Top 5 Reasons to Try a Christian Yoga and Meditation Class

We all intuitively want to be involved with practices that benefit our lives; however, sometimes the barriers keeping us out are irrational and enormous.  Let's face it, most of America has access to information that teaches people to make healthy choices, yet we still have an enormous obesity problem (no pun intended).  Understanding the benefits are not enough, we must literally experience the benefits, and only then through discipline and consistency can we grow.  I often tell my classes that the hardest part of class is showing up.  Somehow with exercise, people feel they must be an expert on day one...but it isn't going to happen!  On day 3 or 30 it still won't happen, though you might feel more comfortable and confident then.  So here are my Top 5 Reasons to help you overcome barriers and try a Christian Yoga and Meditation Class.  I hope you enjoy and will stop in soon!

5.  When you show up, something happens.  The hardest part of class is showing up remember?  If you don't show up, nothing happens, if you do show up, you will move which heightens your energy and endorphin level.   We do transform from the inside out, so this transformation may be a while to see or feel, though some effects of a yoga class can be felt immediately.

4.  You can do more than raise your hands.  The raising of hands is a recognized method of praise in many worship traditions. How about using your entire body for Jesus? (Romans 12:1).  The expression of praise and yearning in a physical sense is heightened when the larger muscle groups are involved and you don't have to feel awkward because everyone else in class is using their entire body too.

3.  This may be the only quiet time you get.  If you are crazy busy and have young children in your life, having a moment of silence is rare.  Attending yoga class promotes a meaningful internal experience and helps you to regroup in a quiet setting.  You will think more clearly and be more productive.

2.  Christian Meditation is Awesome.   Meditation is proven to strengthen your immune system and help you cope.  Christian Meditation is even better because it helps us realize Christ within.  It can be challenging to be still, however in a group of people accustomed to meditating, you will embrace it with ease.

1.  Quit looking for God and start listening to God.  I stumbled upon Christian Yoga and Meditation and found it incredibly healing, because I was able to stop looking for God and start listening to God through the silence. Many others have found the same experience.  My faith has been spurred and I can't help but to share this with the world, so I hope you will stop in on a class sometime and transform your pain and stress into inner peace and healing through the power of faith celebrated in Christian Yoga and Meditation!

Experience the Outlook of Freedom: 2014 Christian Yoga & Meditation Retreat

Last week's snowstorm preceded the arrival of arctic air that reached 36 degrees below zero.  This all conveniently occurred to extend Christmas Break for an entire week.  Yes, I was snowed in with four children for a week.  By day six I did find freedom and went out with some moms for dinner. This week's rain and 50 degree weather melted the 14 inches of snow within a couple of days.  Back to business as usual.

While snowed in, God managed to divert my attention to planning the 2014 Christian Yoga and Meditation Retreat.  Planning this year's retreat was on the agenda and was suppose to be done by January 1, however, when you run your own business, you can break your own deadlines...at least the ones you make for yourself.  When the new hospitality manager from Illinois Beach Resort, going through her predecessor's records, called to check on my event and offered me a reasonable group rate (evidently I was interested in this location and had called at some point),  I took it as a sign and had to accept.   Some things are meant to be.  Conveniently snowed in, I had time to coordinate the registration and finish the event curriculum.  Amazing!  So now I invite you the 2014 Christian Yoga and Meditation Retreat for Women.  I do hope you will join me to "Experience the Outlook of FREEDOM"!

