Archive for January, 2011

Can a Jew Take a Yoga Class?

I must admit that even though I hail from California, I know very little about Yoga. Hence, I have consulted with a Yoga Guru as well as a Posek of mine, Rabbi Tendler of Ner Israel Rabbinical College, to better ascertain all of the necessary information to answer this question. Much of the following is based upon my conversations with both Rabbi and Yoga Instructor.

It is clear that Yoga is an important feature of Hinduism. Hinduism, is undisputed by everyone to be viewed as, simply put: Avodah Zara. For more on this topic see here here and Chapter 1 of this book. Apparently, there are many different types of Yoga, some involving, unannounced to the novice, “religious meditation,” and other types involving non-religious meditation.

In light of the above, t is important to realize that every religion that is started has some elements of truth to it, as this is how the religion attract adherents. However, the religion(s) “repackage” the truths with other beliefs, and present it as a “package deal,” and the claim is made that if one part is true, the whole must be true! The Rambam (Avodah Zara 1:1) writes that even Avodah Zara was started in this manner, and over time the original truths were pushed to the background, and only the nonsense remained.

At the end of the day, it is important to distinguish between “meditation” and “exercise(s)” that are deemed beneficial to a person’s mental and physical well being. Indeed, from where I’m standing, there is nothing wrong with meditation per se. In fact, references to it can be found in the Sifrei Kabbalah and even to a certain extent in Sifrei Mussar (see: Hisbodedus). People claim that meditative exercises can assist them in reducing weight, toning nerves and muscles, and improving their mental health, among other things.

If this is true, there is nothing wrong with it, and a person might even be fulfilling the Mitzvah of “V’Nishmartem Me’od L’Nafshoseichem” by doing so. That said, to believe that this only works through a religious medium, and to pattern these exercises in the manner of those that practice Avodah Zarah, is clearly not proper according to Halacha. Accordingly, my Rebbe stresses that since Yoga is to this very day closely connected with Hinduism, it would not be proper to partake in, let alone organize a group of Jewish women or men, to partake in a “Yoga Group,” or a “Yoga Class,” even if they are properly doing these exercises. Rather it should be called a “Meditation Class,” or something along those lines.

January 9, 2011 | Tags: , , | 3 Comments 


Want to schedule Rabbi Green for a talk, or Shabbaton? Got a question? Need an answer? Click here to contact Rabbi Green.

Listen to Rabbi Green's most recent podcast here.
Subscribe or View Archives.