Branch 5: Mindfulness in Christian Yoga

Have you ever tried putting some ground nutmeg and cinnamon in your dry coffee grinds?  When the hot water trickles through, it creates that punkin’ spice smell and tasty yumminess that I love about fall.  Tapping into the senses can bring me to a place and time that nourishes my soul.  When I can’t change my circumstances, I can apply something simple, like fresh spices in my cooking, as an act of self-care.

To help myself takes some thought or mindfulness. 

Kat, Lorie, Denise and I, the Sole to Soul Colorado team, had a teaching discussion at our Beautiful by Design Women’s Christian Yoga Retreat regarding the sick man at the healing pools (John 5: 1-9).  My ah ha moment was that the man walked away having been physically healed by Jesus!  No water, no nothing: he didn’t even need faith.  He merely had the mental wherewithal to take Jesus’ command to pick up his mat and go for a hike. How did I miss this part of the story?  All these years I’ve been focused on the man’s excuse and not his will. After 38 years of trying to get into the stirred water in the correct order, the seemingly terminally ill man was able to use the bandwidth between his ears to take Jesus seriously.  Sometimes our minds need to override feelings or personal history to get us moving forward again.

In the unfolding of learning more about this exercise we call “yoke” (ie: Christian yoga), I find the branches of Jesus’ tree of life reach broader and stronger than imaginable.  The entanglements of the human condition that hold us in chains to the unimaginable become believable if we’re willing to reach for this 5th branch of mindfulness. 

What is mindfulness?  It’s the notion that we approach each practice on our yoga mat as the unique and specialized individual that God has made us to be.  There’s no comparison of self or others. Each of us come to the mat with our to-do lists, regrets, work and relational demands, abilities and inabilities and that’s ok.  Give yourself permission to exercise the brain by laying the worldly issues aside, to flood the mind with truth and convene with God in freedom.   Our cracks and weaknesses are made whole and strong with each breath, connected yoga pose and prayer.  When the mind is focused on God’s word, His truths and his commands, the rest of the world can temporarily melt away as we work out the issues in our tissues.

If you don’t have time for a yoga class, might I suggest trying meditating on God’s word.  Quiet meditation is also a great way to get your mind in alignment with God.  When the seasons change, doing a 5 senses meditation while sitting in the midst of God’s creation is very healing. 

Consider bringing yourself to a secluded place where you can tap into all the senses.  Set your timer for 5 minutes.  Sit in a comfortable upright position and begin to take deep breaths.  Elevate your grey matter on God (choose an attribute of God, such as Creator (Elohim) or a Bible verse that’s speaking to you)

1. What do your eyes see?  People, sky, clouds…
2. What do your ears hear?  Leaves shimmering in the wind, voices, your breath, etc.
3. What do you smell?  Leaves decaying under foot, baking cookies, the laundry exhaust…
4. What do you feel?  the cool breeze on your skin, the ground supporting you from under, an ant crawling on your leg...
5. What do you taste?  Teeth, lunch, gum…

When the timer goes off, notice how light you are in body, soul and spirit.  Feel free, pick up your mat and walk.  Trust God to see you through whatever season you’re navigating so long as you keep your mind steadfast on Him.  Together, with God’s help, we can do this!

Join us this week for in person class:
Tuesday 7-8pm Red Rocks Church Arvada
Wednesday 12-1pm at Harvest Today (7905 W 120th Broomfield) broadcasted on facebook live:
https://www.facebook.com/frogposeyoga/live_videos/ 

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