“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to God, and God will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3: 5-6  Are you curious what our retreats are like?   Over the 20+ years of attending CPY gatherings, I have collected plenty of keepsakes.  Gifts from people, artwork, resources shared, workshop handouts, info on other happenings in the community and silly mementos.  They remind me of bonding over dinner conversations, walks in nature, the flow of 30+ people moving and breathing in prayer together, of walking ..read more

Eyes and Hearts Fixed on Jesus Photo courtesy of Jennifer Swets. As a newlywed in 1999, I received the ‘starter set’ of the Willow Tree Nativity.  Each year after, I added to it until it was complete. Then a new tradition began. Robert, my youngest, and I set it up together.  Or should I say, I would meticulously direct him where to place the pieces: wise man #1 next to Joseph; Joseph over Mary’s left shoulder, angled 30 degrees; then baby lambs - 2 on the base and 2 around the base of the manger. This year, I was running behind on my Christmas to-do list, so I delegated some decora ..read more

As a follower of Jesus who teaches yoga, have you ever received questions from well-meaning Christians asking you to justify your practice? Me too. Image provided by Rachel. It never ceases to amaze me how many keyboard warriors will fly out of the closet to publicly challenge or privately shame a brother or sister in Christ who chooses to practice yoga. As a follower of Jesus for almost two decades, a yogi for the last thirteen years and a registered yoga teacher for the last two, I know first hand how misunderstood this practice can be. I am not writing to persuade Christians’ that they sho ..read more

Keep in mind that God’s first language is silence. - Thomas Keating I personally have practiced meditation, more or less, for over 40 years. I began with Transcendental Meditation when I was in university.  Raised a Catholic, I had a Christian faith but found myself floundering emotionally after the recent death of my mother. I knew I desperately needed something, so I responded to posters throughout campus advertising Transcendental Meditation (TM). My Catholic-trained mind only felt safe to join when the teacher told me that TM was not a religion. I chuckled recently when I asked a fr ..read more

Have you ever wondered about the connection between our brains and our bodies?  A new study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis indicates that the idea of the body and mind being inextricably intertwined is more than just an abstraction. The mind-body connection is built into the brain. The study shows that parts of the brain that control movement are plugged into networks involved in thinking and planning, and in control of involuntary bodily functions, such as blood pressure and heartbeat. The findings represent a literal linkage of body and mind ..read more

PEEK BEHIND THE SCENES WITH OUR BLOG WRITING TEAM! Our gatherings together are precious, and we look forward to them for our own growth,  healthy sharing with each other and maybe even the creation of a public post for you, our readers.  Enjoy this sampling that came right out of one of our meetings.  Each month we gather together to explore the crossroads of yoga and Christ.  Our gatherings together are precious, and we look forward to them for our own growth,  healthy sharing with each other and maybe even the creation of a public post for you, our readers.  Enj ..read more

HOW DOES WRITING IN PRIVATE BECOME PUBLIC?    Peek behind the scenes with our blog writing team.  Each month we gather together keenly interested in the crossroads of yoga and Christ and how that intersection supports our faith walk -- as people, as teachers as congregants.  We take turns leading.  After we pray and move and breathe - to help us settle into synchronicity with the Holy One - we receive a writing prompt to explore on our own.  After about 20 minutes, we share (optional).  Some writing is too raw and stays private; some we share with each o ..read more

Peek Behind the scenes with our blog writing team! Our gatherings together are precious, and we look forward to them for our own growth,  healthy sharing with each other and maybe even the creation of a public post for you, our readers.  Enjoy this sampling that came right out of one of our meetings.  Each month we gather together to explore the crossroads of yoga and Christ.  Our gatherings together are precious, and we look forward to them for our own growth,  healthy sharing with each other and maybe even the creation of a public post for you, our readers.  Enj ..read more

How does writing in private become public?    Peek behind the scenes with our blog writing team.  Each month we gather together keenly interested in the crossroads of yoga and Christ and how that intersection supports our faith walk -- as people, as teachers as congregants.  We take turns leading.  After we pray and move and breathe - to help us settle into synchronicity with the Holy One - we receive a writing prompt to explore on our own.  After about 20 minutes, we share (optional).  Some writing is too raw and stays private; some we share with each o ..read more

As a kid, we went to church to meet God every time the doors were open.  I loved the church, and I still do. But the gift of my 31st birthday - a stroke and impending brain surgery - changed my life and how I met God. I found the gift of yoga - a gift I never knew I had been seeking.  Yoga helped me learn to quiet my mind and discover God as close as my breath. And while yoga as a practice was not easy for me to discover, I am so glad it found me.  My 31st birthday, in December of 2005, should have been celebrated uneventfully - simply at home with my spouse and our 22-month-old ..read more