For thousands of years, people of faith have practiced yoga. Although it is primarily associated with the three great religions of India–Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism—more and more Christians have been discovering the benefits of a regular yoga discipline. In cities and towns all over the United States, yoga classes are popping up at local YMCA’s, in community centers, and even in church basements. Though some remain reticent to embrace the practice, in growing numbers and increasing enthusiasm, Christians—most of whom are women—are turning to yoga as one way of expressing and exploring their lives in Christ.

Why is yoga, which has been around for over 5,000 years, gaining such popularity now? My answer is this: The time is right. There is a spiritual restlessness in our country, along with an openness to exploration, a willingness to learn, and a deep desire to connect to God through meaningful rituals and relevant experience.

I’m a pastor in the Little Five Points neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia. I’m serving my first call there as a mission developer. Little Five Points is one of those really cool neighborhoods to hang out in: It’s full of funky shops, great restaurants, tons of good live music and theatre, the requisite tattoo and piercing parlors, and a biker bar. Young people from all over Atlanta come here looking for a place to be free, a place to be themselves and find community. But it can be a dangerous place, too. All the issues that can arise around drugs and homelessness can wreak havoc on those who get lost. It is both a challenging place to do ministry and an awesome place to do ministry.
 

During the summer of 2003, in Room 6 of the Little Five Points Community Center, I offered a free beginner’s yoga class as a means of witness and relationship building. The class, taught by a Lutheran woman, Jill Knueppel—who also just happened to be a former pastor—was really a unique experience. The room was small and really warm, the carpet sort of dingy (thank goodness for the mats!), and the noise from the Flamenco dance class in the next room a little distracting. Attendance was unpredictable, at best. But I came to experience my time in that room as a gift. It was time set apart (a holy time), a time for prayer, meditation and (mostly) quiet concentration, a time to ask God to enter in, and a time to begin again—to stir up awareness of the sacred that surrounds us each day.

There are many forms of yoga. The discipline I’m describing here, Hatha yoga, is what many beginner classes practice. Yoga is indeed an ancient practice, an oral tradition passed down from yogi (or guru) to disciple for generations. Traditionally, it is viewed as means of spiritual and physical awakening, a means of transformation, growth, and fulfillment. According to the Yoga Research and Education Center, yoga can and does enrich the lives of spiritual seekers from a wide variety of faith traditions and espouses such widely held religious pursuits as non-violence, compassion, tolerance, truthfulness, and charity. Yogic wisdom is meant to empower practitioners, freeing them from greed, anger, and jealousy. And while there is often an emphasis on self-transformation, Christians view this as God’s doing: God is continually calling us to be our best, most joyful self, and continually challenging us to grow and risk for love’s sake. There is much to be learned about who we are and who we can be, and yoga is a great gift to us from our Asian sisters and brothers.

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I think part of what makes the practice of yoga so satisfying is that it is in many ways a celebration of the human body. Undeniably, it is a physical experience that acknowledges our very beings as potential vessels for the divine. For many Christian women (and for those who love them), this is an affirming, much needed message. We have to be honest about our biblical tradition, which details violence against women, portrays women’s bodies as unclean and as occasions for sin, and uses the metaphor of an unfaithful wife to communicate God’s anger with Israel. There is an unfortunate legacy in the Christian tradition of sexualizing and demonizing women and their bodies, and it hasn't been eradicated. There is more than one source for this, of course; we have human sin to contend with (greed for power, lust, and control). But we must still acknowledge the ways in which words from the Bible and certain aspects of the Christian tradition have been used against women.

Christianity is founded on a theology of incarnation. Jesus Christ is God made flesh, his very body a temple, given in love for the forgiveness of sins. We are the body of Christ. Our hands and feet, our eyes and ears represent God in the world. Yoga, then, helps us reconnect to the overwhelmingly good news that we were created out of love, to reflect God’s love for all. Our bodies are a tangible witness to that truth.

Yoga feels good! It feels wonderful to stretch your body beyond your expectations. (It is also important to listen to your body—never do anything that hurts!) It feels good to strengthen some of those long-neglected muscles. It feels good to pay attention to your body, the stillness, the music, the candles. It feels good to celebrate your God-created “tovness” (tov is Hebrew for good). Trusting that God sees me in joy frees me to love myself a little more, to rejoice in the gift that I am. Like many women I know, it is often easier for me to love the other, to see their gifts more clearly than my own, to be more gracious and kind to everyone else. In many ways, the practice of yoga has been a time of joyful thanksgiving for the things God is doing in and through me, for the endless possibilities God can make real. It is a time to let go of the negative energy that gets in the way of my life in Christ.

Yoga is just one of a variety of ways to open oneself up to our greatest potential through God. But it can be one of the most fun! So what are you waiting for? Many places offer a free introductory session so you can see if it’s right for you. Bring a friend and be sure you talk to the instructor and other class members. Think about why you are going, what your expectations are, and ask questions. If it’s a good fit, find out how much classes and equipment cost and make a commitment. Keep an open mind. Expect God to show up, and have fun!

Megan Jones is a pastor in Atlanta, Georgia. She is serving her first call as mission developer of SoulQuest, a ministry of outreach to the unchurched. Along with yoga, Megan enjoys playing with her dog, Cody, going to the movies, and playing 80's trivia with her friends. She is a recovering shoe addict.

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