How does Christian Yoga Let Jesus's Light Shine Through the Holidays?

This time of year I get a good sense of the shortening of daylight living close to the mountains. Today the sun dipped behind the 4th Flatiron at 3:02pm.  That signaled something important in my house:  the time to light it up…the twinkle lights on my tree, that is.  Things start to grow dim so I cheer up my spirits and the living room by plugging it in.

Years ago, as a young single mom, God picked me up and lightened my load by inspiring me daily to sit in his presence, while clinging to the verse James 4:8 – Draw near to God and God will draw near to you.  There’s nothing worse than feeling like I should be up for the holidays, yet feeling really down.  It was a dark time and God in his faithfulness brought lamp and light to my path.

A Godly concept of phrases that’s been inspiring me is how the word light follows the same theme of up, up, up!  Our faces light up with the things that bring us joy.  Brighten up a room with light colors.  “Oh, lighten up”, we are told when our attitudes come across as downtrodden.  You never hear someone say lit down, brighten down or lighten down. 

In this Christmas season let’s consider upping our faith and helping it grow brighter through our practice of Christian yoga.

Scientists have discovered that when life begins at conception, a flash of light appears.  To get the needed immune enhancing vitamin D for our body, we sit in the sun like a glow in the dark toy.  Light is life and the purest energy resonating at a high frequency.  We are light beings.  Light is passed from Jesus to us.  Jesus is the light of the world - John 8:12 translates to You are the light of the world – Matthew 5:14.  If you know Jesus, you have an inheritance into His Kingdom of light (Col 1:12-15), shining bright for all the world to see. 

Hooray, we are built with an enlightened Spirit that’s on the up and up!
But soul, why are you downcast within me?  And mind, why can’t you turn yourself off at 2 in the morning as I churn over my to do list for tomorrow?  Body, why are you taking short sips of air, slouching over my computer for hours on end, with eyes focused down on my earthly problems? 

How do we make this transference to lightness from darkness? How do we reconcile the light which we are hires to, not just in spirt, but in body, mind and soul also?  How do we integrate all the parts? 
We do it through the practice of Christian yoga in community. (I can see you shaking your head right now.  I know what you’re saying…”no way, no yoga for me.  That’s girls stuff. I can’t even touch my toes.” )  Hear me out on this.  Doing Christian yoga is more about being in the presence of God than it is being perfect.  Some students lay on their mat, doing nothing physical, simply breathing and tuning into the health of the community.  Others are working to deepen the poses and their faith.  Any step towards whole health is a step in the direction of whole body healing.  Please don’t discount yourself from enjoying the mindful practice of a moving meditation on the Word of God as it does EVERY body good.

Christian yoga lightens the load and raises you up. Comments I hear from people that leave class is, “I feel so much lighter”. “My posture feels so good after”. “I feel like I’m standing taller”.  “I was able to turn off the monkey mind in class”. Why?  Because as your instructor I encourage lengthening the spine, growing taller in faith and embodying God’s pure light. I cue setting your focus on things above and your breath to be full of life.   For 60 minutes we enjoy prayer, stretching, Christian music, strengthening, breath work and healthful time with God.  This is unlike any other exercise, as it’s the only one that integrates the tough stuff of life with God’s truths, though a series of physical postures on a yoga mat.  Whether you are a seasoned J’ogi or just trying it for the first time, you will experience lightness in all aspects of your being. 
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Join us this week, Thursday 7pm, at Red Rocks Church Arvada where we will celebrate as one body, Jesus is the Light, a candle light practice.  Come, let it illuminate you in your whole body so you can be upright through the season.  Be on the up and up!

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