"Your body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit."

I completed training and am now certified to teach yoga. I go for more training in the fall and am documenting my preparation. If yoga or my life interests you check back, I'll be posting articles and media that stood out.

I'll begin here.



I was taught this verse to curb my enthusiasm for extramarital sex and tattoos. Today I have both, but He is with me.

The first priority of spiritual people is the exploration of God, and it's tempting to ignore the health of our bodies along the way. Our culture further distracts with depictions of the early twenties as a time best spent exposing ourselves to as many others as possible while alternating between manic productivity and consumptive binge-drinking.

With all of the confusing messages and demands of early adult living, wouldn't it be great if God had given us a... I don't know... nearby place where we could expect Him to be?

Yoga forces the practitioner to take time everyday to take account of the body. I have a chance to notice if I feel tired, tight, or amazingly focused and then contemplate what parts of my day off the mat might be responsible. It starts with small levels of awareness,

"This is weird."
"It feels great to stretch my legs after work."
"I wish I hadn't had that pesto burger."

but then expands,

"My negative interaction with that person earlier is competing with my ability to focus."
"Good posture makes my body easier to control."
"Thinking about the floor doesn't help me resist gravity."

And occasionally you reach a place where internal dialog ceases and you are alone in a the Temple of the Holy Spirit.

TRY IT.
http://www.menshealth.com/yoga/get-started-guide/