Holy Stretches

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Holy Stretches

Christ-centered breath + movement classes. Holistic worship in motion, learning to be "present in God's presence."

04/10/2019

Hey yogi friends,

We've had some folks reach out to us who aren't able to commit to the full series, but are still interested in coming to 1 or more classes.
If this appeals to you, we are offering individual classes in this series for $20 each until spaces are full.

You can sign up for the class(es) you want to attend by by clicking the link below. I know this is a busy time of year for everyone, so I hope this solves some schedule-conflicts for those who would like to join us.

Have a Restorative + Empowering weekend! ;)

https://alphayogaomega.org/restore-empower-hot-yoga-series

28/09/2019

Meditating today on this passage from Ephesians 5,
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (ESV)
And also loving the Amplified version:
“Therefore become imitators of God,
copy Him and follow His example,
as well beloved children imitate their father, and walk continually in love, that is, value one another - practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God, slain for you, so that it became a sweet fragrance.”
Unselfish, sacrificial love doesn’t come easy for me. It’s not our human nature to think of others before we do ourselves.
It is a sacrifice. A laying down for others.
But meditating on that most precious sacrifice of Jesus, Himself slain, and how it cost Him everything in order to give me a grace I don’t deserve, from this lense I see my own selfishness in a new light.
This is what changes a person’s DNA;
Understanding the cost of grace.
And it makes sacrificial love all the more possible for us to imitate. What a sweet fragrance that is - a fragrant offering.
Since our sense of smell holds such a powerful tie to our memories, I’m choosing this morning to burn a sweet + fragrant incense to celebrate that love, His love.
I want to understand in the physical sense, how that sacrifice appeals to God.
And I want to remember, as I dwell here, the importance of sacrificial love every time I smell this aroma again.
What smell do you think of when you hear this passage? What aroma is “love” to you?
I’m burning Palo Santo this morning (a precious gift from ), but I also love sandalwood, rose and frankincense - their sweet and earthy smells remind me of a fragrant offering, pleasing to the Lord.🔥

26/09/2019

So excited to be co-teaching a very special series next month.
Restorative + Empowerment yoga in one class with the heat turned way up!
Find out more or sign up here👇🏽
https://alphayogaomega.org/restore-empower-hot-yoga-series.
Shalom dear ones.✌🏽
Update: 12 more spaces available.

24/09/2019

✨
Holy Spirit you are welcome here:
in my heart,
through my breath,
on my mat.
“𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕠𝕝𝕪 𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕣𝕚𝕥 𝕚𝕤 𝕒𝕝𝕤𝕠 𝕒 𝕤𝕡𝕚𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕦𝕒𝕝 𝙛𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙚.
ℍ𝕖 𝕒𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕣𝕒𝕚𝕤𝕖 𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕡
𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕖 𝕤𝕡𝕚𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕦𝕒𝕝 𝕝𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕤.”
Words by Tozer
📸by

18/09/2019

🙌🏼
𝕀 𝕒𝕞 𝕟𝕠 𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕣 𝕞𝕪 𝕠𝕨𝕟,
𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕖.
ℙ𝕦𝕥 𝕞𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕥,
𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕜 𝕞𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕨𝕙𝕠𝕞 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕥.
ℙ𝕦𝕥 𝕞𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕕𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕘,
𝕡𝕦𝕥 𝕞𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕤𝕦𝕗𝕗𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘.
𝕃𝕖𝕥 𝕞𝕖 𝕓𝕖 𝕖𝕞𝕡𝕝𝕠𝕪𝕖𝕕 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕖
𝕠𝕣 𝕝𝕒𝕚𝕕 𝕒𝕤𝕚𝕕𝕖 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕖,
𝕖𝕩𝕒𝕝𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕖
𝕠𝕣 𝕓𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕝𝕠𝕨 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕖.
𝕃𝕖𝕥 𝕞𝕖 𝕓𝕖 𝕗𝕦𝕝𝕝,
𝕝𝕖𝕥 𝕞𝕖 𝕓𝕖 𝕖𝕞𝕡𝕥𝕪.
𝕃𝕖𝕥 𝕞𝕖 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤,
𝕝𝕖𝕥 𝕞𝕖 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕟𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘.
𝕀 𝕗𝕣𝕖𝕖𝕝𝕪 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕚𝕝𝕪 𝕪𝕚𝕖𝕝𝕕 𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤
𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕪 𝕡𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕒𝕝.
𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕟𝕠𝕨, 𝕆 𝕘𝕝𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕠𝕦𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕓𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕖𝕕 𝔾𝕠𝕕,
𝔽𝕒𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣, 𝕊𝕠𝕟, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 ℍ𝕠𝕝𝕪 𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕣𝕚𝕥,
𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦 𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕖,
𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕀 𝕒𝕞 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕖.
𝕊𝕠 𝕓𝕖 𝕚𝕥.
𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕔𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕟𝕒𝕟𝕥 𝕨𝕙𝕚𝕔𝕙 𝕀 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕕𝕖 𝕠𝕟 𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕙,
𝕝𝕖𝕥 𝕚𝕥 𝕓𝕖 𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕗𝕚𝕖𝕕 𝕚𝕟 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕧𝕖𝕟.
𝔸𝕞𝕖𝕟
The Covenant Prayer, John Wesley
📸by

