Ask yourself, “What am I really going for in this life in May of 2023?”  I’d like to say I’m disciplined in many areas of my life but if I were to list them with specificity, it would have some caveats.  I’m disciplined in my prayer life, when time allows and in various seasons.  I’m disciplined in daily exercise, when I’m not traveling.  I enjoy going to church weekly, unless it’s winter and 6” of fresh powder has fallen.  Do I consider these things excuses or a sign of weakness?

Not at all.  It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  The rod is important for correction, learning and growing yet grace allows us to accept our imperfections.  Christ is the perfect one.  We can strive to be like Him and understand that we will always fall short of His glory. The point is that we are putting in effort which frees us from the guilt of perfection.

Coming to having a disciplined life on a yoga mat helps release us from guilt to exercise.  Yoga isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being present.  Consistently showing up to a yoga class, for yourself, will help develop flexibility, strength, mindfulness, and a sense of belonging, which is the key to overcoming illness and disease.  As with any sport, practicing once a month isn’t going to start a habit.  Do it 3-5 times a week and watch your whole life change for the better.  A regular Christian yoga practice does the body, the temple of the Holy Spirit, good.

What are you going for: healthy joints, low blood pressure, peace in your mind, better posture, like-minded friends?  Be consistent, form healthy habits and get disciplined.  Give yourself the freedom to give rise to a disciplined practice of yoga.

We have 2 classes this week:  our weekly Wednesday class at noon in person at 8330 W 80th in Arvada (live at Facebook Live https://www.facebook.com/frogposeyoga/live_videos/ )
and  2nd Thursday 7pm at Red Rocks Church Arvada. 

Begin that healthy habit and carve out both times for yourself this week!  Both classes are a beginner power yoga flow, where we pray, listen to Christian music and encourage each other to discipline our mind, body, soul and spirit in community. 

Starting June 1 we will be offering our weekly class on Thursdays in the park instead of inside at Flatirons.  Thunder Cloud Park - just up the street at 72nd and Wads.  9am Thursday mornings through August.

Find your passion and a definite desire to do good things!
Hands down, my major prophet avatar, the one I most relate to in the modern age, is Isaiah. There's something about the way he writes and the content he discusses that I can really get behind and understand.  This is one of my life verses:

There's nothing like finding yourself in an unplanned pregnancy to realize how valuable and necessary is a local pregnancy care center.  I can speak from experience; being alone and receiving the news that you're expecting a child, without a plan is scary and confusing.  To support a place like Boulder Pregnancy Resource Center (BPRC), can make the difference between life and death by offering FREE ultrasounds, diapers, housing and most importantly, unconditional love.  Just as Jesus would have it!

Here's an easy and fun way to come alongside BPRC.  Join in on our 3rd Annual Golf Fundraising Tournament on April 29 at Top Golf in Thornton.  We are praying for 25 teams of 6 players, selling mulligans, auctioning off a room full of fabulous items, door prizes and winning team prizes, to raise $10,000!  Please echo this request and for smiles, good weather and safety of all participating.

The good news is that you don't even need to know how to play golf to have fun.  We are looking for volunteers, silent auction items, donations, prayers and folks that just want to come for lunch and fun.

Sign up here if you want to get involved or email me.  Play for $120/adults, $85/under 15.  Grab your small group, neighbors, friends and family and have a fun day as we #golfforlife2023!

As for Christian yoga, on Wednesday, join us for a gentle flow of breath, moving meditation and a focus on God's word for our regular in person class.  Location:  8330 W 80th Ave #1, Arvada.  Or on Facebook Live https://www.facebook.com/frogposeyoga/live_videos/ Being a Christian, speaking up for those who can't speak for themselves the strength building and lessons we learn on the mat that we can take out into the world to DO GOOD!

8 Critical Invitations, 1 Not so much.

Jesus said:

1.  COME unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest! -Matthew 11:28 
2.  ... if any man thirst let him COME unto Me, and drink...  -John 7:37 
3.  COME and dine!"  -John 21:12 
4.  COME and See  -John 1:39
5.  COME and Take up your cross  -Mark 10:21
6.  COME away to a secluded place and rest  -Mark 6:31
7.  COME you blessed of my father and inherit the Kingdom -Matthew 25:34
8.  COME follow me ~ Luke 18:22

What if I NEVER took anyone or anything up on an invitation? What and where would I be today?   If I didn't accept a ride to the airport, I'd be late.  If I said no to eating clean, I'd likely be unhealthy.  If I didn't agree to my high school YoungLife gathering, I'd surely be lost in this life. Big time!

Making Invitation can mean the difference between connection and isolation, between lost opportunity and growth, or even life and death!

The invitation requires two willing participants.  The first person has the courage, fortitude, wisdom and time to flap their gums into forming a question, while simultaneously accepting a yes or no answer.  For me, when playing this role of the first person, a full schedule, insecurities and fear of rejection can inhibit my taking the initiative.  And it requires me to let go of the outcome.  I challenge myself to fall in love with the idea of being uncomfortable to the response.

The second person has to role of responding appropriately. I would hope that my responses to invitations are honest, straightforward and timely.   And in my messaging I sprinkle some grace with the truth.  Thus whether I accept the invitation or pass on it for this time, I pray the inviter feels glad they offered the invitation and feel comfortable trying at another time.

