Thank you for the blessing of your participation!

Yesterday is History
Tomorrow is a Mystery
This Moment is a Gift….that’s why it’s called “the Present”.

This is our final week together for a season. I will close out this blogsite for now with a copy of the final reading from class. I hope this will be a good reminder for us all as we continue to practice "being in this moment" with our Lord!

“Afraid in a fearful word, we very much want certain things to happen, and we very much want certain other things not to happen. Our experience of life is like that of a trapeze artist – but instead of rings, we swing from one intense attachment to the next. We begin yoga with an eye to the results. We’ve heard that stretching is good for the back, or helps with stress, and so we “go to yoga” to get a little something we feel we are lacking. We may do this with many things, programs, or projects we think may be helpful….sometimes even things Bible study, church, etc. In our consumer culture, this attitude of finding “something we need” or think we might be lacking, serves the purpose of getting us to yoga, or Bible study, or church in the first place. But this attitude must be abandoned if we are to stay there. This is because the first year of yoga practice or first experience of Bible study, or first “whatever “ often produces spectacular results. Pain vanishes, disease processes and posture problems reverse themselves, peace of heart increases… a whole new world is presented to us. Why not hope for more of the same? Because it is in this hoping that we lose sight of the true beauty we have discovered.

The purpose of and work we do in yoga practice is an immersion into the NOW. The work we do on our mats teaches us to commit wholeheartedly to the present moment. We act in the moment with all our hearts, whether it is in silent prayer and meditation or poses or complete relaxation. We act in the moment with all our hearts because we are learning that that is all there is… this moment with the Lord. We are finding that the only result worth achieving is being fully present where we are NOW, as we move from moment to moment. To be attached to the results, be they more flexibility, a stronger core, or greater peace of heart is to place the cart before the horse and to miss the point. This is the way yoga practice can benefit all aspects of our lives. All positive outcomes are by-products of our increasing moment by moment awareness of the presence of the Lord . Striving for outcomes will become unrewarding. And then we will put our mats (or Bibles or whatever else we use to “obtain results”) on the shelf to collect dust, alongside other things we’ve used in the hope of achieving specific results. The alternative – being fully present and open to the present moment as an expression of your love for life and the Lord – is the path that leads to a long and fulfilling practice.

MINDFULNESS and AWARENESS

"What deadens us most to God's presence within us, I think, is the inner dialogue that we are continuously engaged in with ourselves, the endless chatter of human thought." Fredrick Beuchner


This week, try to spend just 3-5 minutes quieting your mind, letting the presence of the Lord fill your heart and mind. Sit quietly in simple seated pose, turn your mind to the Lord living WITHIN you. If your mind wanders, no worries... just smile inside, knowing that the Lord loves your mind...even when it wanders!

FOR YOUR PRACTICING PLEASURE

Asana sequences: Week 4

Here is my attempt at providing you with some practice

sequences : ) Hopefully, my artistic abilities will

improve with time!

Have a blessed week~

See you on Wednesday!

Thank you!

Thank you for coming to Yoga and Worship. Stay posted! I'll try to have some poses, sequences and pictures up by the weekend. I will also list the album titles for the music I use for those of you who asked about it. Have a blessed week!

Breathe!

Acts 17:25b

"...He himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things..."

What IS Yoga:

An ancient set of postures and principles used to focus attention on union of body, breath and spirit in order to increase our awareness of the present moment. As we learn to pay attention to this unity of body and spirit, we can become aware of God’s actual presence in our souls in a new and vital way. It becomes a way to “practice the presence of God”, opening our hearts, minds, and spirits to God’s love and compassion for all living beings.

What Yoga is NOT:

It is NOT a religion, though it developed in the East has been adopted heavily by Eastern religions

It is NOT just another form of exercise…though it is often used as such

It is NOT a “work-out”…it is a “work-in”

What Yoga does:

Physically: increases your core and large muscle group strength, flexibility, balance and co-ordination

Mentally: calms and quiets your mind, helps you focus attention, places you in the present moment.

Spiritually: opens your heart to spending this very moment with the Lord.

Have a blessed week ..... and don't forget to

BREATHE!

Welcome to Reflections on Yoga and Worship!
Class will begin on Wednesday, Sept 9th, at Pomona First Baptist Church at 7pm.
Come prepared to learn, worship .... and "stretch" ~ physically, emotionally and spiritually!
Bring your mat, a lap blanket or thick towel, water and an open heart!
Blessings! Pam