15/09/2019

The Sun Salutation, also known as Surya Namaskara, consists of 12 gracefully-linked stretching poses, meant to salute the Hindu “sun god” Surya.
As a Christ-follower, where does this put the Christian yogi? Does this effect the intention of one’s heart within their practice? Can we move and breathe through a yoga sequence in a body God has thoughtfully made, “knit together,” in honor of His name; of His Son’s name? Does this look like idol worship?
Though I’ve been wrestling with these questions over the past many months, I realize sometimes it’s okay not to be the expert on everything. It’s not imperative to know the right answer for every person. Maybe some of this is left between the individual and God. Maybe grey areas do exist on some things this side of heaven. And maybe some things are just left unanswered for a reason. Even though it’s not an easy answer, maybe that’s okay.
I’ve hesitated to post anything else controversial on this Christian/yoga topic because I don’t want to make others feel uncomfortable. But as a people of God and/or a yoga community, we shouldn’t hold onto these things alone. This topic is heavy on many hearts and is stirring controversy on both sides. Wether we all agree or not, we are meant to be One Body, the body of Christ - and sometimes that ISN’T comfortable, and was never meant to be.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31
Is this a topic that comes up for you?
Feel free to share it here.
Your restless thoughts are welcome.
We can rest in the Son’s grace together.

02/09/2019

Yoga on the Mountain
We took off our shoes before entering this place ... as it felt sacred, like ‘holy ground.’
And in that essence, we read aloud these very words which Moses prayed,
“Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
Lord, thank you for this place,
Thank you for this time and space,
To meet with you,
to be with you,
To remember who You are,
And who we are in You,
As we move and breathe
in worship of you, Father,
And learn to be present
in your Holy presence,
once again.
Amen.
What a privilege to lead class in such a beautiful space. Thank you !

19/08/2019

“We are all failures , at least, all the best of us are.” - J.M. Barrie

We love talking about our successes -
goals achieved, things we are proud of, what went according to plan...
But what about our failures?
I believe these, (which just seem to accumulate as we get older), are just as much a part of our stories as our highlights. Maybe even more so.

For whatever reason, lately I’ve been feeling like a failure, and I have a hard time separating my identity from my shortcomings. When I fail - I let it affect my worth. I become my failure.
Yet if my identity is in Christ, neither my losses nor my triumphs determine my value. It’s a perspective shifter - turning my eyes to Jesus. He chose me in my failings.

And I’ve been challenging myself to start thinking of these failures as the most beautiful parts of my story, because they are how God can shape us, redeem us, and even shine through us if we let Him.

It’s hard to look beyond ourselves, to see from His perspective...
And maybe that’s the point.
Failures are meant to soften and to teach. And if we allow ourselves to be humbled, we will find peace.
“Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life.” - Psalm 22:4
Not always a fun process, but our failures can refine us to become a beautiful masterpiece if we let them.

I remember reading a challenge years ago to shout out loud:
“I have failed!
And you know what?
It’s okay!”
When I read this, I almost felt dared to do it. And as ridiculous as I felt yelling this into the abyss, it was so freeing - and I remember just laughing. Like by myself - a good long laugh at myself, with myself.

15/08/2019

SABAH

One of many Hebrew words for worship meaning, “to reach out with affection for God, to feel His hold on us.”
I love this word and the intimacy it suggests. Like a tender form of worship, child-like embodied in child’s pose.
Being vulnerable in this position -
I remember, He is near, like a warm and gentle breeze, waiting to hold my hand.
I’m re-membering that my yoga practice can embody all the many forms of worship, and for me it’s become less about the exercise, and more about devoting my breath and movement to the one who deserves all the praise.
Author Rich Kirkpatrick beautifully describes Sabah, “like the stroke of a swimmer or a soothing, stilling hold... sabah may also be the experience we feel as stormy waters still during our lifting up of praise to God.
The waves cease. We are held still as a people of God when we focus on His greatness and love for us. Whether we sing in private or pray out loud with our church, we are sure to discover that praise often calms the storms within us and around us -
if even for those moments.”
Yes. To. This.
Peace amidst the chaos.
We look to Jesus and the waves cease.

12/08/2019

Lately I’ve been curious about Jesus’ last words on the cross,
“It is finished.” (According to John)
The English translation is powerful in and of itself, but I know sometimes also falls flat from the original, so I’ve been digging.

