In light of the stir today regarding Albert Mohler's position on Christians and yoga, consider John Piper's sermon in 2008 where he calls Bethlehem to be "a Christ-exalting, Bible-saturated, discerning people" and relates it to this issue.
The Gospel Is Not Yoga
O how jealous I am that you be a Christ-exalting, Bible-saturated, discerning people. For example, I pray that you don’t just sign up for your local Yoga class and not know what you are doing. Yoga is to the body what mantra is to the mouth. They are rooted in the same worldview. If you go to the Minneapolis YWCA website and click on “fitness classes,” there are 22 references to Yoga, including Beginning Yoga and MS Yoga and Youngster Yoga and Youth Dance and Yoga and Yoga for Everybody.
One explanation says that in the mantra yoga “one has to chant a word or a phrase until he/she transcends mind and emotions. In the process the super conscious is discovered and achieved." Then Yoga itself is described like this:
Yoga focuses on harmony between mind and body. Yoga derives its philosophy from Indian metaphysical beliefs. The word yoga comes from Sanskrit language and means union or merger. The ultimate aim of this philosophy is to strike a balance between mind and body and attain self-enlightenment. To achieve this, yoga uses movement, breath, posture, relaxation and meditation in order to establish a healthy, lively and balanced approach to life.
You were born again through the living and abiding word of God. This word is the gospel of Jesus Christ crucified and risen. Don’t fall prey to another gospel. There is no other gospel, and there is no other path to God, or to ultimate well-being, than hearing, understanding and believing the scandalous news of Jesus Christ.
(HT: JT)
