Why do heated Christian Yoga?

I was a kid when I first learned of the phrase “in with the good air/out with the bad”.  I’m fairly certain I heard it in a Brady Bunch episode as housekeeper Alice was practicing something other than cooking and cleaning, such as yoga or hula. Either way, saying it in my formative years conjured up a good chuckle to myself and possibly my brother J.  As a child, it was easier to laugh at hard things in life.  I didn’t understand why breath had to be bad versus good.  As far as I knew, it just WAS.
As an adult, I have come under fire and been meet face to face with many difficult things:  unplanned pregnancy, single parenting, work disappointments, divorce, loss of friendships… I’ve been the pot, the kettle, and sometimes danced in the flames.  (Inhale…exhale.  Inhale a bit more.  Exhale deeply).  Did they (THEY?) coin that childhood phrase incorrectly by giving weight to good breaths versus bad or did it lay a mindful foundation to help me cope during heated life situations?  We’ve all had the refining flames turned up under us and what matters is how we allow ourselves and our perspectives to be purified as the end result.  Prayerfully, when life of mixed metals cools, I hope to look more like Jesus (without the beard) then a toxic version of self.
At F.R.O.G Pose yoga we turn up the heat. Literally, we have a room set at 85 degrees and vigorously move through physical postures to get our body temperature to rise.  Verbal cues of one breath to one movement addresses pent up energy in our fascia and bone marrow, bringing us to a boiling point.  Sometimes class feels too strenuous and we take a rest while listening to Christian music and Bible verses; which is welcomed with grace.  And other times, we use God’s strength to help us press on to the next pose. 
God designs the “hot” spots in our lives so we can burn off dross and bring out His best GOLD in us!

Just as in life, it’s in these moments of decision, when the flames seem too intense, where God is doing his best work in us.  Toxins in the body bubble to the top and flow out body tissue, into the bloodstream and out through our collective exhales.   We have the support of the Holy Spirit and others on the mats around us, acting in solidarity, giving us the confidence to push ourselves.  We need the heat and breath to allow the impurities of life to surface so God can skin/slim it off.  There is healing in heated community where God is the potter and we are his clay.  .  At frogpose we help you become the pot of gold at the end of God’s rainbow of life!
When I was in yoga teacher training, I was told that a daily practice of stretching on a yoga mat brought about fiery changes in the body.  Old injuries were expected to arise before healing could begin.  Practicing dealing with heat and the pain that comes up on our mats gives us the skills we need off the mat and out into the world.  Come to class and bring on the heat and blow off some steam! 
Wednesday at noon, 2900 Valmont #f1.

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