Holy Yoga, part 2
Meditation
Psalm 48:9 Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.
Psalm 77:12 I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.
2 Corinthians 10:5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
During our practice time we can choose to meditate on God’s Word. We are not emptying the mind, but mulling over His truths, allowing His Word to speak to our hearts.
Joshua 1:8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Benefits of Holy Yoga
Improved muscle tone and flexibility
Increase blood flow and circulation
Strength building for joints, ligaments, and tendons
Maintaining a healthy weight
Assistance with pain management
Relieves anxiety and reduces stress
Improves memory and concentration
Alleviates symptoms of depression and helps balance mood swings
Promotes happiness and sense of well-being
Expressive prayer in a compelling yet intimate way
Understand your intense connection to and reliance on God
Connect with others and join in a unique Christian worship and fellowship
Believers in Jesus Christ who practice yoga, do so as a means of worshiping our Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.
Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
To Wrap it Up
Yoga = breathing + meditation + postures
Holy Yoga = spiritual discipline to pursue unity of the body, mind and spirit with the intention of worshipping and serving Christ with our whole being
It is a spiritual discipline, that is a tool, that may help you facilitate growth in your walk with the Lord.
Sun Salutations
A series of postures performed in a flowing sequence, “Sun Salutations” are often used as a warmup at the beginning of a yoga practice. Named “Sun” because they were created to do in the morning when the sun comes up…but you can do them anytime!
The Benefits of Sun Salutations:
Increases blood circulation
Boost energy
Unwind the mind
Find gratitude
Creates more strength, flexibility, and tone to the body
Opens and releases tension in the hamstrings, shoulders, and the chest
Offers great release of tension on the spine as well as helps lengthen the spine
Lubricates the joints
Ensures Heart Health
Great for the Lungs
Boosts Immunity
Becomes meditative through the motions – a prayer in motion
Aids in weight loss
Improves digestion
Calms the nervous system
Improves kidney function
Study on Sun Salutations
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3289222/
There was a decrease in body fat and BMI
Participants did 24 reps, 6 days a week for 24 weeks
“we found that with regular practice of sun salutation, there was statistically significant improvement in muscle strength and general body endurance”
Here’s a video of me explaining & showing a Sun Salutation, with modifications.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (the Message)
May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it!
