THE VATICAN'S VIEW OF YOGA
Through the eyes of the Vatican and practitioners around the world, yoga, the ancestral art of breath and body, finds its place in a universal quest for inner harmony , respectful of all beliefs.
In a world in search of unity and meaning, yoga is invited into even the most ancient spiritual dialogues .
Between theological prudence and recognition of its benefits, the Vatican and other Christian voices question the place of this age-old practice in inner fulfillment.
Written by TINA - April 2025
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About 10 minutes
WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO DISCOVER
• The origins of the Christian view of Eastern practices
• How the Vatican has approached the issue of yoga over the decades
• The nuances between faith, Christian meditation and yoga practice
• The points of convergence between the yogic and Christian spiritual quest
• How some believers today integrate yoga into their inner journey
• A universal reflection : what if yoga was a language of peace beyond beliefs ?
"Let's take a look"!
THE ORIGINS OF THE CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON EASTERN PRACTICES
For centuries, the Christian West has maintained a cautious relationship with practices from the East. Since the Middle Ages, fascination with Indian spirituality has often been accompanied by mistrust. Yoga, perceived as an alternative spiritual path, has long been seen as foreign to the Christian tradition. This reserved attitude stems from a misunderstanding of the purposes of yoga, wrongly considered solely religious, when it is above all a discipline of unification of body, breath, and mind .
In the 20th century, with the rise of interreligious dialogue, perceptions began to evolve. Outward-looking Christian figures, such as Thomas Merton , showed that certain meditative practices derived from yoga could enrich the Christian inner quest without betraying the faith.
Today, the Church urges caution, while recognizing that certain techniques of bodily relaxation , conscious breathing and meditation , if practiced in harmony with faith, can promote greater spiritual depth .
In this spirit, the choice of a yoga mat also takes on a strong symbolism: it becomes a personal sacred space , an anchoring support for silent prayer, meditation or conscious practice. This is why at Yogaterrae , we have imagined mats with an ecological soul (natural cork, eco-responsible rubber), offering everyone an anchor point that respects themselves and the planet, whatever their beliefs.
The carpet then becomes the bridge between interiority and the universal, a humble companion in the service of a quest for inner peace shared by all traditions.
HOW HAS THE VATICAN APPROACHED THE QUESTION OF YOGA OVER THE CONTEMPORARY YEARS?
For several decades, the Vatican has been closely observing the rise of yoga in the West.
Yoga, with its ancient philosophical roots, has long raised questions among Christian authorities. In the early decades of the 20th century, the practice was viewed with suspicion, perceived as a spiritual approach alien to the foundations of Christianity.
However, as the globalization of wellness practices progressed and yoga became popular in the West, the Vatican's thinking became more nuanced.
An essential distinction has gradually emerged:
on the one hand, a yoga centered on an autonomous spiritual search , which could be seen as an alternative to the Christian faith;
on the other, yoga considered as a physical and mental discipline , detached from any religious quest. In this second case, the Vatican recognizes that yoga, practiced to improve the balance of the body , self-control and inner meditation , can be compatible with a Christian spiritual life, as a tool for calming, refocusing and support for prayer.
Today, in many ecclesial discourses and reflections, this approach predominates: if the practice remains at the service of personal well-being and inner health, without doctrinal confusion, it can coexist with a process of faith, enriching the path of man towards greater awareness and inner peace.
THE NUANCES BETWEEN FAITH, MEDITATION AND YOGA PRACTICE TODAY
While yoga is now widely recognized as a beneficial physical and mental practice , it also touches on more subtle dimensions: meditation , self-awareness, spiritual openness. It is in this area that distinctions must be made, particularly in a Christian context.
The Christian faith is based on a direct relationship with God, nourished by prayer, the sacraments, and meditation on the Scriptures. Christian meditation is not about absorption in an impersonal state, but about deepening a living dialogue with the divine .
Yoga , in some traditions, can integrate a more holistic spiritual quest, aiming for union with a transcendent reality. However, in its modern practice —especially that taught in the West—yoga is mostly approached as an art of physical and mental living : a means of cultivating inner balance , health, and mindfulness.
Thus, when practiced without religious intention, yoga can perfectly coexist with a Christian faith or any other belief. It then becomes a support for attention to the body and breath, without replacing prayer or personal spiritual foundations.
This distinction, better understood today, allows us to promote yoga as a discipline serving well-being , self-control and interiority , while deeply respecting the spiritual traditions to which each person may belong.
