Is Yoga Demonic? A Grounded Response to a Viral Question

I was scrolling through Threads recently when I saw a question that stopped me in my tracks: “Is yoga demonic?” It had hundreds of comments and sparked a flood of confusion. At YogaRenew, I was taught that yoga isn’t a faith—it’s a practice meant to complement any belief system. That’s why seeing so many people struggle with this question was a bit of a shock. But after reading through the comments and doing some research, I began to understand the concern.

Many yoga postures are named after figures from Hinduism, and for those who follow other faiths, that can feel conflicting. Physically embodying ideas outside your belief system can feel off-putting, especially if the language doesn’t align with your values. But here’s the thing: the names of these postures are longstanding terms used to communicate them. You, as the practitioner, are welcome to relate to them however you want. If “Warrior” doesn’t feel empowering, rename it. Call it Rockstar, Hunter, Soaring Falcon—whatever feels good in your bones.

Yoga isn’t demonic. It’s a healthy living guideline built to pair with any faith that encourages surrender to a higher power. There’s no specification of whether that should be one god, many gods, or the universe. Yoga is about connection, not conversion. It’s about breath, presence, and strength. You get to decide what each posture means to you—and that’s where the real power lies.

Written in collaboration with Microsoft CoPilot