The mission of Christian yoga is to find love unconditionally for both the Lord and our neighbor. This begins with loving yourself. Taking care of your own mental and physical wellbeing allows you to connect more deeply with God and shows respect for His creation.
Our health and well-being is more than just our waist size or what the scales tell us. It’s about the way we live our lives and care for ourselves as well as each other. Christ teaches us how to find love through a balanced lifestyle, so here are some changes you can make to aid your Christian yoga practice.
Balanced Diet
Advice for a balanced lifestyle usually begins with food. This is the source of our energy – energy which can be given to praising the Lord. The brain needs the right nutrition to retain clarity and release love-related hormones such as oxytocin.
You should limit consumption of any substances which alter consciousness such as alcohol. This is damaging to the liver, but also reduces your ability to focus. Stick to only the most natural foods, including fruits and vegetables to maintain high energy levels throughout the day. Consuming some healthy fats such as those found in oily fish will serve your yoga practice better than processed meat.
Balanced Exercise
Yoga is one of the most effective exercises for increasing feelings of love and connection. It is non-competitive and can be practiced in a group or in solitude. The former encourages connection with fellow humans, while the latter will give you the opportunity to connect to a higher power.
Beyond the spiritual benefits, yoga improves flexibility, balance, endurance and strength. Increasing the heart rate reduces the risk of stroke or heart disease, while more demanding poses strengthen bones and muscles to aid recovery from injury. Yoga is therefore an all-in-one approach to physical health.
Work-Life Balance
For those who work too hard, it can be difficult to maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine. Under stress, we turn to harmful substances such as junk food and alcohol. This in turn makes it difficult to find a place of love and connection, leaving us feeling irritated and angry.
You can reduce the number of hours you work by appreciating all the things that God has given you. Once you do this, you will realize that material wealth will do little to increase the love in your life.