The most common translation goes back to the Greek, “Tetelestai.”
It’s thought by some scholars that Tetelestai was used to stamp across debts conveying “paid in full.” Jesus’ final uttering is perhaps the deepest word(s) ever spoken, especially for those of us who long to be acquitted from the consequences of our sin so we can be reconciled to God.

But since Jesus didn’t speak Greek (at least primarily) I wanted to know what He actually said in His native tongue, Arabic.

This is perhaps something we will never know for sure, but I love what I found none the less. “Mashelem,” which can mean “to be finished,” is also much richer indeed. Shelim or Shelem comes from the root word for shalom or peace but is in the passive form. Mem or Ma would be the inifinitive, which would make “mashelem” to mean “peace has been accomplished,” in a form of complete submission.

Christ’s surrendering of Himself was and is to cover sin, reconcile us in our iniquities back to God, and thus accomplish peace in our hearts. In that moment, it was truly finished, because our debts were paid.
But more than that, peace is accomplished.

Mashelem is the perfect word for what was the most powerful moment in all of human history. Power through surrender.
The beauty of His final word(s) is that in all three languages, the significance is preserved, and yet considering what was actually God breathed on that cross, the meaning is laid bare across my heart,
for it is because of this word shelim, that I can truly say shalom in His name.🙏🏽

08/08/2019

Truth be told,
I haven’t gotten on my mat in a little while. Not that I haven’t busted out a down dog or some stretches here and there. But my mat and I, we have been taking a break.
And you know how I feel about it? Great.
How do I feel physically? Ehh, pretty tight.
How do I feel mentally and emotionally?
Like I could probably use some yoga.
But I’m reminding myself that regardless of these obvious consequences from halting my practice, a break can feel so right.
And it’s been a season where I’ve needed to remember why I do what I do, and to feel in my body, mind, and spirit why I chose to cultivate this discipline to begin with.
I took some time off from teaching yoga last month, and I’m continuing that break into this one, and it’s the first time I have given myself permission to rest from my routine for about a year.
I know this isn’t necessarily right for everyone - maybe most folks don’t need to be reminded of the why, but I’m one that needs space in order to gain a refreshed perspective. And I don’t think I’m alone in needing grace around this issue.
In fact, God even ordained ritual rest from food, working, routine in order to remember the why and the stories of His love for us, and it’s all about stopping to remember.
Maybe this has become even more habitual from learning to look forward to summer break from school, only to be ready to start again in the fall after missing the structure of routine. Summer is a season of unstructured-ness, and I love it. I need it.
In the past, I know I would have seen this differently - a break. I would have felt guilty and beaten myself up about it, but that isn’t productive, certainly isn’t restful, and is far from listening to and honoring myself in this present place. So now, I am committed to following the lead of the One who needs my presence, my full attention, and my complete surrender.
I’m learning how to be, without always doing, and to find my identity in Him, not in my favorite things. Truly I believe this leads to longevity in the life we are passionate about pursuing; more balance, less burnout, and heaps and heaps of grace.
📸by

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Present in His Presence

Alpha Yoga Omega is a ministry with a Christ-centered telos of "present in God's presence." Yoga is a practice that can inspire such a union by joining breath to our physical movements, quieting our minds, and becoming more awake in our spiritual selves. This deeper alignment and syncing of our bodies, minds, and spirits allows us to be more present. And being present allows us to better hear and respond to God's voice, remembering our ongoing invitation to live in His presence. The goal and intention of Alpha Yoga Omega is to facilitate a space where this connection can happen, both on and off our mats.

I began dreaming up this ministry in 2014 after receiving an invitation to a local yoga teacher training program. My own journey with yoga had been a bumpy one, where I was consistent for many months and then would take a hiatus for one reason or another. However, something kept leading me back. When I was regularly practicing yoga, I found that I felt centered and mindful. I felt more in tune with my body, learning to truly see it as a temple and gift from God. I felt closer to the Lord and paid more attention to Him. Something became apparent in the connection between my yoga practice and my mindfulness as a person, a more aware Christian.

This led to questions like: "Could yoga benefit the church as well? Is it something God's people need in today's disconnected world? Might it be a means to worship Him with our bodies?" I began to pray. "Lord, if I do this, may it be done with intention and through Your strength, not my own." It was then I felt God tug at my heart to take the plunge. I had a vision of the "Aum," or Om symbol, being hung on the cross. I felt a sense of peace that this union was God inspired and decided to pursue it in fear and faith. My greatest doubt was whether the Lord could use me to reach people with His love, in this case through yoga. Yet here I am a few years later and can honestly say it is one of the greatest gifts I've been given, teaching in this manner and being an expression of the hands and feet of Jesus in a way I never could have imagined. In spite of my limitations, He is using me to teach to others the very things I most need to hear and practice.