lululemon chooses first Christian Yoga Ambassadors!

We have long loved lululemon’s clothing, mats and yoga gear.  We used to have to go to Biltmore Fashion Park in central Phoenix to purchase our fabulous fashions from lululemon and when we heard that they were going to open a store right here in Chandler at Chandler Fashion Center….well, we were over the moon!

When their representatives came to visit all the studios in Chandler in order to connect with their new community we were blessed by their visit. We found their staff and management to be warm, sharp, community minded and, of course, beautiful and fashionable yogi’s and yogini’s. Little did we know at first that they were also seeking lululemon Ambassadors for their new store.  lululemon Ambassadors are an international group of unique yoga teachers who lululemon is proud to have represent their commitment to community, excellence in teaching and warmth in personal style.

We were thrilled that the two female ambassadors they selected for their Chandler store were both Yahweh Yoga graduates!  Our own Co-Founder Courtney Chalfant ERYT and graduate Tamara Buschel RYT. Thank you lululemon! You ROCK!

Check out the store at Chandler Fashion Mall.

Also check out our events pages as we often have other Yahweh Yoga teachers teach community classes for lululemon

Yahweh Yoga Blog: The Gospel Without Words

Yahweh Blog
The Gospel Without Words

A wise person once said, “Preach the gospel always. When necessary, use words.”

As a Yahweh Yoga instructor (and as Christ’s follower), I’m called to share the gospel.

Yet, my credentials as a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) open doors to share Him with many who may not yet know Him. I find joy in leading classes for those brand new to yoga. I pray for these students, just as I do for my Yahweh Yoga students. I give them the same solid instruction. And, to my great delight, I share Jesus’ love with them. The Holy Spirit shines His light through me, even though I’m not sharing Scripture or praying, as I do in my Yahweh Yoga classes.

Without my dual credentials as an RYT and a Certified Christian Yoga Teacher (CCYT), I might not have the sweet opportunity to share my love for yoga in places where I can’t overtly share the Gospel. God’s power knows no limitations. He doesn’t require words to touch our hearts. Romans 8:26 tells us that His Holy Spirit “prays for us with groanings that can’t be expressed in words.”

I’m so proud to be a Yahweh Yoga teacher; to have the immense privilege to lead my students in worship and wellness. And I’m grateful for my RYT credentials. They lend credibility to my instruction and open doors for me to share the gospel; even without words.

Yahweh Blog: Reflections from a New Yahweh Yoga Teacher: A Jack Hammer and God’s Presence

The playlist was set. The lighting was perfect. The faint scent of lavender filled the YMCA’s Multipurpose Room. I took a deep breath, introduced myself to my students and began our Yahweh Yoga practice session with Scripture.

Then it began. A jackhammer. Right next door. It was deafeningly loud and terribly distracting. I cranked up the peaceful music and raised my voice. I silently prayed for God’s help as my brain seemed to freeze. My head pounded. This wasn’t exactly what I had imagined for my first class. We continued, with intermittent blasts from the hard working jackhammer.

True to His faithful nature, God cleared my mind to cue gentle postures. My Yahweh Yoga teacher training had prepared me well to keep going in the midst of unforeseen circumstances. The heavy reconstruction next door ceased just as our class ended.

Not every class will be so challenging. And many teachers’ first experiences have been nothing less than blissful. But, for this teacher on that day, God allowed a different experience. Not even an annoying jackhammer could distract us from worshipping and focusing our attention on Him alone.

He, after all, is the focus of any Yahweh Yoga class. His presence outweighs any distraction from man or the enemy. God touched my students’ hearts when I felt weak in body and spirit. He showed me that Christian yoga is so much more than leading postures; it’s about leading worship.

My students concluded the practice, grateful for a meaningful Christian yoga experience. Should I have been surprised? “He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them [including jackhammers!]— He remains faithful forever.” (Psalm 146:6)

Did my first class go according to plan? Yes. Exactly as God intended it; for my students and for their new teacher.

Yahweh Blog: Two Healthy Choices for 2011

Homemade cookies don’t tempt me in January. After the plethora of holiday feasts, I’d rather have a crunchy carrot than almost any kind of sweet treat. I’m ready to make some healthy choices for the new year. Monumental resolutions usually don’t stick for the long-term, so I’m making two reasonable resolutions I think I can keep in the weeks and months to come:

1) Practice Christian Yoga. My body feels best when I practice at home or in a group setting every other day. Sometimes I practice with my copy of Yahweh Yoga’s “Faithful Flow” DVD; other times, I select a Christian music collection on Pandora and practice by myself; I teach Yahweh Yoga classes; and occasionally, I practice in a group class.

2) Make Healthy Food Choices. I buy organic produce and other healthy foods as often as possible. For Christmas this year, I received a Breville Juice Fountain. I’m having fun experimenting with different fruits and vegetables. Often, I serve my creation in a goblet, offering a toast to my body, knowing that I’m giving it a boost of natural enzymes and nutrients. Never, not in a thousand years, would I ever have guessed that I’d like green juice. But guess what? In a few short days of experimenting, I’m becoming a passionate fan of the stuff. Go figure.