Does it always play out this way?  If I'm being honest?  No.  Being a good inviter requires good intentions, forethought and follow-through.  Being a good invitee requires tact, grace and saying yes to some and no to others.  Both are equally important for a fulfilling life of connection and community.

With a little fear and in trepidation...

9. Will you COME sit with me at church tomorrow?
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We had such a wonderful time of making new friends and connections with our 6 Week Yoga Challenge that I don't want to interrupt the connections we made.  I'm missing my J'ogi community at Red Rocks. Last week I stood around looking for ANYONE I knew and in the sea of friendly faces I found three Jill and KK and Kathi.  I want to feel connected in my church home.  Do you?

I attend the 8:30 am service in Arvada.  I don't always roll in on time but I pass by the pile of fresh delicious donuts, grab a hot coffee in my reusable cup and make my way to the front row of chairs, 2nd tier back from the stage, left of center.  

If you are looking for someone to sit with on Sunday, I'll be there hoping you join me!  Here's the challenge, pick up the phone and invite someone to church.  Let go of the outcome.  If they say yes, great.  If not, that's fine too.  Don't give up!  Let's pack that 2nd front row with likeminded Jesus Yogi's!!!  Feel free to take me up on the invitation if you want.  If not, that's fine too!  Let's get good at inviting and feeling ok with the response.  Practice makes present.

I have 2 more invitations for you this week:
-Join us for a gentle flow of breath, moving meditation and a focus on God's word about community on Wednesday at noon for our weekly Beginner Yoga Flow inperson class:  8330 W 80th #1 Arvada.  Try Facebook Live https://www.facebook.com/frogposeyoga/live_videos/ if you can't be inperson.
-2nd Thursday Red Rocks Sports Yoga is 7-8pm.  Sign up on this link ​

Welcome to 2023, J’ogi’s!

Following many Christmas gatherings with family and friends, ushering in the new year at the last and final party of the year was the perfect culmination. At the stroke of midnight, like the winds of change, God blew into existence an instant life reset.  No sooner had the Times Square ball dropped, the highs, lows and in betweenness of 2022 were but a memory and there was nothing I could do to change any of its outcomes.  Tuning my ear to the lyrics of Auld Lang Syne helped me realize how the former God given 365 days were over and it was time to begin fresh. I exhaled deeply into the party favor horn, I let go of what was for all that’s going to be new.

Each year I pray God will grow me more into the likeness of Christ.  I prefer easy lessons over the difficult.  I’d rather enjoy gentle nudges instead of being tested by refining fire.  I never know how God’s going to be moving in my life standing between one year and the next.  His grace is sufficient and I cling to His truths as the breezes of 2023 begin to move me.

For the last two years God has inspired me to do a deep dive into a word.. in His word.  2021 was the word justice.  The prophet Isaiah inspired me with that one because I never really knew what it meant to seek justice.  As I read the bible throughout the year, I’d make note anytime God spoke about the word and that began my annual journey into a word of God.  2022 was light and that word helped me deepen my understanding that Jesus is the light of the world and He’s faithful to chase away the darkness.  As I approached the end of this year, I asked God for the new word, and prayerfully what came up is the word wind. Wind?  It’s probably no coincidence that I’ve been residing for most of my life in one of the breeziest communities, a close second to the state of Wyoming.  Wind has been a constant in my life so it seems appropriate.

Do you use one of God’s words as an annual study?  Like me, perhaps you feel inspired to get a deeper understanding of one of God’s words. Can I offer a challenge?  In the next few weeks, take some time in prayer and ask God to give you a word.  He is faithful to answer, so seek and knock.  Open the door to a subtle nudge and once you’ve got the word look for it in your reading, your life, journal about it and I’d love to hear about all you’ve learned in 2023. You can share my word too, if that works.

Here's just a couple of things I’ve come to know about the word wind:

• In 7th grade a Boulder County chinook wind ripped off part of the roof of our house.  (That was scary); 
• I heard someone say that the Holy Spirit is like the wind because it’s invisible yet we can see the effects of it.  (I love the word picture of John 3:8);
•  “It’s the most flexible tree that sustains the strongest winds” (A phrase I often use in my Christian yoga class when cueing the pose called tree pose);
• Dry conditions and a bad spark, combined with gale force winds stirred up December’s 5000 degree fire storm in my local neighborhoods, destroying all that was in its path. (Wind gives me anxiety);
• Wind pushes the metro Denver brown cloud of smog away and over the plains. (Wind is cleansing); 
• I like to offer encouragement to someone in a tough situation with the phrase my Nan taught me, “there’s never an ill wind that doesn’t blow some good.” (Wind can be both good and bad). 
• When the air smells like Greeley I know snow is in approaching, meaning ski conditions will be great at Eldora (Wind brings weather)

It should be interesting what I learn from this. I’m jazzed to blast into this year.  How about you?  These next 12 months hold within them the excitement of possibility, adventure, opportunity and success yet to be discovered. Realistically, I know there will be troubles but I take heart with my feet fitted firmly in the Word of God and welcome His breezes to blow.  God’s going to use the Frogpose ministry to further his Kingdom and we’re prayerful for His breath of fresh air to fill you with healing in each class.

