This is part three of a four part interview with yoga expert, Laurette Willis.
If you have not read the previous two posts, you should do so first.
In part one: The Simple Way This Yoga Instructor Finally Found Peace, we learn that Laurette Willis was heavily involved with yoga and the New Age for 22 years. It was a life of chaos and confusion until she turned to Christ.
In part two: “Christian Yoga Is An Oxymoron,” Willis explains the foundational reasons that yoga does not belong in the Christian church.
In part four: PraiseMoves the Christian alternative to Yoga we learn about the life-changing event that happened to Laurette Willis on February 25th, 2001, at 10:35 in the morning.
Now (in part three) we will see additional compelling evidence why Christianity and yoga do not mix, as shared by former yogi, Laurette Willis (and others).
Hindu Missionaries.
According to Laurette Willis, founder of PraiseMoves, “Yoga is the missionary arm of Hinduism and the New Age movement.”
And this is not her own opinion, but what Hindu practitioners have claimed since at least 1991. In an article in Hinduism Today titled “An Open Letter to Evangelicals,” Swami Sivasiva Palani warns Christians, “A small army of yoga missionaries – hatha, raja, siddha and kundalini – beautifully trained in the last 10 years, is about to set upon the western world. They may not call themselves Hindu, but Hindus know where yoga came from and where it goes.” [1]
“These missionaries,” warns Willis, “are called… instructors. They’re called yoga instructors.”
“It’s an evangelism of sorts,” says Willis. And now the missionaries are not just in the western world, they are in the Christian church, where they don’t belong.
“I am absolutely convinced that yoga and Christianity CANNOT and SHOULD NOT mix. To do so is a blatant act of breaking the first two commandments,” says former guru turned Christian, Mike Shreve. [2]
Even Hindus recognize that yoga and the Christian faith are not compatible.
Professor Subhas Tuwari writes in Hinduism Today, “Efforts to separate yoga from its spiritual center reveal ignorance of the goal of yoga.” [3]
What is the goal of yoga? In “Christian Yoga Is An Oxymoron,” Willis identifies the goal of yoga as death and reincarnation.
Sannyasin Arumugaswami asserts, “Hinduism is the ‘soul of Yoga….A Christian trying to adapt these principles will likely disrupt their own Christian beliefs.” [4]
Hindu Faux Trinity.
The relationship between yoga, Hinduism, death, and reincarnation becomes very evident when we look at the Hindu deities and the “lord” over yoga.
According to Willis, yoga has a “lord” of its own that is not the Lord Jesus Christ. And this “lord” is one among three Hindu gods who have preeminence among the 330 million.
“Even though there are 330 million Hindu gods,” says Willis, “there’s a skewed trinity of sorts.”
“[Hindus] believe Brahma is the creator,” shares Willis. “Vishnu is the so-called preserver. And Shiva the destroyer, the destroyer of the world, the destroyer.”
So which of these false gods is the “lord” of yoga?
“Lord Shiva is the lord of yoga,” Willis reveals. “He’s the destroyer.”
“Can you see John 10:10 there,” she asks, “when Jesus says about Satan, about the thief? He comes to steal, kill, and destroy? That’s it. He’s the destroyer.”
“Now it kinda makes sense,” Willis says, reminding us of what she shares in the previous post, “Yoga is a discipline of death.”
“It’s to have control over the body,” she says. “And at first we think, oh that’s a good thing. ‘Oh I feel so serene after my yoga class. I just feel like so relaxed, so serene, like a bliss. I’m not thinking real clearly, but I am so relaxed. My mind is like empty.'”
The “seemingly calming” affect is actually part of the preparation for death and reincarnation, claims Willis.
Spiritual Influences of Yoga.
And there are spiritual influences in yoga that cannot be seen, Willis shares. But their effects can be seen.
“And then” after practicing yoga “you start doing things maybe a little bit different.”
Some of the subtle influences that Willis notes include diminishing church attendance, confusion, and chaos.
In her eBook The Truth About Yoga, Willis quotes Christian counselor, Celeste Davis: “I’ve noticed a consistent pattern in my clients who are Christians and are involved in yoga, whether it is ‘regular yoga’ or ‘Christian yoga’…their lives are marked with chaos and confusion.”
