Yoga Is a Stretch for the Good Things of God

​During any given frog pose yoga beginner power flow class, chances are good that you’ll hear your instructor offer verbal cues beginning with the word reach.  “Reach your hands heavenward.” “Reach the left leg high.” “Reach with a long spine.” Depending on how you’re feeling at that moment, especially if your body or mind is in a period of rebellion or exhaustion, to hear such encouraging words is the difference between continuing to hold the challenging pose or giving into more of the same.

Why do we practice as a group?   We gather on our yoga mats not just to stretch and to learn about God but also to encourage those around us.  Most importantly everyone wants healing.  There’s nothing better than to collectively heal in community.  God designed our bodies to practice yoga with others so as to resonate with other healthy bodies - similar to a tuning fork.  We need each other to offer words of encouragement, prayer and support to continue in our pursuit for health.  Our great physician, Jesus said “where two or more are gathered, there He would be also.”(Matthew 18:20)

My friend called and mentioned she had a difficult day.  Realistically, it’s been a difficult series of days, weeks and months. She admitted that she hasn’t felt warm fuzzies from her sphere of friends and she wanted healing.  I celebrate her for verbalizing her disappointment and for reaching out to me.  Life is hard to go at it alone. Sometimes I need to find encourager's in life and move towards those who refuse to let me to remain locked in bondage.  In this season, I’m frequently asking myself, am I an encouragement to those in my life or am I enabling them to remain stuck in their difficulties?

Our friends matter.  What is holding you back from reaching for true freedom? In Girl, Wash Your Face, Rachel Hollis says “the time when god is stretching you and growing you or forging you in fires hotter than you can withstand – all of it is growing you for the person you are becoming, for a future you cant even imagine.”  Stay in the fire and reach for your future!
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Join us this week as we celebrate reaching for the good things God has for us.  Wednesday at noon at 2900 Valmont Road F1.

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