Join us this Wednesday at noon for a beginner Christian moving meditation as we focus on God's word about wind.  We keep trying to simultaneously offer Facebook Live https://www.facebook.com/frogposeyoga/live_videos/and has proved challenging in our new space so please join in person: 8330 W 80th Arvada #1. We'll keep trying to broadcast.

For those of you on the fence about signing up for the 6 week yoga challenge starting January 15, there's still a couple spots available.  Sign up here.

I’ve got 3 dozen Christmas cookies to make for Annie’s cookie exchange.  I know the perfect recipe: Nanny’s tried and true molasses cookie recipe.  It might make her roll over in her grave to know this, but instead of using ill-processed canola oil for the liquid shortening, it will be real butter.  Since I prefer fresh, always, minced ginger root will replace the dried jarred powdered stuff.  Gut health is on my mind too, so why not use the local Longmont-made Bulk Store gluten free flour?

Today, in the solitude of my kitchen, while jamming out to my favorite Holiday classics playlist, I made the dough to be chilled overnight, to be rolled into balls, rolled in granulated sugar, and baked tomorrow for that yummy out of the oven flavor.  While doing so I had a lovely chat on the phone, catching up with Cam and Bla.  I turned on the Christmas tree lights.  Everything was going according to time until I reached for the key ingredient, molasses.

I had plenty remaining in the Brer Rabbit bottle to complete the recipe yet it had matured into slower than molasses molasses.  It was the thickest, darkest glob of goodness, that refused to move!  What would have normally taken me 10 tops to prepare became a 30-minute endeavor.  WOW!  What a test in patience.  Observing the molasses instantly reminded me of God’s patience for me in learning how better to live in obedience to Him.

I love how God teaches me lessons in everyday things, such as cooking, and how it relates to the work I do on my yoga mat.  Just when I want to rush things in life, God offers slowness as the option.  It’s in these moments off the mat where we can make a choice for freedom and victory in the Lord by allowing for His timing of things, accepting it and letting it go.  I can choose the way of the straight path of least resistance or speed through and possibly miss the blessing? 

Often times in the warm up or integration opening part of a Frogpose beginner flow class, you’ll hear the verbal suggestion to “move as if you’re moving through molasses”. Why?  So often we arrive at our mat with a sense of rush to have made it through the class doors on time, or we have a long list of to-do’s lingering in our brains.  Not to mention, the current Colorado winter weather, which presents our fascia as stiff and cold at the start of any given work out.

As a guide for class, I often notice students speeding to the next pose as if it’s some kind of race.  For example, if I cue right arm high, some consciously draw attention to doing so with intention, while some shoot an arm up in seconds flat without even thinking about protecting shoulder or the supporting muscles and ligaments.  Rather than allowing The Breath of the Almighty to drive the pose with a controlled 4 second inhale (with full body awareness), they hurriedly force the pose. Especially in the early part of class, when the body is yet warmed up, injury can happen when poses are rushed.   Each class is an opportunity to practice patience that can be taken off the mat and into real world situations.  Hurry and rush or have patience and notice – the option is yours.

My work around with completing making the batter was to use the good old modern microwave.  A couple of seconds to zap the goo and voila, I could get it out of the bottle.  All the brown blob needed was some time to warm up and soften.  Once warmed up, it flowed out the bottle with its regular molasses slowness. 
Frogpose Yoga Tip “Observe the Molasses”

1.  Feel the slow pace.
2.  Have patience in the warm up.
3.  Cultivate a mindful slowing down.

Join us in person class this week as we set our intention on the fruit of the spirit patience. Come work it out with God as a gentle flow of breath, moving meditation and a focus on God's word.  Facebook Live https://www.facebook.com/frogposeyoga/live_videos/

Don't froggette to sign up for the 6 Week Yoga Challenge in January.  Space is limited and it's filling up.  Start 2023 on the right foot..or left.  

Normally, I write my thoughts to the general J’ogi community as a whole.  For some reason I felt prompted to offer a message to guys only.  So, to all the men out there, this message is for you:

Do you want to see positive change in your walk with Jesus, break throughs in your personal issues, and improvements in your overall health: mental and physical?  Let me say it plainly:  you need F.R.O.G. Pose yoga!

I know you laugh, and think yoga is too girly, but the practice is as much for servant leaders as it is for the servant helpers.  If not more so for the stronger vessel.  There’s no other exercise, on the planet, besides yoga, that will help you in all areas of your life.  Before 2020, a majority of our in-person students were men.  These men offered themselves permission to leave ego at home and to commit to stretching and strength training with F.R.O.G. Pose yoga on a weekly basis.  Why?  Because they stepped out of monotonous gym routines, ear bud wearing, rat race work outs and found out for themselves just how valuable Christian yoga is to support their athleticism and overall health.

Each 60-minute F.R.O.G. Pose yoga class is met with deep breathing, intentional and sometimes challenging physical movement, prayer and bible verses.  Men leave yoga classes standing taller and feeling ready to tackle the day.  The strongest bodies with the most mindfulness towards life’s challenges, come out of yoga studios.  There’s nothing more attractive to women than a man who’s integrating mind, body and soul, which gets fulfilled in a Christian yoga class.