“Do you believe in things you can’t see?” Willis asks in order to demonstrate the spiritual nature that exists in the world we live.
“Have you ever seen a radio wave? There are many dimensions that we can’t necessarily see. Even the Bible speaks about that. It says that the wind goes wherever it wishes, but we cannot see it. But we can see the effect that it has.”
“It’s the same with spiritual things. There are spiritual things…that have influences upon us that we cannot see. Perhaps you’ve walked into a room before and said, um, this feels a little tense in here. How do you know that? How are your sensitive to that?”
Something’s Not Right.
Willis says Christians often get internal warnings about the dangers of yoga.
She shares, “And I know you know some wonderful Christian people, who love the Lord, who do yoga. And many of them, they may have had a check in their spirit. I get emails, many emails from people saying they’re so glad [ that I] mentioned getting that check in their spirit.”
Willis says the check in our spirit is when something just “doesn’t feel right here.” Some people call it a “gut feeling” or say “something told me.”
Willis continues, “I would daresay that something…[is] Someone with a capital S, the Holy Spirit of God.”
“That’s how the Lord speaks to us,” she says. “My Sheep know my voice. The voice of a stranger they will not follow.” She urges, “Be sensitive to Him.” Willis further explains that the way to know the Lord’s will is by knowing and meditating on the truth found in God’s Word.
Willis not only admonishes Christians to stay away from yoga, but she pleads that they would warn and protect others.
Brother’s Keeper.
Willis has a strong concern for weaker Christians who might be more easily led astray by yoga.
She shares, “I know there are strong believers [reading] this, going, ‘come on Laurette, I’m not going to go off and start chanting and going off to an ashram like you and your mom did. I am a strong believer.'”
But Willis pleads, “You are the people I am speaking with in particular because you have an understanding and a relationship with the Lord that a lot of new believers and young believers don’t have.”
“Are we are brother’s keeper?” She asks, then answers her own question. “I believe that we are.”
“If you’re doing yoga and you have a new believer who looks up to you, people who admire you, your children or grandchildren, people who know you. Yes. You’re not influenced by yoga, you’re above all that, you have a strong relationship with the Lord (there are subtle influences, but I am just setting that aside for now). But what about that young Christian, that young believer that doesn’t have your discernment?” she asks.
“They look up to you and they say, ‘you know what, Mary goes over to that yoga class at the YMC (what’s that C stand for? oh! Christian. Right!) A — but that’s seven miles from my home. Right down the street here is the ramalama ding dong ashram and they’ve got free yoga classes. Why don’t I just start going to classes there instead? Sister Mary does it. She’s my example. She’s the one I’m following.'”
She urges stronger Christians to abstain from yoga “not out of fear…but out of love.” For the sake of our brother or sister in Christ, Willis pleads, “we must abstain from every appearance of evil.”
How To Inform Others.
Willis desires to make it as easy as possible to share the truth about yoga with whoever will listen. So she has created a FREE eBook, which I have referenced several times in these interviews. It is available at TruthAboutYoga.net. There the book is available for viewing or for download. In addition, she has a webinar (video) which can be accessed on the same page.
“Are you living in a town where you see ‘we’ve got yoga classes’ on the church door?” Willis asks. This is the perfect opportunity to share the truth about yoga. “When they see who the real lord of yoga is, they will think twice about it.”
Here are some people Willis suggests you might share the information with:
- Friends or family involved with yoga
- Pastors
- Churches
- Women ministries
Will you help spread the word about the dangers of yoga?
Another way to get this information out is by sharing this interview with as many people as possible on Facebook, email, or other social media. You also have my permission to print out copies and give them to whoever you’d like.
Coming Soon!
The next and final part of the interview will conclude with Laurette sharing about a way to get all the benefits of yoga — without compromising your spirituality. In fact, claims Laurette, what she has to offer will improve your relationship with the Lord.
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Next: PraiseMoves: A Christian Alternative to Yoga
Return to: Biblical Health Study
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[1] Hinduism Today, January 1991 as quoted in “The Truth About Yoga” at http://www.truthaboutyoga.net
[2] http://www.truthaboutyoga.net
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
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Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.
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© 2017 Mischelle Sandowich
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