[entropy12]

I never heard of anyone talking about or practicing yoga during my first 20 years of life growing up in India as a Hindu. And my family was pretty devout religious, which I am not. My wife and kids are Christians. Only after arriving in US at age 21 I heard of all these yoga classes going on everywhere. I never have attended a single yoga session in my life. So I do not know first hand anything about it. But my impression is it has more to do with physical exercises than religious rituals. If indeed they were pushing Hindu religiosity during yoga sessions, I do not think it would be so popular here.

[Jyotishi]

> I never heard of anyone talking about or practicing yoga
> during my first 20 years of life growing up in India as a Hindu....

The practice of Yoga, especially the physical postures and exercises are much more popular in western countries than in India, the land of Yoga’s origin. Some general information about it and Hinduism from about.com:

Introduction to Yoga Philosophy - The Bhagavad Gita

Introduction to the Bhagavad Gita

By Ann Pizer, About.com Guide
Updated September 16, 2012
About.com Health’s Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

The Bhagavad Gita is part of the Mahabharata, an ancient Indian epic poem. In the Gita, Arjuna, a great warrior, is faced with a difficult decision: whether or not to fight in a battle between his kinsmen. He is torn between his duty to fight alongside his brothers for a just cause, and his reluctance when he sees those he must fight against include his other relatives and mentors. Krishna takes the place of Arjuna’s charioteer and offers Arjuna advice on how to deal with the situation. Included in this allegory are lessons on how to lead a moral life, which form the foundations of the spiritual practice of yoga.

Although we say that the Bhagavad Gita in an ancient yoga text, it has very little to do with the physical practice of yoga (asana). The Gita follows Arjuna’s quest for spiritual guidance, and Krishna’s answers to his questions on how to realize his inner spirituality and take responsibility for his life and role in the world. Krishna counsels Arjuna to practice:

karma yoga, the yoga of service

jnana yoga, the yoga of knowledge, particularly self-knowledge, and

bhakti yoga, the yoga of devotion.

http://yoga.about.com/od/bhagavadgita/a/thegita.htm

[LukeL]

Have you heard of the Kudilini and Chakra? Many of these things along with ideas like acupuncture, reflexology, accupressure, rake, and other eastern practices have their roots in eastern religion. Even martial arts practice channeling your interal spritual energy for maximum effect. (although this is often exagerated in the west to mystify it and to fleece money from idiots)

[Cronos]

it depends. much of the yoga that I've seen in this country is just exercise, however do note that Sri Sri etc. are based on deeper Sanathana Dharma philosophy and beliefs.

I'm not going to comment on Hindu beliefs more than that the belief in one worshipping the self and emptying the mind are not Christian beliefs. The stretching etc is of course, non-religious :)