Yoga + Christianity | 2

Let's start at the beginning...what is yoga anyway?

The word yoga means unity or to yoke together. The practice of yoga "yokes" or brings together our body and mind. Yoga is built on three main components: physical postures,  breathing and meditation. Wait right there. Did I just say meditation?
 
Exhale.

I did.

I get it. Meditation can carry some baggage, especially with the emphasis some eastern religions put on mediation, but it's important to remember in this dialogue - and every dialogue for that matter - context is important. When I'm using the word mediate, I'm using it as a transitive verb, borrowing from Merriam-Webster's definition: "to focus one's thoughts on : reflect on or ponder over."

{quick grammar lesson: a transitive verb is an action verb that has a direct object}
   // We meditate (transitive verb) on God's word (direct object).

Philippians 4:8 (MSG)

​This is actually an important distinction as we think about yoga. In a Christ-centered practice, we don't meditate for the sake of meditating or to empty our minds, but rather we focus our thoughts, reflect on or ponder over...God's word. 

There are actually several references to meditate in the Bible. I'll share a few:

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. Pslam 119:15

My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. Psalm 119:148

In a Christ-centered yoga practice, our meditation is inspired by God's word.

So now that we have the basic components of yoga (body postures, breath and meditation) - I'd like to share why yoga has been such a meaningful and powerful practice in my own life and why I'm passionate about bringing that experience to others.

Christianity can be very "heady." What do I mean? Many religious people know the right answers, but those answers don't necessarily impact their lives. Perhaps they were raised with a heavier emphasis on religion or tradition than on relationship.  They understand religion in their head but it hasn't necessarily made that 18 inch descent down into their heart. There's this disconnection between their faith and their life, their belief and their actions. But what if the practice of yoga can actually start to bridge that gap? To yoke together head and heart, body and soul, faith and actions.

In many of my classes I tend to say..."what we work out on our mats, we can carry with us into our lives." There's something powerful about connecting our movement with our breath, with our mind. As an instructor, I might be teaching a class about the need to surrender (maybe surrendering the need to control) and while my words might challenge people, if I link those words with a physical posture of surrender - suddenly that becomes a more holistic experience. We're not just talking about the need to surrender, we are physically surrendering. And maybe...just maybe that head knowledge can start to trickle down and begin to close that 18 inch gap.

And this is true of the instructor, as much as it is the participants. Often where the Lord leads me to teach...is where He knows I have something to learn. We're all on the journey together.

Join me next time as I dive into teaching and participating in secular (non religious) yoga classes.

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious - the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. 
​Philippians 8:8-9 The Message (MSG)