Does Yoga Violate the Separation of Church and State?

Yoga is not Hinduism. Both Yoga and Sanskrta predate Hinduism. Yoga and Hinduism are near neighbors, and like many long-term neighbors, their lives have been intertwined. However many Hindus do not practice Yoga, more still only practice one form of Yoga, and many practictioners of some forms of Yoga are ignorant of Hinduism.

By the way, other scholars say that "Union" is a better translation of Yoga than "yoke", despite the alliteration.

Swami Param hit the nail on the head. The word "yoga" means to yoke with God. And the God of yoga is typically Shiva or some other Hindu incarnation. If you know consciously that you are yoking with Christ consciousness, then you may be doing a form of Christian yoga. To understand what yoga is one might try the self-enquiry practices of philosophy called in Samskrit vichara. One tries to reconcile the phenomenon with the noumenon and realize that there is only one God, there is nothing but God, and it is our job to see the presence of God in everything. Does this sound like Christianity to you? Furthermore, the difference between jiva (the self, the atman), the jagan (that which moves, or the world) and Ishwara (God) and how they are separate, the same, and the way in these interact with each other. And if you are practicing yoga to gain strength and power, you are concerned with Iccha (will) Jnana (wisdom) and Shakti (power of manifestation. Furthermore, the understanding that Shiva (consciousness) and Shakti (manifestation of phenomena) are one thing and never separate, and in this, no one person is separate from any other person or physical manifestation of the earth. Does this sound like Christianity? Is christianity something that breaks the separation between church and state? Yes. If you are practicing yoga and your body is your temple because you are realizing God and your Self, are you violating the separation of church and state? Well, since it is completely inward and philosophical in nature, then no. But if you are Christian and you don't like this and call it religion, then you will say that it violates that separation because it completely negates all separation!!! Western minds don't like such thoughts. They get bent out of shape. So if you practice yoga, please realize that the purpose of every thought and breath and deed is to TOUCH and SEE GOD. So. Is it religion? I practice it and I am very serious with my faith. Faith and spirituality are typically linked with religion, which is the political manifestation of sects and worldly nomenclature that seeks to divide and conquer. If you would like to do Yoga Booty Ballet, so be it. But the purpose of yoga is to realize GOD, not to get abs from Navasana and Virasana and flexibility from Hanumanasana and Paschimottanasana. These words are Sanskrit and they belong to an ancient faith called Sanatana Dharma which has erroneously become known as "Hinduism." Do know what you do and why you do it. And check out Ramana Maharshi's method of self-enquiry. You can skip the political manuscripts masquerading as the word of God and touch living faith that does not rely on martyrdom and hierarchies.

The Dharmic/Indian "religions" don't require you to believe in God or anything specific so technically everyone is a Hindu/Buddhist/Jain and anybody can practice yoga. It's only a problem for true Christians and Muslims who believe the Dharmic faiths are "pagan" practices here

@Kevin: Technically you're a "Hindu" no matter what you do. "Hinduism" and the other Dharmic faiths are inclusive. And comparing yoga to a swimming pool lol?