Society needs you guys to come back to your mat, work out your salvation, your thoughts and your muscles, and into re-alignment with God.  Life as a Christian is hard but especially for you who are the masculine heads of households and businesses.  You may not know it but society is watching how you behave in the world.  Do you blow your stack easily?  Is your blood pressure elevated?  Do you feel like you can’t shake the stresses carried on your shoulders?  Is your mind racing uncontrollably?  Yoga can help fix this.

A better question for man is how are you holding it all together without Christian yoga?  Men, challenge yourselves.  Show up this Wednesday and experience how it feels physically to grow in your walk with the LORD and your stature.

This week's class mental focus is on celebrating our true identity in God: making them both male and female. Join us for a gentle flow of breath, moving meditation and a focus on God's word. 
In person: 8330 W 80th Arvada Wednesday at noon.  Thank you Flatirons Dance and Revive The Bridge! for helping us find a new home.
or online at Facebook Live https://www.facebook.com/frogposeyoga/live_videos/

My training as a yoga teacher has its origins in the hot and stinky world of Core Power.  Classes start at 91 degrees F, all the way up to 105!  The combination of sweat, hot breathing and hard working bodies is enough to make anyone gag! One of the pillars of yoga is cleanliness, and a vigorous hot class of stretching and strength building on a yoga mat can change that quickly.  It's not too unlike the life of a Christian; turn up the heat and see how you smell? 

I was relieved when my teacher Joy began to spray lavender essential oils.  With a simple reflex of her finger, she changed the foul smell to something pleasing to the senses.  Do you believe it’s possible for you, personally, to be that sort of change agent in your surroundings for Christ?
What comes to your mind when I say the phrase “fresh cut grass”.  What comes to your heart when I say the phrase “grandmas perfume”.  What comes up in your soul when I say the phrase “hold a baby or puppy close to your face”.  Wouldn’t you agree that most of us would say “that is good”.  John 12:3 says then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.  I’m not sure what would be worse?  The smell of wet hair and dirty feet or sitting on hands and doing nothing?

There are five basic human senses: touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste. The sensing organs associated with each sense send information to the brain to help us understand and perceive God’s creation around us.  Research published in the May 11, 2017, issue of the journal Science suggests that humans can discriminate among 1 trillion different odors.

Lisa Bevere, international inspirational Christian speaker, got my attention to how I smell.   What I took away from what she was saying is that we have the power to enter a room and change the atmosphere to create a sweet aroma for Christ.  So, if I enter a room and notice a foul odor, whether it’s gossip or slander or hurt feelings or argument, I can chose to use what I learn on my yoga mat and in the Bible to step away or be the change.  I can use prayer, listening skills, deep breathing, open hearted, and open mindedness to "be the fabreeze".

I took it a step further to use this tactic on myself as an attitude adjuster.  I was in an unfavorable mood and I used my diffuser to pump my favorite essential oils into the air.  It seemed to work well.  When I had a work task that I was dreading and I needed inspiration or I simply wanted to tantalize my senses I helped bring myself back around with my diffuser.

Do you smell baking bread…where is this coming from?  Toucan Sam from the cereal commercial would say “follow your nose” to fruit loops.  We can be the Christians God wants us to be by having the pleasing aroma which draws others to Christ.
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2 Corinthians 2:15 - In Paul’s analogy, he separates people into two groups: those on the path of salvation and those on the road to destruction, but both as an aroma to God. The sweet aroma of life spread everywhere by the ministry of evangelism was the knowledge of God as victor. Christians who spread the gospel are members of God’s victorious army led by Jesus Christ.  Both the victors and those perishing smell the aroma; however, it has a different meaning for the two groups. Joy of triumph for one and defeat, slavery, and death for the other.

Take our dear Polycarp of 168AD, martyred because he wouldn't deny Jesus to Caesar, where witnesses said that when we was burned on the fire, the flames flew high above his body, but miraculously he wasn't burned.  Those who watched said "he was amidst in the fire, not as burning flesh but as gold and silver refined in a furnace. And we smelled such a sweet aroma as of incense or some other precious spice".  What killed him was a roman soldiers sword piercing his side, flowing so much blood that it put out the fire.

So many instances and examples of how we can be the human diffuser:  be the fabreeze! 

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2) 
May my prayer be like special perfume before You. May the lifting up of my hands be like the evening gift given on the altar in worship. (Psalm 141:2)


Join us for a gentle flow of breath, moving meditation and a focus on God's word at our new location:  8330 W 80th Ave, Arvada, CO 80005.  Wednesday at noon in person and on  Facebook Live https://www.facebook.com/frogposeyoga/live_videos/
Thank you to Flatirons Dance for offering this lovely space.  Come and enjoy a class.  Suggested donation $10.  Stay tuned as The Bridge continues to grow in partnerships for a healing local Arvada community.

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A Land of Milk and Honey: No more wandering around in the desert!
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I’m thrilled to make this big announce! F.R.O.G. Pose has found its new home and it feels like God has landed us right into the palm of his hand.