Deadspace is Sacred

Deadspace is an entertainment faux pas, Lord forbid we miss .025 seconds of digital screenshot stimulation.  We had a blizzard this week and my street is deadspace.  Looks pretty peaceful out there and sounds peaceful too!  I never realized the noise of passing vehicles until they weren't there.  Deadspace is sacred and I need some things to die for me to hear and see! Deadspace is the hallmark of meditation, perhaps this is why the corpse pose is recommended?  I hear God and grow the most from deadspace.   Jesus had to enter deadspace to complete a divine work for all people and one of the greatest recorded messianic miracles involved resurrecting a friend from deadspace (John 11:43-44).  Lazarus had to be dead for the miracle to be so phenomenal.  The apostle Paul was blessed with much deadspace to do his work while "doing time" (Philippians 1:13).  You get my point: Deadspace is sacred!  Unfortunately our natural tendency is to resist deadspace, this time when God does a great miracle in us.   I sometimes wonder if God will judge our character based on our reaction to the deadspace of the Windows 7 spinning circle.  Deadspace...

















annoying and peaceful and important and sacred all together!   So what was your reaction to the short deadspace or did you even bother to scroll down?   Next time you are annoyed by deadspace, or impatient with that red traffic light, remember, God might just be trying to do a miracle in you!

Faith 2014 is Going To Be AWESOME!!!

You can only achieve what the mind believes you can do with God:  aka faith.   Emphasis added on the "do" and "with God" parts here.  God counts us righteous, heals, blesses, and even saves us according to faith.  Jesus got frustrated with lack of faith.  Now let's get something straight here, faith is different than hope.  Hope is sentiment, faith is doing.  I believe the faithful person is too busy creating life to whine about circumstances.  Take for example the person who IS committed to one's workouts and diet to lose 40 pounds versus the person who  hopes to lose 40 pounds.  Faith is a daily thing and God isn't going to do all the work here...remember "do with God"?

 

 Faith can't be objectively measured though it can be seen through its results:

And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.”  Luke 18:42

When the apostles realized they needed more faith, they were resourceful and asked Jesus:

 The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.”  Luke 17:5

Jesus answers:

The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it would obey you!  

Luke 17:6

I've never uprooted a mulberry tree.  There's always more to the story...

  

The request for instruction on how to increase faith came after a lesson on forgiveness:

 Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.”  Luke 17:4

Jesus seals the discussion with teaching them how to simply do their duty and obey.  That mulberry tree is suppose to obey us too.  Wouldn't life be easier if people just did what they are suppose to?  Let's not talk about kids now...  My synopsis of this is that faith involves forgiving and moving on.

This year God has called me into my business full time.  Getting to this point has taken an incredible amount of faith, working and preparing  products and services that people may or may not buy.  Doesn't matter, I'm obeying the calling and am too busy "doing" to worry about it.   On the journey, I've had the blessing of letting go of my past to make room to create my future.  I'm learning how to live in the now, besides, now is the only time I can have faith or do anything about anything.   I have faith 2014 is going to be AWESOME and I can't wait to share the results with you!

Happy New Year! 

 

Thank You Military, Emergency, Healthcare and Entertainers

Merry Christmas and thank you to all of the military, emergency, healthcare, and entertainment staff and professionals for keeping us safe, healthy and entertained as we enjoy Christmas at home with our families and friends.  As I'm home today watching my children open gifts and chow down on Christmas cuisine, I know if another tornado struck my house, the local rescue workers, police and national guard would show up to make sure my family is sheltered appropriately.  If I burn the ham and start a fire, the firemen would come help put it out.   If a child decides to choke on a candy cane or has an overstimulated-sugared-yuletide-hyperactivity-injury needing medical attention, the emergency room staff is there and ready cast a broken bone or mend the gushing wound.  What can I say about the military men and women, not at home in foreign land?  I feel safe at home.  My debt of gratitude goes beyond what I know how to express you;  your struggle is our struggle and I remember you this Christmas and pray for you regularly.  And finally, what would Christmas be without a football game, radio or television?  The after dinner recliner pancreatic coma would not hold the same bliss without a good game which hopefully the military get to see as well!  I'll be home for Christmas this year, safe and entertained because others have sacrificed.  Meditating on how my safety and joy today has largely been created by the sacrifice of people I do not know, helps me to see the world as a better place that maybe isn't so broken.

Whatever you find yourself doing or feeling today at Christmas, remember those who are working and sacrificing, away from their family and friends and perhaps you too may see how Christ has made our world a better place that maybe isn't so broken.  Merry Christmas!