For many, yoga is simply a means of stretching, relaxation and fitness. However, beneath the surface lies a greater, darker spiritual meaning behind it.
Sharing personal stories and ministry encounters on the Heaven Meets Earth podcast, Abigail Robertson and Ryan Bethea along Courtney Smallbone and Kerry Hasenblag are reporting real spiritual consequences tied to yoga. The question is no longer whether it “feels good,” but whether it opens unseen doors to something far more dangerous.
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Spiritual Backlash and Church Discernment
Bethea from The Exorcist Files podcast recalled the backlash they received after covering yoga’s potential spiritual dangers He noted how fiercely many defended yoga and complained when The Exorcist Files had on a guest who advised away from such practices. Bethea found it revealing that people showed such passionate loyalty to something they claimed was not spiritual.
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As Bethea states, the spiritual and physical cannot be separated—making yoga a religious act whether people realize it or not. “It’s a very spiritual practice.”
Real Encounters with the Spiritual Realm
During a worship and prayer meeting, Smallbone shared how God answered her question about yoga’s spiritual nature. While praying for another woman, she laid her hand on her spine—and witnessed her begin to slither on the ground, later discovering she was a yoga instructor with long-term back issues.
After deliverance, the woman testified that she felt God’s healing and freedom. Smallbone discerned that the kundalini spirit—an energy often described in yogic philosophy as coiled at the spine—had been expelled. This encounter confirmed that yoga’s movements could indeed carry spiritual consequences.
Witchcraft’s Rise and the Hunger for the Supernatural
The discussion also touched on the broader rise of witchcraft in American culture. From mainstream bookstores to children’s toys, occult themes are becoming more common and accepted. Smallbone further noted that people are spiritually hungry—they want power, connection and truth—but are often drawn to counterfeits.
Instead of avoiding the darkness in fear, believers are encouraged to bring light into it. “I’m not intimidated by a defeated foe,” she said, referring to Satan. “We’re called to show people the real thing.” This hunger for the supernatural, they believe, is an opportunity for revival and redemption.
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Ultimately, we are called to use spiritual discernment in all matters. The Lord may ask believers to lay things down—not out of legalism, but for protection and holiness. Yoga might seem harmless, but instead of opening spiritual doors, consider it better to walk away in obedience.
Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.
