The matter in summary: Former Olympic wrestler, Signe Fidje Store, believes yoga is a worship of Hindu idols, which she believes are demonic. She supports Vennesla pastor Geir Stomnås, who warns that yoga can open up “evil spirits”. Store stopped yoga after a strong spiritual experience when she was 24 years old, where she experienced being possessed by a Hindu demon. She then distanced herself from all the alternatives and was saved. Mindaugas Gedminas, a former top athlete who also practiced yoga, shares Store’s view and believes that yoga led to confusion and uncertainty. Yoga instructor Guro Birkeli believes it is possible to combine yoga and Christianity, and offers “Christian yoga” in Vennesla. – I understand that yoga is both seen and experienced as harmless, but it is not just exercise, says Signe Fidje Store. The former Olympic wrestler from Tana supports Vennesla pastor Geir Stomnås, who warns that yoga can open up “evil spirits”. As a top athlete, she herself has practiced hot yoga as a form of recovery. – I didn’t think there was anything spiritual about it. I just wanted to train and stretch. But when, at the age of 24, she experienced a strong spiritual experience, she decided that it was right to stop practicing yoga. – Experienced being possessed Store says that she has always been a searching person. Before she was saved, she has, among other things, participated in several shamanistic rituals. – I was fascinated by shamanism, tarot cards, crystals and astrology. I was a very searching person, wondering why we are here on earth. Signe Fidje Store found it exciting to explore shamanism, crystals and astrology. In 2019, she was saved, she says. Then the dark thoughts also disappeared, according to Store. Photo: Privat During a shamanistic ritual in 2019, Store had an unpleasant experience. By then she had been practicing yoga for four years. – I experienced being possessed by a Hindu demon. It made me start to reevaluate the spirituality I was looking into. But since it was a Hindu demon, I thought it must have something to do with yoga. – You don’t think it was about the shamanistic ritual you took part in either? – The fact that I experienced being possessed, I think has to do with the ritual itself. But the fact that it was exactly a Hindu demon and no other spirit power that I was possessed by, I believe is directly linked to the fact that I practiced yoga as the only Hindu-spiritual practice. Yoga Modern yoga is based on traditional yoga, which comes from Hinduism. But at the beginning of the 20th century there was a development where “monotheistic interpretation of Hinduism inspired by Enlightenment philosophy and Unitarian Christianity”, according to Store norske lexikon. From 1990 onwards, yoga has increasingly become a mass phenomenon, and is increasingly considered to be an “alternative” practice in Western countries. For many Western practitioners, yoga is primarily a form of exercise that consists of physical exercises, as well as possibly breathing techniques and meditation. Today, there are several Norwegian congregations that offer “Christian yoga” and yoga services. Sources: Store norske lexikon and Margrethe Løøv, associate professor of religious studies, theology, religion and philosophy About faith There are several Christian communities in Norway who believe that yoga is not compatible with Christianity, because of the link to Hinduism. – Some believe you can bring spiritual forces to life, says associate professor Margrethe Løøv in Kompass. – If you believe that there is a spiritual reality, and that physical practice can open up to it, then it can be scary. Yoga “defector” Signe Fidje Store believes that through the physical exercises you open up to the spiritual, whether you are aware of it or not. – But what about those who do not believe in evil spirits? – You open yourself up to the spiritual forces, regardless of whether you are aware of it or not. You may not notice it yourself. Today, Signe Store runs a Christian tiktok. She usually works as an engineer. Photo: Private Several people share the same vision After the shamanic ritual, Store said a prayer to Jesus, and shortly after she received a revelation. – Then I distanced myself from all the alternatives that worshiped the creation, and not the creator. The 29-year-old points out that there are several Christians who share her views on yoga. One of them is Mindaugas Gedminas from Kristiansand. He practiced yoga for several years. – It looks very good and innocent. But that made me more confused, and unsure of the right path, says Gedminas. When Gedminas practiced yoga, he went to India on a retreat, among other things. Photo: Private – Unpleasant Gedminas, like Store, has a background as a top athlete. Among other things, he has taken part in the Olympics and World Cup in boxing. He stopped practicing yoga after he experienced losing a distinction between what was right and wrong. Almost a year ago he was saved. – Jesus appeared to me. He came in my dream and changed my life. Then all the evil ended, says Gedminas. The former professional boxer now lives in Kristiansand. Just over a year ago he was saved. He no longer practices yoga. Photo: MATHIAS BERGELD / BILDBYRÅN – There is no such thing as Christian yoga The former professional boxer believes that yoga is completely incompatible with Christianity. – Yoga as a physical exercise always leads to the spiritual. It is meant to worship Shiva, Khali and all the other demigods that they have in Hinduism, says Gedminas, who himself has been on a yoga retreat in India. He reacts to the fact that there is “Christian yoga” in Norway. – It is impossible. You can’t call yourself a Christian and practice yoga at the same time, he believes. Offers Christian yoga Yoga instructor Guro Birkeli believes that you can perfectly combine yoga and Christianity. – It is quite right that yoga has its origins in another religion and culture. But today, yoga is so much different. You can make yoga whatever you want it to be. Guro Birkeli arranges Christian yoga in Vennesla. Photo: Privat She herself offers “Christian yoga” in Vennesla. – When we sit down to meditate, it is about getting a closer relationship with the Christian God Jesus Christ. In Oslo, there are also several congregations that offer church yoga. Among other things, Ullern parish and Fagerborg parish. Bergen Cathedral will this year offer room Christmas yoga. – There are some who think it could be demonic. I think it’s about fear, and a bit of ignorance, concludes Birkeli. Hello! 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