A Lesson on Patience from the Kitchen of A Christian Yoga Instructor

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.  

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