POINTS OF CONVERGENCE BETWEEN THE YOGIC AND CHRISTIAN SPIRITUAL QUEST
At first glance, yoga and Christianity appear to come from very different spiritual worlds. Yet, when one looks beyond the outward forms, profound similarities emerge in their inner quest.
In both traditions, the emphasis is on mastery of the mind , detachment from material distractions and the search for union with a higher reality: God for Christians, the Absolute (Brahman) or the Self (Atman) for yogis. The path passes through inner discipline , meditation , prayer or even contemplation .
Breath , central to yogic pranayama , is echoed in the importance of the Divine Breath in the Christian tradition, seen as the Holy Spirit that animates and guides the soul. Work on breathing, concentration, humility and inner purification are common approaches to approaching the mystery of the divine.
Likewise, the attitude of the heart —kindness, forgiveness, detachment from selfish desires—is valued in both paths. The goal is not just to perfect oneself for oneself, but to open oneself to a larger reality , by cultivating love , compassion , and service .
Thus, beyond doctrinal differences, yoga and Christianity can meet in a universal vision of the inner journey: one which invites everyone to become more conscious, more loving and more connected to the breath of life.
HOW SOME BELIEVERS ARE INTEGRATED YOGA INTO THEIR INNER JOURNEY TODAY
Today, many believers, especially Christians, choose to integrate yoga not as a substitute for their faith, but as a tool for spiritual deepening . For them, the practice of asanas (postures) and pranayama (conscious breathing) is not a religious act, but a way to refocus, to fully inhabit their body, and to open their hearts to a more embodied and conscious prayer. Yoga thus becomes a support for interiorization , promoting the inner silence necessary for Christian meditation, without confusion with external beliefs.
This respectful approach sees yoga as a complementary discipline: it prepares the mind for contemplation, for listening to the divine, and for welcoming the inner breath, often associated in the Christian faith with the Holy Spirit. Far from erasing their spiritual identity, these practitioners testify that yoga , practiced with discernment, can become a path to unification , a way of living their faith in a more embodied, deeper way, and more attentive to the mystery of life.
In this perspective, the choice of a natural yoga mat , respectful of the body and the Earth, also takes on a symbolic value: it becomes a sacred, humble and silent space, conducive to meditation and inner elevation.
A UNIVERSAL REFLECTION: WHAT IF YOGA WAS A LANGUAGE OF PEACE BEYOND BELIEFS?
Beyond doctrines, dogmas, or traditions, yoga can be seen as a universal language that speaks directly to the human heart. By its non-proselytizing nature, it invites everyone to explore their inner self, pacify their emotions, and cultivate a quality of presence in the world. Whether one is a believer, agnostic, or atheist, the practice of yoga connects us to the essential: breathing, body awareness, and listening to inner silence.
In a world often fragmented by differences of faith and culture, yoga offers a path to unity , where respect, tolerance and kindness become concrete acts experienced on the mat, then transposed into daily life. It teaches that beneath varied appearances, there is the same breath of life, the same aspiration for peace and fulfillment.
Through this perspective, yoga does not stand in opposition to beliefs: it becomes a silent bridge , a space of inner encounter where each being can walk at their own pace, in harmony with their own spiritual or existential quest. Practicing on a natural, solid and respectful yoga mat also means honoring this search for balance between the visible and the invisible, between the body, the soul and the spirit.
Thank you TINA for this post
Thank you for sharing this inner journey with us , where yoga reveals itself not as a boundary, but as a path of peace, unity and deep humanity.
TINA's Bio
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TINA
1994, Reunion Island & Mauritius, a Life driven by the Indian Ocean and Yoga
Since childhood, this intrepid traveler has traveled the globe, leaving her footprints on beaches around the world.Passionate about surfing, scuba diving and sailing, she has made the oceans her playground and source of inspiration.
The freedom of the waves, the serenity of the ocean depths and the wind in his sails have punctuated his journey, always guided by a quest for connection with nature.
It was through her explorations that yoga became more than a practice for her – it was a way of life.
Between early morning surf sessions and meditative sunsets, she found in yoga a perfect balance of strength, flow and self-awareness.
Today, she combines her passion for water sports with teaching yoga and is part of the Yogaterrae team, here in France, in the South West and often remotely :)
This adventurer is a true source of inspiration for anyone who aspires to live in harmony with their body and nature.
Through her stories of incredible experiences, she invites everyone to open up to a world where every wave, every breath and every posture is a celebration of life.