What about you? How are you starting out this new year? What choices are you making for a healthy body in 2011? Feel free to share your ideas and resolutions in the response section of this blog.

Here’s to a healthy you in the year to come!

Yahweh Blog: Care for Your Soul in the New Year

Care for Your Soul in the New Year

A new year brings new opportunity to grow our spiritual roots more deeply in the Lord we love and serve. It’s amazing that the God of the universe wants to build that kind of relationship with us. Christianity is unique among other world religions because we serve a God who engages with His creation.

What will a deeper walk with Christ look like for you in the year 2011? Maybe you really want to dig into a specific topic and see what God has to say about it. Maybe you want to read a devotional or a few Scripture verses to sustain you during your busy day. Perhaps you’ll pick up Joyce Meyer’s Battlefield of the Mind or some other great Christian book to help you think more about your relationship with Christ.

Have you ever considered making meditation part of your relationship with the Lord? I have to admit that until I attended Yahweh Yoga teacher training, I hadn’t ever tried it. I never really understood what it means to meditate on God’s Word. Learning about biblical meditation and how to guide my students in it has changed and deepened my Christian walk. It is quite an experience to be still in mind and body, to ruminate on the Scripture and to listen to, rather than talk with, the Lord. It’s powerful.

Granted, while biblical meditation is an integral part of any Christian yoga practice, it’s much more than that; it’s among God’s commands to His followers. Joshua 1:8 tells us to “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”

What does it mean to meditate? The dictionary simply defines meditation as “focusing one’s thoughts; to reflect or ponder.” That’s it. God asks us to focus our thoughts on Him; to reflect on His Word and ponder its application. Nothing mystical about it. No big time commitment. We may have only five or ten minutes on any given day to meditate on Scripture. It doesn’t take long, once we slow down and quiet our mind and spirit, for the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to us. Meditation grounds us in the firm foundation of God’s Word. On a hectic day, it brings us back where we need to be; close to our Savior.

So, if meditating on God’s Word is a new concept for you, too, give it a try. See how God might use it to affect your life.

What about you? Why is caring for your soul an important part of your day? Feel free to share your thoughts and ideas with the rest of us and comment on this blog post. We’d love to hear from you.

Yahweh Yoga Blog: Making Up Your Mind

Joyce Meyer says “You can enjoy anything if you make up your mind to.” Really? Is it that easy?
Well, in a sense, yes; it is that easy. The Bible promises us stability and peace once we make up our minds to do the next right thing:

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)

I can enjoy a healthy lifestyle if I make up my mind to do so. It begins there; in what Joyce Meyer calls “the battlefield of the mind.”
Every change begins with a decision. Sometimes that initial choice is the most difficult one of all. Even as I consciously make the choice, I’m not so sure I can follow through with it. What if I blow it?
For the Christian, that’s where grace comes in.

Jesus says He is strongest when I am weak (II Cor. 12:10).

When the choices get tough; on the tenth, fiftieth, hundredth time around; when I’m exhausted; when I don’t see change….it’s then that Jesus’ strong arms carry me. When I lean hard on Him, He enables me to make the tough, right choices. The whole point is that I can’t do it on my own. If I could, what need would I have for a Savior?
In this new year, the renewal we so desperately want begins with a decision to give our minds, and our choices, to the only One with the power and ability to enable us choose wisely in the private battlefield of our mind. Only then will we see the lasting change we want so much.

Yahweh Yoga Blog: Five Factors to Consider If You Want to Become a Christian Yoga Teacher

Yahweh Yoga Blog: Five Factors to Consider If You Want to Become a Christian Yoga Teacher

Christian yoga is growing and thriving in churches, studios and community centers across North America. For those of us who follow Christ, integrating the Bible, prayer and Christian music with our yoga practice makes for more than merely a physical workout. On our yoga mats, we can reflect and meditate on Scripture, worship and praise our Creator and exercise our bodies.

Some of us who discover the joy of Christian yoga want to share it with others by becoming Christian yoga teachers. To pursue our dream, we have two options: we can study in a traditional yoga school and adapt our teaching style; or study in an exclusively Christian yoga teacher training program.

Just open the pages of Yoga Journal, and you’ll find myriad options for traditional yoga schools. You may have to do a little more research to find a Christian yoga school. The internet is a good place to start. Once you identify your options, here are a few factors to consider when weighing which program best suits you:

1.)Cost

Make sure you understand what you’re paying for when you invest your time and resources in a Christian yoga school program. What’s included in the program’s total cost–Meals? Accommodations? Travel? Textbooks?

2.)Credentials

Make sure that your Christian yoga school of choice bears the marks of a respected, established and credible institution. Is the school registered with Yoga Alliance? How many teachers have they trained? Do they comply with their state’s regulatory and educational institution requirements?

3) Curriculum

Make sure you know what will you study and how you will train. Does the curriculum include Biblical instruction? Teaching methodology? Basic anatomy? Yoga postures? Yoga history? How much of your training will be hands-on? How much will be from textbooks or online materials?

