, God will lead you to something better.

Proverbs 16:3 World English Bible (WEB)
3 Commit your deeds to Yahweh,
    and your plans shall succeed.

The Symbol of Peace

Moving onwards, peace is another thing that the Bible talks about. Peace is such a vital part of life. If you do not have peace, you are restless. And being restless is not fun. It is actually quite stressful.

But, what if I told you that you can have peace even in a stressful situation? You do not need to be restless because of your situation, you need to calm down and receive the peace of God.

Philippians 4:7 King James Version (KJV)
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

God’s peace is the assurance that all things will end up good for you because Lord Jesus Christ will take care of you. And to remember this assurance of peace promised to you by God, remember Holy Spirit. In the Bible, Holy Spirit is often symbolized as a dove.

But, the symbolization of peace is not just any dove, it is Holy Spirit. And Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God living in you. Jesus Christ’s spirit is Holy Spirit and I believe He is the symbol of peace.

In the chaotic turmoil of everyday life, Holy Spirit lives in you. God’s kindness, God’s love, God’s power, and God’s peace resides within you.

So, when life brings its challenges to your doorstep, you just need to put your faith in Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1-2 World English Bible (WEB)
5 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; 2 through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

You have peace with God because you are justified by faith. And this faith is the trust you have in Lord Jesus Christ. So trusting Him is the means by which you attain the peace that surpasses all understanding. You don’t need to understand His peace, you need to believe and experience it.

The Symbol of Salvation

Finally, we come to the symbol of salvation.

Salvation is when you know that you’re safe and sound. This applies to your body, soul, and spirit. All three things need salvation, and I believe Lord Jesus Christ answers all of them.

Lord Jesus Christ provides salvation through the cross. And I can think of no symbol greater than the cross of Calvary. The rugged cross Christ Jesus bore on His shoulder is a symbol of suffering to Christ, and yet, a symbol of salvation to us.

1 Corinthians 1:18 World English Bible (WEB)
18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

The cross represents the suffering our Lord Jesus Christ endured on our behalf so that when God suffers in the flesh as a human being, His blessings come unto us. Now, His sacrifice ensures that we live a life belonging to Him.

But, to accept His sacrifice, I urge you to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, if you have not already. As soon as you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, your life is under His leadership and you’re name is written down in Heaven.

Galatians 2:20 World English Bible (WEB)
20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.

We are no longer bound by the grasp of sin or the torments of guilt, rather, we are the blood-bought children of God Almighty. Hell no longer expects our arrival as our names are sealed in His heart.

Now, remember that Lord Jesus Christ did not stay dead, in fact, He rose again after three days. That is why the empty tomb of Lord Jesus Christ is the symbol of hope. It is a hope that since He is alive, we are alive.

And when Lord Jesus Christ suffered on the cross, He dealt with our sickness, our sin, and our guilt. Therefore, Lord Jesus Christ gives us the blessings He deserved in all His perfection.

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Peace That Lasts the Trials of Eternity

Peace of God

Peace that lasts, is like gold, it is wonderful, yet at the same time, it is very difficult to attain. And yet, we all want peace that lasts. Chaos and disruption is the last thing people want as a constant within their lives. So, in this post, we’ll be looking at the topic of peace, why we need it, and as to how we could attain such a thing. So, continue reading to learn more.

The Peace You Need

You know in your heart that you need peace. It is not just a want, it’s a need. It’s not a need for survival, but a need for your mental health.

God did not build you to endure never-ending chaos. There is a time for work, and there is a time for rest. Otherwise, where would be your peace? Even God doesn’t like chaos. He made peace out of the chaos. For example, look at the beginning of creation. Our world was originally in a state of chaos (I personally believe this state of chaos was due to the fall of Lucifer as is heavily hinted at, throughout the Bible).

Genesis 1:2 King James Version (KJV)
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Then, God intervened. Furthermore, the Bible says God brought the world back into order and that is the time He created Adam and Eve, the first time humans entered the picture of history.

Genesis 1:31 King James Version (KJV)
31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

You see, God saw the order in the world He made. He saw how peaceful everything was, and it was good to Him. He sees peace as good. But, that peace did not last, as humanity betrayed God, resulting in all the evil we witness today, which I talk more about in this post.

Nevertheless, the point is that peace is a must for your mental health. You need it to live a good life.

Constant Chaos or Promising Peace?

Now that we have established the need for peace, let’s observe a promise stated within the Bible.

John 14:26-27 World English Bible (WEB)
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.

God gives a solution to answer the chaos in our hearts. To our constant turbulence, He responds within a promise of peace. And what does He says about that peace?

He says it is a peace which is unlike the peace which the world might offer. The world with all its temptations and struggles likes to offer things like greed, drugs, and so many other enticements.

James 1:14-15 King James Version (KJV)
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

These things will offer a level of peace, but that peace is always temporary, and it leads you to a fate of destruction and calamity. Jesus Christ does not offer peace like that. He offers you peace that lasts.

However, this is only possible because of Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of God, Jesus Christ. And so, the choice now belongs to you. Do you want constant chaos or promising peace?

Deuteronomy 30:15 World English Bible (WEB)
15 Behold, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and evil.

Peace That Lasts

Continuing on, the peace that lasts is only possible through submission to God. If you want peace for your mind so that no matter the situation, you will have the peace of God, you need to accept God.

And what I mean by accept, is to believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Saviour. Jesus Christ is God who came down to Earth in the form of a human being. He healed the sick, cast out demons, and set people free. And yet, religious teachers grew upset and jealous of Jesus Christ hence why they forced the Roman government of that ancient time, to scourge and crucify Jesus Christ. Jesus could have stopped it with His legions of angels, and yet, this was all part of God’s plan to redeem the entire human race, to put peace within the hearts of those who allow Him to do so.

Jesus Christ received your divine punishment on the cross so that He would be punished with the hell meant for you. And if you accept His sacrifice by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, His Holy Spirit enters you to give you God’s peace that lasts.

Without God, the peace that lasts, is an impossible thing to achieve. Even when God brought peace to the chaotic state of this world, He first spoke light into being.

Genesis 1:2-4 King James Version (KJV)
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

So, you need God to overcome the chaos with His peace, as is symbolized by the light.

Moreover, this does not mean that after accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you will never face a challenge again. On the contrary, life will continue to hurl its obstacles at you. But, with Jesus Christ, you will have the peace of Holy Spirit to strengthen you. That is why He is known as the “Counselor.” If you were never going to face a dilemma, you would not need a counselor.

John 14:26 World English Bible (WEB)
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.

Therefore, seek Holy Spirit in your issues. And trust God for the peace that lasts. I promise you that God never breaks a promise and that His peace will guide you because He promised to give you peace.

Philippians 4:7 King James Version (KJV)
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.