Starting this Wednesday at noon we’ll be offering class at 8330 W 80th Ave, Arvada, CO 80005, the over-flow of Flatirons Dance.  We praise God for Jessica the owner’s generosity in providing a gorgeous room, complete with mirrors, natural light, AND HEAT!  Truly, this space is perfect and to which we had been praying.

A few weeks ago I had reached out to Revive Church to inquire about partnering with the community outreach for their vision of The Bridge.  I can’t wait to see how God uses the F.R.O.G. Pose ministry as The Bridge Community Center gets created.  We are hopeful to support its mission by creating a healthier body of believers in the church and in the local Arvada area, through Christ centered yoga.

I’ll be writing more about the developments in the ministry and this new partnership in the weeks and months to come.  Please continue to pray for God’s leading in the building of The Bridge and for continued blessings over Flatirons Dance.

See you at noon!  Bring your mat, a water bottle and a friend. Join us for a gentle flow of breath, moving meditation and a focus on God's word.  Facebook Live https://www.facebook.com/frogposeyoga/live_videos/ if you prefer virtual attendance.

Suggested donation $10.

Hello Froggers,

It's been exactly one week since I drove away from the Emerald Mountain Lodge at YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park feeling filled with the goodness of God and tuckered out from all the fun.  

Last night Kat and I chatted about the things that inspired us at The Great Adventure in Christ Christian Women's Retreat.  We loved the bigger gathering space as it was twice the size of last year’s, hence we could set up for art therapy and yoga at the same time.  It felt nice spending more time out of doors, enjoying God's creation, with the Bible Point hike and campfire s'mores.  Hearing elk bugling and locking horns was commonplace and a unique treat. Seeing new friendships develop softened our hearts.  What stuck both of us as number one was God's perfection in putting together our special sisterhood of leadership.

In His infinite wisdom God called Lorie, Denise, Kat and I to come together as the Sole to Soul Colorado team.  From the calling he has given us purpose to Go! into the world as a collaboration of Christ-minded women, offering healing of body soul and spirit through inspirational day and weekend yoga retreats. Kat and I marveled at the way God continues to orchestrate our individual skill sets and mutual desire to serve the women throughout these events.   None of the team views any of the others as power hungry, overbearing, controlling, lazy or difficult to work alongside.  Where one of is lacking, the others step in with ease and grace.  I am blessed to call these ladies true sisters in Christ: God knew what he was doing when he put us together!

The theme of our retreat was a journey into Jesus’ commission of going out and proclaiming the gospel.  Our hope was to ignite and equip each attendee with the tools necessary to make disciples of every nation as a telling of our personal stories in light of sharing the gospel.  Mark 16:15.  With Kat's snappy tune to verse memorization, each of our 15 minute devotionals, 3 yoga classes with rotating teachers and unique modalities, art therapy and free time, the commission came to life in all of us.  

As a thank you to everyone who attends each Sole to Soul Colorado event we offer a parting gift.  This retreat’s present was a piece of jewelry we came to call “Go! Beads”, a long strand of natural colored stone beads with a tan tassel at the end. 

Why are they called Go! Beads?  It's a triune, 3-part meaning: 1.  The metaphor for stones (the beads), as referenced in the Bible, signifies strength, steadiness and durability; 2.   If your children ask you about the necklace (or anyone for that matter), give an account of how God does great things (Joshua 4:21-24) and;  3.  Obey the Lord your God with the wearing of tassels (Numbers 15:37-21).  The intention is to go into the world, adorning these beautiful stranded stones and tassle, being reminded to feel strong, steady and durable so as to overcome any fear of sharing the gospel to anyone with ears to hear.

If someone looks at the strand hanging around my shoulders and compliments them, asks where they came from or what they mean, I can reach and grab-hold the tassel, and reply “I’m glad you asked.  Can I tell you my story?”  Let the Go! Beads be the confidence booster to go and tell all about our love of Jesus and his saving grace to all who inquire.

Just as the crow reminded Dumbo of his ability to fly with a feather for his cap, if you weren't able to attend retreat, get yourself some Go! Beads to wear and share!  In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus commissions us to "go and make disciples of every nation, baptizing them in the name of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit.  Go and teach them to observe all I've commanded.  And I'll be with you until the end of the age".  Let your Go! Beads be your starting point and see how they can help draw others to having a faith in God.

2nd Tuesdays Red Rocks Sports class is changed to 2nd Thursdays at 7pm.  Same room in the basement but you must enter the front doors now.  Register here for this Thursday's class: https://redrockssports.com/yoga-2

Wednesday's Weekly class is still meeting at Veile Lake South Boulder at noon.  So long as the weather holds..I hope you can join!   Expect a gentle flow of breath, moving meditation and a focus on God's word.  Facebook Live https://www.facebook.com/frogposeyoga/live_videos/ is where you will find us always and at noon on Wednesday.

Stay tuned for more from Sole to Soul Colorado team events. 

Wear and Share!

God will use your gifts to bring His Kingdom on earth. 

Matthew 28:19-20:  Go and make disciples of every nation, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Go and teach them to observe all I've commanded and I'll be with you to the end of the age.
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What's your story?  I'd love to hear from you.

​I was not in the mood for the electric slide!

