Wheel Pose in Christian Yoga

Let’s penetrate to the heart of the matter! 
A friend was explaining to me his love of bow hunting but not the kill.  It’s amazing to think that something as small as an arrow can speedily take down a large wild animal.  Recently, he’s found it a more satisfying experience to be in touch with the cool release of the bow and hit, twice, the heart of his target, cleverly with blunt arrow ends, without destroying a life. I, on the other hand, can barely penetrate the heart of a fake foam bear target, with sharp ended bows!  So, the world goes round. Some of us are better at getting to the heart of things than others.  That’s ok and that’s why we Fully Rely on God (F.R.O.G.) to help grow us in our weakness so we can align our hearts to beat in concert with the Creator of nature.

Sometimes I wish I had the ability to dull down sharp damaging comments before I send them off from my lips.  Like Harry said to Sally, “it’s already out there” and I can’t take it back.   Jesus’ disciple James said, in chapter 3 verse 6 of the Bible, "The heart of a fool is as a cart-wheel (trochos – wheel of nature).” In James the figure is of a wheel in rotation, so that a flame starting at any point is quickly communicated to the whole.  Just so an apparently insignificant sin of the tongue produces an incalculably destructive effect. I come full circle to the notion that my tongue is merely an extension of my heart and this is where I need to focus.

This week’s class and topic is on working to Upward Bow Pose, more commonly known as Wheel Pose.

Don’t freak out! This intermediate pose is challenging physically and mentally.  Maybe it’s not in your practice today but hopefully it will be for Wednesday.  The idea is to allow the body to take shape in the form of a bow or wheel (back-bend), by standing on hands and feet, and propelling the heart forward.  This is the physical reminder of all God wants: to have our heart exposed to all the things he has for us. Wheel is one of yoga’s fullest expressions of a heart opening pose.

Why is this pose important? We spend the majority of our time standing upright or slouching forward, sitting at a desk, on a sofa or in a car. We get accustomed to sitting in a hunched position with a rounded spine, dropped shoulders and our head hung forward. This can be the cause of numerous issues including back pain, poor posture, bad digestion and restricted breathing. Not to mention the emotional effects of a literal caving in at the heart,  translating to depression, low self-esteem and hoardiing the love of Jesus.

Once the spine and body are warmed up with a series of beginner flow poses, including hip and chest expansions, move into the warm up called Bridge Pose.  When ready, safely move into full Upward Bow/Wheel on the inhale: hips, knees and feet in alignment, the back-bend forms at the top of the spine rather than lower, armpits and arms are long, and glutes remain relaxed. Take five lion’s breaths as you gaze between the fingers pointing to the feet.  Send your attention to the heart and intentionally direct it out into the world like an arrow: God’s making you to be an archer of love! Exhale and return to the mat by tucking chin and slowly rolling down the spine, beginning at the nape of the neck.

Psalm 19:14 - Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

Wednesday’s noon class will be on Facebook live again. https://www.facebook.com/frogposeyoga/live_videos/ Prayerfully we desire the Holy Spirit to pierce our hearts with lasting effects in order to bring us closer to Jesus and others around us.  Be the archer of change, in the name of Love!

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