Once again, a subtle method is being used by the majoritarian community, under the name of the Government in power and backed by the powerful Hindu organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), to penetrate religious minorities. This has now reached the grassroots level of society — Government and private schools where our children study — through a directive to compulsorily observe “International Yoga Day 2026” on 21st June 2026.
As per Circular No. ED/PE-YOGA/2022/29, dated 16th June 2026, the Directorate of School Education has instructed all DEOs, Sr. SDEOs, and SDEOs to circulate the information to all schools under their jurisdiction. They are to create awareness and conduct yoga sessions in schools, ensuring maximum participation from both students and staff. An “Action Taken Report” along with GPS-tagged photos must be submitted to WhatsApp No. 9615146379 on the same day for onward submission to the Ministry, Government of India.
This is a matter of great concern for our innocent students, who have no proper knowledge of yoga in its truest form.
Background on International Yoga Day:
The first International Yoga Day was celebrated on June 21, 2015. The idea was proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his speech at the UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014. He described Yoga as “an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition.” On December 11, 2014, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 69/131, co-sponsored by 177 countries, the highest number for any UNGA resolution. It declared June 21 as the “International Day of Yoga.” The first worldwide celebration took place on June 21, 2015. India marked the occasion with a mass event in New Delhi involving 35,985 people from 84 nationalities, setting two Guinness World Records.
Why June 21?
- Summer Solstice: It is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and holds special significance in many cultures.
- Yogic Tradition: It is believed to be the day when Shiva, regarded as the first yogi, began transmitting the knowledge of Yoga to his disciples.
Since 2015, “International Yoga Day” has been observed annually on June 21 in over 190 countries through mass yoga sessions, workshops, and government events.
Christian Perspective:
Yoga has become incredibly popular in the Western world as a form of exercise, stress relief, and wellness. Millions, including many professing Christians, roll out their mats weekly for the physical benefits—flexibility, strength, and calm. But is Yoga truly neutral? From a biblical Christian viewpoint, the answer is no. Yoga is not merely stretching or a workout; its roots, philosophy, and practices are deeply intertwined with Hinduism and Eastern spirituality in ways that conflict with the exclusive claims of Jesus Christ. Christians should approach it with discernment and, ultimately, avoid it.
The origins of Yoga: Not just exercise
The word “Yoga” comes from the Sanskrit root “yuj” meaning “to yoke” or “to unite.” In its classical form, as outlined in ancient texts like the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Yoga is a spiritual discipline aimed at uniting the individual soul (atman) with the universal soul or ultimate reality (Brahman). This is not abstract philosophy—it shapes the entire practice.
Many Yoga poses (asanas) were traditionally designed as acts of worship or meditation honouring Hindu deities. For example, certain postures symbolically invoke gods like Shiva or represent Hindu concepts of energy centres (chakras) and the awakening of kundalini (serpent energy at the base of the spine). Breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation are meant to quiet the mind, empty the self, and achieve altered states of consciousness for spiritual enlightenment—not the kind found in Scripture.
Even “secular” or gym-style Yoga often retains elements like chanting “Om” (a sacred syllable representing the universe or Hindu gods), the greeting “Namaste” (the divine in me bows to the divine in you), or references to inner divinity and oneness with the cosmos. These are not benign add-ons; they reflect a pantheistic worldview where everything is god, humans are divine, and there is no distinction between Creator and creation.
Biblical reasons to avoid Yoga
The Bible is clear on mixing faith with pagan spiritual practices. Here are key convictions:
You shall have no other Gods before Me (Exodus 20:3)
God commands exclusive worship. Yoga’s goal of yoking to Brahman or achieving god-realization directly contradicts the biblical view of a personal, transcendent Creator who is distinct from His creation (Isaiah 42:8; Romans 1:25). Worshiping or honouring false gods—even through physical postures—is idolatry. Deuteronomy 12:30-31 warns Israel not to adopt the practices of surrounding nations: “Take care that you be not ensnared to follow them… and that you do not inquire about their gods.”
Do not be unequally yoked (2 Corinthians 6:14-17)
Paul warns believers against partnering with unbelievers in spiritual matters. Yoga yokes the practitioner to a system whose philosophy is antithetical to the Gospel: self-deification rather than dying to self (Matthew 16:24), inner divinity rather than salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), and impersonal cosmic energy rather than relationship with God.
The body as temple of the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 calls our bodies temples of the Holy Spirit, to be used for God’s glory. Offering the body through practices rooted in false religion is incompatible. Yoga’s meditative emptying of the mind opens one to influences other than the Holy Spirit. Christian meditation is filling the mind with God’s Word (Psalm 1:2; Joshua 1:8), not emptying it.
Danger of deception and demonic influence
Scripture warns of spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:12; 1 Peter 5:8). Many former practitioners and ex-Hindus testify that Yoga can open doors to deceptive spirits, kundalini awakenings (often described with intense physical and psychological effects), or a subtle shift away from Christ-centred faith toward self-focused spirituality. Paul notes that sacrifices to idols are offered to demons (1 Corinthians 10:20). Even if one intends “just exercise,” the spiritual roots remain.
No neutrality in spiritual practices
Attempts at “Christian Yoga” or “Holy Yoga” fail because they try to baptize a practice whose foundation is incompatible. Changing the soundtrack or adding Bible verses does not redeem the underlying theology of self-realization and union with an impersonal divine. As one perspective puts it, Yoga teaches focus on the self as the source of answers, while Christianity calls us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
But what about the physical benefits?
This is the most common objection. Stretching and exercise are good (1 Timothy 4:8 notes bodily training has some value). Christians can and should care for their bodies. However, the end does not justify the means when the means involve spiritual compromise. There are countless alternatives: walking, hiking, swimming, weight training, Pilates (properly stripped of Eastern elements), or dance. These provide fitness without the spiritual baggage.
Moreover, many who start with “just the exercise” report a gradual draw into the fuller philosophy—subtle worldview shifts, openness to New Age ideas, or diminished zeal for Scripture and prayer.
A call to discernment and holiness
As Christians, we are called to be set apart (Romans 12:2; 1 Peter 1:15-16). In an age of syncretism, where culture blends spiritualities like a smoothie, faithfulness requires saying “no” to what competes with Christ. Yoga is not harmless fun; it is a competing spiritual path.
If you have practiced Yoga, repent, renounce any involvement. Replace it with godly habits: Scripture meditation, prayer, fellowship, and wholesome physical activity that honours God. May we pursue holiness, guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, and worship the Lord our God alone.
So, this coming Sunday, are you going to Church or attend “International Yoga Day?” Choose wisely.
S. Akho Leyri
Kohima, Nagaland