Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Holy Yoga...An Unexpected Refuge

Picture from Holy Yoga Charlotte Facebook Page


There is something incredibly healing about human touch.  My awareness of this fact is heightened because I do not often receive physical touch.  Gentle touch to the feet can be amazing.  As I was lying with eyes shut, arms out, palms open wide, breathing slowly and deeply…I felt something so nurturing and kind…hands coated with oil, gentle smooth pressure all over my feet in quick strokes.  Soon my feet were covered in a soft swirl of oil and the sense of care swept from my feet to my heart and to my mind…"what a thoughtful and kind way to serve me."  It is humbling.  It is loving.  It is what my Jesus would do.  Kristine, she allowed herself to be Jesus’ hands and heart towards me…towards each of us in the Holy Yoga class.  It didn’t matter that we had never met.  She gave freely. 

After class I told her how I appreciated that act of kindness.  It reminded me of the day that my feet were washed many years ago after a season of temptation and shame.  How Jesus used my friends' hands and prayers to wash me clean.  How I was physically reminded of God’s endless grace and compassion towards me.

She said she doesn’t always do that.  She just tries to listen to the Holy Spirit.  She allows God to change the course of her classes.  It was a class designed for me that day.

I had a difficult week where the voices of my past and the voice of the enemy whispered in my ear.  At every turn, it seemed, even in the midst of kind words towards me, I heard the one negative or the thing that could be taken either way and magnified it in my mind and heart as if it was shouted to me, “I am not enough.  I can’t get it right.  I failed again.”
  
As I drove myself to Carmel Presbyterian for the first time that morning, I prayed that I would find the building and get to the class early enough to get situated.  I had never taken a Yoga class.  Holy Yoga had popped up on my Facebook feed.  I “liked” it with the intention of visiting one day.  This day, I was hoping for some stretching and a little inspiration.  I didn’t know how worshipful it would be.  

When I walked into the room, Kristine greeted me with a beautiful smile and a warm hug.  There was a table set with candles and a box for prayer requests as well as donations ($5 to $8 is suggested).  I filled out a form with my contact information and a waiver not to sue if I injured myself.  Pretty standard for exercise classes.

She had all the equipment ready for me.  I was situated on a mat near the front.  There were some bolsters and bean bags to help with positioning.  Soon, the others filed in and the class began.  I was greeted with smiles and some introductions.


This particular class was called Gentle Holy Yoga…a perfect class for a beginner.  It was as much a worship time as it was a stretching time.  There were several scripture readings read by Kristine from moment to moment, mostly from the Psalms.  Also, a reading from Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling as we stretched and breathed:

“Relax in my healing, holy Presence.  Be still, while I transform your heart and mind.  Let go of cares and worries, so that you can receive my Peace. Cease striving, and know that I am God.

Do not be like Pharisees who multiplied regulations, creating their own form of “godliness.”  They got so wrapped up in their own rules that they lost sight of Me.  Even today, man-made rules about how to live the Christian life enslave many people.  Their focus is on their performance, rather than on Me. 

It is through knowing Me intimately that you become like Me.  This requires spending time alone with Me.  Let go, relax, be still, and know that I am God.”

In between the readings there was worship music.  My favorite was "No Sweeter Name," sung by Kari Job:

Adobe flash is needed to watch video

As we listened, I heard the most lovely soprano voice singing along with Kari.  It was Kristine.  Later I found out that she is married to the music director at the church.  Her Facebook page tells me that she has a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance.  I am not surprised.  But let me be clear, she was not performing.  She was worshipping.  She was singing along intermittently, naturally, beautifully.  It was not distracting at all…it added to the sense of peace and flow and worship.  

I had walked in to the class with a heavy heart.  I left feeling a sense of God’s peace and love for me.  He ministered to me through scripture, music, touch, the sweet aroma of oil and candles, and prayer.  At one point, as she prayed, Kristine even asked what voices we had been listening to in our heads, “Is it my voice?  Is it God’s voice?”  There was a long pause and I thought about my week and added silently, “The enemy’s voice.”  And then Kristine said, “The enemy’s?”

It was as if this class was tailored for the struggles of my week.  I shared this with Kristine afterwards.  She says it is always different.  She doesn’t always use the oil and touch feet.  She has learned to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit.  I looked at my copy of Jesus Calling this morning and I realized that the reading she used was not the reading for the day of our class.  It was the one I needed to hear.

I am reminded once again of how personal God can be to us.  He met me right where I was upon entering that room.  He whispered Peace and Love to me through Kristine’s ministry.  He whispered Hope and Nurture.  And once again I am reminded that He is Enough.  And because He is, I am enough in Him. 
“Cease striving and know that I am God…" 
Psalm 46:10 NASB

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