Finding your spiritual center through yoga

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Christianity is my religion. Yoga is my spiritual discipline. Before I began my yoga practice, I was caught up in church affairs such as small groups, discipleship groups, Bible studies, cookouts and the many other social facets of Christian life.

Then, I was burned out. I wanted to get as far away from church as possible. I was tired of the language and politics of what it is to be a follower of Jesus Christ. I was completely disenchanted with having to know who was going to heaven and who was going to hell, whether or not gay marriage was right and if God really was on our side in this war. I was 20 and already a bitter and cynical mess.

On a whim, I went to a yoga class at the College of Charleston. Skip Rector, Kripalu yoga teacher for 20 years, led the attendees with a gentle practice that encouraged us to relax, open up our bodies and center us on our breath. This was the first time I ever did yoga. He guided us through a visual meditation involving a raft that took us on the course of a gently flowing river. I felt like I was praying with my body. I felt set free from dogma and doctrine, tradition and expectation. I walked back into the arms of God.

I picked up a book from the clearance section at Barnes & Noble called "Yoga 101" and taught myself Sun Salutation, a sequence of poses linked together with breath. Every morning, I devoted myself to Sun Salutation and prayed through every pose. I imagined my breath as the physical manifestation of the Holy Spirit dwelling inside my body. For so long, I thought my flesh was evil and something to be hated. Yoga reconciled me to my body, and I became a temple of God.

When I started to read my Bible again, it was with fresh perspective and a new intention. I wanted to learn about the Christian faith on my own terms. I wanted to discover for myself what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Instead of bathing in the blood of my Lord and Savior because I am a wretched sinner, I looked to his teachings and sought to apply them practically to my life. Before yoga, Christianity was an abusive dictator. After yoga, Christianity finally became what I believe Christ meant for it to be: love.

Now, I am a yoga instructor affiliated with Holy Yoga. The style is Christ-centered, seeking to create an atmosphere where Christians can express prayer and worship with their bodies. In my classes, I strive to provide an inclusive environment that welcomes all people of all traditions. Yogananda said that yoga is the science of union with God, and it is my responsibility to offer that to everyone who comes through the door. I did not need a pew or an altar to find God. Instead, God found me facedown on my mat.