My dear friend and sister in Christ, Rebecca, began practicing yoga during a very dark period in her life, child bearing. What has been deemed by many women as a beautiful yet challenging time was not her experience. It was beyond difficult; it was dark, isolating and filled with panic--a moment by moment grasping to function and breathe. Darkness overwhelmed any ability of hers to engage fully in life and all became too dark to see any light. She felt her family was better off without her; “I’m ruining my family and my children.” Medication did not work (several were tried), well meaning prayers and insights of fellow believers did not help, and her own prayers felt unanswered. It was hopeless. The conclusion…if medication and prayer could not help, then a life of panic was her new reality.
I would love to report that I gave her a nutritional program, a blend of supplementation to help and one yoga class cured her… that’s not the case. What I can report is that with time, God did hear her prayers and the above protocol did work! The greatest of these answered prayers actually came through Breath and Praise in yoga. It gave her a sense of quiet, a sense of peace in the storm; she could breathe; she could hear. Her racing mind began to quiet enough to hear God. Her physical body could stretch out the tension and the fear of motherhood. Her spirit, through a unique form of worship, could rise higher than the panic that rose within her. “God’s voice is mightier than any of the crashing waves of the sea.” Psalm 93:3-4
You might wonder isn’t yoga New Age, mystical and definitely wrong for believers; how could Rebecca “pray through yoga”? I know these were my thoughts! I researched; I studied; I prayed. I sought out those already pioneering the field of “Christian Yoga.” I visited Pneuma Yoga several times (located in Daphne, AL) and met with the owner and also the author of the book, Yoga for Christians, Susan Bordenkircher. Being a Christ follower, she explains how she came to a place of peace that a Christian can practice yoga. Susan states, “For a Christian, yoga becomes a meditation in motion, preparing your heart and body to work together as tools for worship.” I also visited Living Waters Yoga in Grosse Point, MI, also meeting with one of the owners, Sarah Mebus-Holder, reaffirming that we can apply movement of our bodies, minds and souls to worship God.
Once again, I found myself in a place of surrender of hearing God’s voice above the judgment of others… so began my yoga journey, which has continued for the past 3 years. While not a Christian Yoga studio, my primary practice is at HTL Yoga in Carmel. HTL, a pioneering yoga studio in the state adds the benefits of detoxifying heat to breath and movement. It is a studio that has allowed me to practice my form of yoga, Praising and glorifying God. I appreciate, owner and teacher, Heather T Leo, for opening her studio, to make available for us a class that will serve to provide a place of Breath, Movement, and Praise.
While the scientific evidence to support the power of breath is abundant, Ann Voskamp, author of A Thousand Gifts, illustrates breath and praise experientially. “She inhales, soft whistle breath calling Him, her very existence an unceasing invitation for Him to come. She exhales, breath returned to Him, a circular ventilation of the soul. Tonight in a soundless house surrounded by soundless fields, she simply is, breath after breath. And in this state of breathing, being, she utters the name of her Maker, YHWH. Inhale: YWHW. Exhale: YWHW. We breathe…. And call His name. In the soul-quiet of a tranquil farm night, I listen to the sound of breathing and feel how close He comes. He’s as close as the sound of your every breath. Lord, every breath is Your name. Come.”
As a practitioner, I would be remiss to not share with you what my research has shown to be the health benefits of yoga, which include but are not limited to relief of high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythm, obesity, back pain, and arthritis. It has aided in general health maintenance, building muscle tone, and flexibility. According to Dr. Jim Mercola’s research, “an overview of more than 100 studies, looking at the effect of yoga on mental health found evidence that yoga has a positive effect on depression, sleep problems, schizophrenia, and ADHD”
(http://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2013/02/22/yoga-benefits.aspx)
I share this with all of you to invite you to experience Rebecca McGuckin’s “Graceful Yoga” class on Sunday December 1st 1pm @ the HTL Yoga Center in Clay Terrace (Carmel, IN). Come experience Breath, Praise and Movement in a heated room, whether you are an experienced yoga participant or have never tried yoga…. all levels welcome!
Go online to htlyoga.com, click schedule, scroll down to Dec 1st and click to register. You can purchase the 40 Days Pass online or in the studio for $10. Feel free to call the studio today to sign-up 317-843-9642, or just show-up that day and share in the worship experience with me! See our flyers at the River’s Edge offices this week.
Relieve Holiday Stress with Breath, Movement and Praise!
*Want to see more of the redemption for Rebecca and her family, see our testimonial page!
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