Yoga for Christians: A Christ-Centered Approach to Physical and Spiritual Health

Yoga has long been suspect among Christians as a facet of Eastern religion, but at least one author thinks it has received a bad rap. In YOGA FOR CHRISTIANS, certified group fitness instructor Susan Bordenkircher makes a case for yoga not only as something that Christians can use for stress reduction and exercise but also something that can bring them closer to God through scripture-based worship and meditation. "God is using our desire to have strong, healthy bodies and presenting us with an opportunity to, at the same time, develop a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him," she says. Bordenkircher, the creator of the too-cutely named "Outstretched in Worship" video series, is a self-described "typically nervous, insecure, and therefore competitive person" who discovered that the regular practice of yoga helped her develop contentment and a heightened attitude of listening to God. She shares in her book and accompanying instructional DVD how Christians can integrate yoga positions with worship and scripture. The book is designed to alleviate the fears of those who believe yoga is incompatible with Christianity, and introduce yoga positions and practice through both words and photographs to those who are new to it. "To forego the healing benefits of yoga because it is sometimes practiced within a different belief system is like telling God that He is not big enough to take something from the dark and bring it into the light," she writes. Conservative Christians who aren't convinced may be placated by bestselling evangelical author Max Lucado's endorsement on the back cover. (Lucado enjoys using yoga as part of his own fitness regime.) Bordenkircher also addresses the question, "Why do we have to Christianize everything?" Her response: "We are to live an integrated life for Christ." I love some of the insights Bordenkircher offers here. "God's presence is in your breath," she writes in one passage, reminding us that our breath is also a reflection of our emotional state. "God designed your breath not only to reflect your emotional and physical reactions but to change them," she says. "With deliberate intention, you can go from stressed to calm in the matter of a few deep breaths." Who can resist this promising statement? Correct breathing is so important, Bordenkircher believes, that she devotes a whole chapter to it. Black-and-white photographs used liberally throughout the book are very helpful in illustrating the right yoga positions, from "Star Gazer" to "the Downward-Facing Dog." The instructions alongside the photos are practical and succinct. I particularly appreciate the "high intensity/low intensity" options for different positions. Good photo sequences on building different sorts of "energy flows" (sequences of positions) are included, as well as a section for doing yoga with your children and with a partner. An index in the back with a listing of topics and positions would have been helpful for quick reference. The DVD include

This book is exactly what I've been waiting for. It is full of advice for Christians on incorporating prayer and Scripture meditation into a hatha yoga practice. For the movement part, there are chapters for each of four different phases of an asana practice, warm-ups, balance, strength, and surrender (floor), where each posture is explained and pictured. Lower or higher intensity levels are sometimes shown as well as helpful information given regarding some postures which should not be practiced under certain physical conditions. there are also included a few flowing sequences to pick and choose from based on how you feel that day as well as chapters on practicing with children and partners. A nice full length workout DVD is included. Susan's charming, downhome personality really shines through in her writing style. What a sweet lady. This book presents a Christ-centered approach to yoga which is focused on quieting and stilling (not emptying) the mind in order to deepen your relationship with God. I see no reason for anyone who is secure in what he or she believes to be offended.

Having enjoyed Susan Bordenkircher's yoga workout tapes for over a year, I had to order her book. I was happily surprised at the very strong content and particularly the lovely writing voice and style Susan has. I say surprised because usually someone so strong in one area (yoga instructor), isn't necessarily strong in another area (writer). This is an A+ product all around! It contains a thoughtful and beautifully-written explanation of Christian yoga practice, outstanding photographs and pose descriptions, a great yoga session on the DVD, and best of all, a lovely and heartfelt call from the writer to draw close to "God our Creator, Jesus our Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit within us."

my main points are #ed at the bottom of this page if you would like to skip to the end... this is a wonderful idea!!! yoga has many benifits to anyone and that includes christians. the biggest problem everyone has with this book is that the word "yoga" was and to several still is the joining of human and god (some refer to it as a transformation of human to god). the thing is that here in america words change in meaning all the time. the union of man and god as far as i am concerned could just mean that god has moved into your heart and thus it could still meet the definition of "yoga" as far as that goes. the point i am trying to make is this...1) if you don't like it b/c it is called yoga, don't buy it but also don't stop others from buying it if they want 2) even though hindus named it, it doesn't make yoga stickly hindu 3) if you would like a nice peaceful workout without the influence of non-christian religions...BUY THIS BOOK!!!

I am a God-fearing, patriotic, white American Christian who is not afraid of expanding my horizons with a little ethnic now and then. I even accompanied my wife to a few of her yoga classes, thinking it might do my stiff back some good. While yoga did do wonders for my back, when the instructor began talking about chakras, meditation and enlightenment, I knew I had to get out of there before I began worshipping elephants and two-headed gods. I missed the relaxation, calm, and overall sense of greater healthfulness yoga gave me, but I was not about to let the temptations of mere physical and mental well-being lead me down the dark path and away from the One and True God. My wife thought my apprehension about the potential evil of these weird, Eastern ways was silly and that I should resume yoga. I love my wife dearly, and she is as good a helpmeet as a man could wish for, but I could not expect her to see the potential harm of practicing heathen rituals. I was talking with my local pastor about the spiritual dangers of yoga when he informed me that a Christian yoga movement was on the rise and that I should check it out. I went on the web, found "Yoga for Christians" by Susan Bordenkircher, and decided to give it a try. This book not only has descriptive photographs for each of the positions and exercises, it also comes with an instructional DVD. More important, however, is the Christian focus of the book. Ms. Bordenkircher hits all the right notes, reminding us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, that we honor God with our bodies, and that everything we do and say must be as a representative of the Lord Jesus. So how does Bordenkircher reconcile the pagan practice of yoga with the greater glory of God? "So to forego the healing benefits of yoga because it is sometimes practiced within a different belief system is like telling God that He is not big enough to take something from the dark and bring it into the light." To Christians who fear that the yoga postures themselves constitute a form of pagan worship, Bordenkircher answers, "when you have a Christ-centered intent to your practice, how could holding that God-given vessel [our bodies] in any particular position be used for evil because of what another faith has named it?" She goes on to recount how many of our sacred hymns were adapted from popular bar songs and how rock and roll, the very embodiment of secular hedonism, has been co-opted into the service of the Lord by Christian rockers. Seen in this Christ-centered light, I realized I could not only enjoy the health benefits of yoga, but actually bring myself closer to God at the same time. Who would have thought that a pagan practice developed by Eastern heathens predating Christ by over a thousand years was actually a tool for the eventual glory of Christ the Lord? God does indeed work in mysterious ways.