My mat was set in one place and then it wasn’t.  I was in my groove and then I was off kilter.  I pressed pause, re-centered my frog-green yoga mat, and drew myself back into a focused state of mind.  I took a deep breath, pressed play and I began to practice again.  Before much time had passed, I had gravitated to the left again! I stopped, moved myself to the right, and resumed. I was losing patience. It’s hard to stay at a place of peace when my underfoot world is moving against my will.

Joshua 1:7b: Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.

Ever wonder why your yoga mat wanders to one side or the other during your moving meditation?  Perhaps one of your legs is longer than the other and it’s causing a slight rotation of the mat under foot.  Are you right or left dominant, causing more pressure on one side of the mat than the other?  Are you suffering from an injury on the left and favoring it with the right?  Regardless of the cause, it’s a thing.  Like the gradual shifts in life, all J’ogis suffer from mat shifting and there’s no judgement.  Embrace the change and let it be!

During that online class, my trusty Manduka shifted a total of three times and I was ready to throw in the towel! But then I realized from what my issue was stemming.  I had placed its rubber bottom onto an area rug that had no gripping abilities.  What I would normally place my confidence and stability on, which is that wonderfully gummy pad, was actually more like attempting physical poses on shifting sand.

When are we ever in a mood for unwanted shifts in our lives?  (If you’re like me, it’s never!) 

Jesus gave us a clear understanding and expectation that our life would slip sideways.  He said something to the tune: you will have troubles but take heart because I have overcome the world.  His stability was in knowing that our heavenly father had a plan in the shift and when we read the Bible it demonstrates how Jesus lived that truth.  We can too.

God’s stabilizing plan is not just for Jesus, but for all with faith in Him.  To re-center and align with God’s will sometimes takes more than a deep breath and putting two hands on the edges of our problem to move life back into position.  It takes perseverance, prayer and patience, the things we learn while participating in community yoga classes.  Have the confidence that our solid ground is in a relationship with Jesus.  Standing firm in his Word when things feel shaky underfoot allows us to better accept a small adjustment onto life’s path instead of pressing stop, throwing up our hands in disgust and walking out on ourselves and those around us.

When my class was over, I laughed at myself, feeling stronger and more connected to God as I had deepened the understanding of Him as my solid rock on which I stand.  I was glad I didn’t give up.  Whether your yoga mat of life is staying put or moving unexpectedly, know that God is there in the frustration, shoring you up on both sides. Have the confidence that He will see you through.  Don’t give up the fight and stand firm, then.
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Join us this month for Christian park yoga, Tuesday mornings at 9am and Wednesday's at noon, where the biggest yoga mat issues are going to be wet grass and the occasional pile of goose poop.  Regardless, make the adjustment to the positive and join in.

Good Friday (HUH!), What Was it Good For?
Absolutely EVERYTHING!

These aren't the lyrics of Edwin Starr's famous song, War. One line in the song sings "They say we must fight to keep our freedom, But Lord knows there's got to be a better way, oh". And there is a better way: the cross on Calvary.

Holy Week or The Great Week as it's also called is the Superbowl for all Christians.  It's the big game. The playbook was prewritten and as the last seconds leading up to Easter Sunday play out, we know Christ wins...even before the TV commentators.  Fake news?  I don't think so.  I live because my Savior lives.
Jesus fought for our freedom. Jesus sustained extreme torture, more than a mere mortal could endure, had to carry his own cross in a state of complete physical brokenness, and was cruelly set to die on a cross, as a convict. What was his crime? Jesus was the original freedom fighter. He fought for freedom from religion, and for women's equality, for children and widows, for tax collectors, for you and for me.  It is for freedom that Christ set us free (Galatians 5:1) If it hadn't been for the cross, life would feel like constant war, huh!
It was for the Glory of God and our good that on that dark Friday, our Savior suffered, died and was buried.
This freedom we come to enjoy is sweetest because we understand the gravity of the cross and it was Christ's death that needed to be paid in order for us to take the win. Good Friday is met with extreme sorrow and doesn't meet our earthly standard as something we see as good, but it means absolutely EVERYTHING for victory over death.

How we chose to look at our circumstance can sometimes be more about perspective and mindset than final outcome.  Is it possible we need to endure the bad in order to get to the good ending of the game? 
We can practice seeing things that don't feel good in the moment with a positive outcome in each Frogpose Christian yoga class .  It's been said that a sustained physical injury usually resurfaces in Christian yoga before healing with a regular practice.  For instance, in Half Pigeon, your hips, the area where we store emotions, may feel very tight and uncomfortable but not painful. The urge to come out of the long hold has more to do with pushing through to the end gain of having open hips than breathing through the discomfort.  The choice to endure is ours and is as individual as there are snowflakes.  Stay in the fight or try again another day?  It's ok.  Just don't give up because sometimes it takes 3 breaths, 3 tries, 3 classes, or 3 days in the tomb, to make life changes. 

Like Diane said at the Stepping Toward Whole Health Day Retreat (video clip above), "I used to have bad hips and coming to Lorie's class has relieved me of the pain, even thought I don't consider myself very flexible." Don't let life get you down or give up pursuing that which is good and right, because I know God has victory ahead for you too.  Mindfulness is everything in Christian yoga.

