Reclaiming the Mat: A New Perspective on Faith and Yoga
The intersection of faith and physical movement is often a minefield of controversy, particularly when the word "yoga" enters the conversation. In a recent episode of Revelation Wellness - Healthy & Whole, founder Elisa Keaton dives into the long-standing debate: Can Christians Do Yoga? It is a question that usually triggers immediate defensiveness or rigid dogma, but Keaton approaches it with a refreshing blend of biblical reasoning and anatomical appreciation.
Keaton does not shy away from the complex history of the practice. She acknowledges that yoga, in its traditional sense, is a Hindu practice designed to yoke the practitioner to specific deities. However, she pivots the conversation to a more fundamental truth: God is the original designer of the human body. Before any religious system claimed a specific posture, the Creator designed our joints to bend, our lungs to breathe, and our muscles to stretch.
The Tension Between History and Biology
One of the most striking points in the episode is the distinction between the physical mechanics of a stretch and the spiritual environment of a studio. Keaton suggests that while a Christian can move their body in any way that brings glory to God, the environment matters.
- The History: Yoga poses like the "warrior" or "child’s pose" have Sanskrit roots tied to Hindu worship.
- The Biology: These same movements trigger the parasympathetic nervous system, offering genuine physical relief from the compression of daily life.
- The Solution: Keaton encourages listeners to "come out and be separate," suggesting that while the postures themselves belong to God, Christians should be discerning about where they practice and what spirit they are yoking themselves to.
[Image of the human parasympathetic nervous system]
Discerning the Space vs. the Stretch
Keaton is clear that she doesn't use the word "yoga" at Revelation Wellness, preferring terms like "Rev on the Mat" or simply "movement." This isn't just semantics; it's about removing the baggage to focus on worship. She argues that the enemy is a "pawn on God’s chessboard," and that no physical movement is beyond the reach of redemption. If a child in a preschool sits "crisscross applesauce," they aren't accidentally worshiping a false god; they are sitting.
She reframes the "Mountain Pose" as standing in the presence of the Lord and "Child’s Pose" as a posture of total surrender to the Father. By reclaiming these movements, she empowers believers to stop fearing their bodies and start using them as instruments of praise.
The Golden Nugget: "Your body is not just something you have. It’s who you are. He bought our bodies at a price, and it now belongs to Him. You are not your own."
A Matter of Conviction
Refencing Romans 14, Keaton handles the "stumbling block" argument with grace. She recognizes that for some, especially those with traumatic or dark backgrounds in New Age practices, yoga movements may never feel safe. That conviction is honored. However, she challenges the broader church to stop "slinging fear" at one another.
Movement is a biological necessity. When we stretch, our bodies respond with a sense of well-being that God designed. Keaton’s message is ultimately one of integration. We aren't just souls trapped in bodies; we are whole beings. Whether we are kickboxing, dancing, or stretching on a mat, the goal is the same: to be reconciled to God in every fiber of our being.
Listen to Revelation Wellness - Healthy & Whole: https://podranker.com/podcast/revelation-wellness-healthy-and-whole