In class this week, we focus on Holy Week: balance the good and the bad of life to find wholeness of mind, body and spirit. We will incorporate prayer and bible verses with stretching on a yoga mat. Invite a friend, whether they are a seasoned yoga practitioner or just beginning, a Christian or not.  
Here is your opportunity for Beginner Power Flow Yoga this week.

2nd T's:  Tuesday 7pm at Red Rocks Church, Arvada.  We will in the basement so park around back and come down the back stairs.  Doors open at 6:30 so arrive early and get settled for a prompt start.

No Weekly Wednesday class at Harvest Today or Facebook live.  Sorry.
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God Bless and Enjoy this Week of Ups and Downs and  Celebrate the Victory!

I an thrilled to see all of you who are signing up for our upcoming day retreat.  Any opportunity to spend time with this loving Christian yoga community, is purely my pleasure.

Sole To Soul Colorado, rooted in biblical truth, equips and aligns women in body, soul, and spirit through Christ-centered yoga classes and retreats, inspiring growth and abundant life.  That's who we are:  Kat Ackerman, Denise Stemple, Lorie Corrado and myself.

When the four of us get together to plan for events such as this, the time just flies by and the ease and joy at which we work together is so inspiring.  I can't help but feel God's presence and the Holy Spirit activating.  We are excited to offer a day of togetherness, yoga, a clean lunch demonstration, a light hike around the base of the Flatirons, and fun!

Be brave and sign up!  We are praying for you.
 
Where: 88 Benthaven Place, Boulder (Clubhouse)
When: Saturday, April 9th from 9a - 3p
Cost: $55 includes yoga, lunch, keepsake mug, walk/hike, fun, recipes & study
Register Today:  email SoleToSoulColorado@gmail.com to RSVP and receive registration and payment instructions          
(Space is limited;  Registration deadline is March 26, 2022)
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Look forward to seeing you!
Sole to Soul Team,
Kat, Kate, Lorie and Denise

Confession:  I, Natural Kate, drive the people around me absolutely batty with my goofy ways!


As life would have it, I have gravitated to take up my environmental cross, in a unique area: my personal consumption of plastic.  Yes, you read that correct.  I see and feel the overuse of plastic all around me and I can’t help but want to fight it.  To me, that which has become so typical as plastic laundry jugs, mattress bags, food containers, packing material inside packing material, and the list goes on, it sticks out like a sore thumb and feels very unnatural. This product, which I didn’t much notice until recently, is eating away at my sensibilities and hurts my heart for God’s creation.


I don’t intentionally put my burden onto other people, but since using plastics is something negative to me, by default it’s affecting change in those around me. If a friend reaches for the plastic straw, they glance at me for approval. “What?”, I shrug and shift my eyes. To use the implement for 30 seconds, just to dump it into the trash forever, isn’t for me, because I envision it sticking out of the nose of sea turtle that’s struggling for life.  My friend just looks at it as a convenience. When those around me observe my refusal of most things plastic, it offers them room to pause and question.  “What are my eating and buying habits and why?” How is my relationship with food glorifying God?


Guess what comes in plastic?  Nearly everything.  Pick up a box of breakfast cereal and the contents are bagged.  Most boxes of food that I pick up off a shelf, at any given store, not only have a hideous list of ingredients, but have a hidden treasure of plastic inside.  Go to the meat bins and nearly all the meat is packed in plastic, styrofoam, or cellophane.  Need some rice or quinoa?  It’s prepackaged in plastic bags.  What about some soda for the big game?  Plastic, plastic, plastic!


The unintended consequence of my not wanting to purchase food in plastic means that I eat REALLY clean.  If I carry my own plastic bags to the produce section, the only items I can purchase are fresh.  I can ask the meat department to wrap in paper instead of grabbing out of the bin.  I can buy nearly everything including oils, spices, teas, snacks and shampoos in bulk, using my own containers.  Guess what’s not in my grocery cart?  Chips, individually wrapped candies and most junk food. Clean eating is ingredients in your food which you can read without needing a chemical engineering degree.  It’s about consuming food the way nature delivered it, or as close to it as possible. It is not a diet; it’s a lifestyle approach to food and its preparation, leading to an improved life.  


Everyone has a different reason for creating healthy eating and has their techniques that are inspiring those around them:  diabetes, weight loss, keto, fasting, leaky gut, IBS, energy, illness, disease.  The list goes on.  If you live in community with family or friends, your commitment to being healthy will rub off on them, especially if you’re the one making the meals!  Be the change that moves those around you to eat better. What is your idea of healthy eating and why?  


Remember:  You are NOT what you eat.  You are who God made you to be, You are aware of whole health and learning how to glorify Him, even in your food choices.  We enjoy the inheritance into the kingdom of light and we can feast.


 The Sole to Soul Colorado team is busy preparing a healthful day in the Rocky Mountains for the community of women we’ve come to know as our Jesus Yogis. (J’ogis).  I was so inspired in our last planning meeting, listening to Denise, Kat and Lorie tell of their food journeys and why God brought them to their places of clean eating and what that means to them in context of whole health. We all have a story to tell about how God is bending our ear towards glorifying him, even in our eating.  It’s fun learning about whole health and how we can serve the temple of the Holy Spirit, our bodies better.

Welcome to one of my favorite times of the year, February!  Everyone knows this month marks #heartmonth.  I pulled out my red Valentine’s decorations and dolled up the house today.  Ah yes, the greatest of these is LOVE!  In God’s infinite wisdom, He knows how important it is to help that fist sized muscle mass that pumps oxygenated blood to remain healthy.  Guard your heart with all possible vigilance, for from it flow the wellsprings of life.  Proverbs 4:23.

When I think of a spring, I envision clear cool refreshing water flowing out. I consider them perpetually pouring out from source. Throughout the state here in Colorado there are natural hot springs.  And then there are effervescent springs that produce natural seltzers.   In my mind, a spring doesn’t pool up like a pond or reservoir but rather the water comes up and out.

My sister Yvonne called this week to tell me about an interesting read from the American Heart Association (AHA) called Reclaim Your Rhythm, which talks about creating healthy habits to help take back control of your physical and mental well-being.  Also this week, I responded to a woman who wrote in asking how yoga can help her heart.  When Holy Spirit prods me twice, I take that as a message that bears repeating.  

I pray that what I have to say will be of benefit to someone reading this.

How well do you know your heart? How does it feel when you place your hand over it? What helps it? Are you able to pin point what fills your love tank and what depletes it? When does your heart feel open?  When does it feel closed? Can you put a pulse on what makes your heart tick? Let me encourage you to take time the know the rhythm of your own heart.

According to the AHA, heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women.  “While you may feel too busy to de-stress – you can decide to claim your “me time,” one moment at a time. Reduce stress for a healthier version of you.  Stress can have lasting effects on your health and well-being. These health effects impact some groups disproportionately – women, for example, are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression compared to men.”

Duh!  Us modern women not only take care of households, children and the family pets, we also bring home the bacon!  Let’s face it, we are stressed to the max.  Heck, simply walking out the door is met with stress.  Last night Laura asked, did you remember your cell phone, cell phone charger, readers, hat, gloves….mask?  “Oh shoot, gotta go back to the car, through the snow, in my heels, for the %&*@ MASK!”  Pile on terrible heart break, grief, loss, and voila, we might be time bombs with a heart attack knocking on our door.

The AHA says “If you have any of these heart attack signs, call 911 and get to a hospital right away.
1.    Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
2.    Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
3.    Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
4.    Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
5.    As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.”

Face it, living a stress-free life isn’t possible, yet knowing how to manage it is. With Holy Spirit’s help and some self-control, there are three ways to reduce stress.  1.  Turn negative self-talk into positive.  If you tell yourself, you CAN do something, chances are, you will.  Be thankful. 2.  Stop stress in its tracks.  Be aware of what triggers you and make a plan for when it happens.  Breathe deeply, take a walk, step away from your desk or take whatever action needed to break those moments of intensity.  3.  Participate in activities that are known to reduce stress.  Take a walk, read a book or do Christian yoga. Regular yoga practice may reduce levels of stress and body-wide inflammation, contributing to healthier hearts. Several of the factors contributing to heart disease, including high blood pressure and excess weight, can also be addressed through yoga. 

At Frogpose yoga we incorporate intentional breathing to increase circulation along with physical poses which increases heart rate.  Plus we take a mindful approach that God is healing us, especially in our hearts. Everyone comes to the mat with varying degrees of muscle flexibility and strength, but one thing everyone has in common is our hearts desire for unconditional love. The foundation of Christian yoga is born out of the notion that God loves us whether we can touch our toes, hold a pose for 5 minutes, stand on our hands or not.  The only skill needed is to show up for yourself and be prepared to nurture your relationship with your heart, whole body and Jesus.  

In any given Frogpose beginner power flow class it’s likely we’ll practice energetic heart opening poses such as camel, floor bow, dancers and bridge.  It’s recommended that poses like these, that require arching of the back, be practiced only once the body has warmed up, where your muscles and facia have softened, and the hips have been released. Since these are poses that benefit the heart, your focus and attention is brought to the area between the collar bones versus how much the back is/isn’t bending.  Yes, your spine is benefiting from flexing but it’s a broadening across the heart area that drives the pose.  To imagine the heart pulsing, growing the color green, expanding out of your chest, and flowing out, just like a spring of water, is the ultimate expression of the poses.

In the moments of breathing through heart opening poses, the wellspring of life flows out of you.  God loves you and I deeply, and for us to keep his love to ourselves isn’t the message of Christian yoga.  We want to allow the love we feel in our hearts to journey off the mat and into the hurting word around us.  Everything in life demands practice, including yoga.  Expand your faith and improve your flexibility by coming to class this week.  Get in touch with your heart as we set our intention on Bible verses and poses for the heart.  If you’ve never tried yoga before, let me invite you to be brave and try something new. You’ll fall in love with it and the community. Christian yoga does the heart good.
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When:  12pm-1pm
Where:  Harvest Today 7905 W 120TH BROOMFIELD and facebook live @frogposeyoga

Sole to Soul Colorado invites you to a day of nourishing your body, soul, spirit in community: whole foods, yoga, hiking and scripture.
“Stepping Toward Whole Health Day Retreat”
3 John 2:1  Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.
$55 includes lunch and snacks
South Boulder, 3/26 deadline
Fill out the contact form and we’ll save you a spot as space is limited.