4) Certification

Once you graduate, what certification(s) will you receive? Will you receive designation as a Yoga Alliance-certified Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT)? What certification will designate you specifically as a Christian instructor? Will most employers accept the certification you’ll receive?

5) Calling

Spend some quiet time alone with God. Search your heart and His Word. Ask Him to direct your steps and help you find the place that will best equip you for your work and ministry.

Teaching Christian yoga is much more than just a job. It’s both a privilege and responsibility. Take time to pray and think through each step of the process.

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8) That’s a promise to claim for any big life decision, including the one to become a Christian yoga teacher.

Links:
www.yahwehyoga.com
www.newdayyoga.com
www.yogaalliance.com

Yahweh Yoga Blog: CCYT and RYT: Excellence for the Christian Yoga Teacher

CCYT and RYT: Excellence for the Christian Yoga Teacher

I was hooked. Within months of taking my first yoga class, I began to consider teaching. I wanted to understand more about yoga and to share it with others.

Great instruction at local studios further fueled my desire to teach. I developed a powerful vision: to incorporate my faith in Jesus with my yoga practice. My research on Christian yoga teacher training led me to several sources. My yoga school choice purely was a “God thing.” With one phone call, I loved Yahweh Yoga’s approach. I found there a mutual passion for Jesus and yoga. My excitement mounted as I took the first steps toward becoming a Christian yoga teacher.

When I began my online studies, I saw the value of the double certification I was pursuing, as both a Certified Christian Yoga Teacher (CCYT) and a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT). Potential employers asked about my yoga school and certification. Most, but not all, of them indicated they would require RYT certification to hire me.

Now that I’ve graduated, I fully appreciate the value of my dual certification. I’ve started my own yoga business, intentionally incorporating the word “Christian” into my business name, because I want to teach Yahweh Yoga-style Christian yoga. My passion is to share wellness with other believers through Christian yoga. My CCYT certification identifies my instruction as uniquely Christian.

In some ways, my RYT certification from Yoga Alliance is icing on the cake; but not really. I now understand that it’s the gold standard of excellence within the yoga industry at large. If I choose, I’m qualified to teach in just about any studio as an RYT. And, to tell you the truth, I think my RYT earns respect and credibility within and outside of the yoga community.

My training has equipped me to deliver safe, quality instruction for all of my students. Because believe me, 250 hours of teacher training is not for the faint of heart. Meeting the RYT standards took commitment, hard work and some personal sacrifice.

Was it worth it? Unequivocally. As a Christian yoga teacher, I live in the best of both worlds with dual certification. It was worth the time, effort and investment to achieve both the CCYT and RYT designations. They reinforce the excellence and intensity of my professional and spiritual preparation for the role to which Jesus has called me. I’m equipped and qualified to carry out this exciting new role as a Christian yoga teacher.

I serve a God who does all things with excellence. So, as I represent Him in my life and in my Christian yoga instruction, I’m happy that the caliber of my training and credentials give me opportunity to share Him with my students. That, after all, is what it’s all about.

Yahweh Yoga Blog: Why RYT Certification Matters to You, the Yoga Practitioner

Yahweh Yoga Blog: Why RYT Certification Matters to You, the Yoga Practitioner
If you’re one of the nearly 16 million Americans who practice yoga, or one of the nearly 30 million who are considering trying it (Yoga Journal’s “Yoga in America” study, 2008), you may want to check out your teacher’s credentials before you sign up for a class.
While the yoga industry doesn’t mandate teaching qualifications, most within it recommend that teachers earn their Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) certification. Yoga Alliance, the national education and support organization for yoga in the United States, offers RYT certification only to those who meet professional standards and study 200 or more hours at a certified school.

Why does RYT designation matter?

Safety. Your teacher must understand anatomy and proper alignment to safely lead a class. Registered Yoga Teachers are trained and tested on yoga-related anatomy, alignment and contraindications for poses.

Quality. Your teacher should both model and teach yoga technique with confidence and precision, based on their own solid education from a reputable institution.

Integrity. Your teacher should instruct and conduct business with integrity. Yoga Alliance requires all Registered Yoga Teachers to commit to these standards of integrity within the industry.
In many places, yoga teacher certification is elective. Adequate personal experience and successful completion of some type of formal training program are enough.

RYT certification assures prospective employers, peers and clients that the teacher’s training was comprehensive and recognized by a respected, collective group of professional yoga teachers. According to alliedhealthworld.com, many health clubs and gyms require national certification, but some hire an uncertified applicant with the understanding that retaining employment is conditional upon becoming certified in the first year of teaching. But all recognize the worldwide RYT designation.

Don’t be afraid to ask your instructor about her credentials. Most teachers are happy to talk about their RYT training experience and their yoga school.

If you’re looking for an exclusively Christian yoga instructor with RYT certification, check the teacher directory at www.yahwehyoga.com

Yahweh Yoga Blog: Registered Yoga Teacher Certification: What Does it Mean?

Yahweh Yoga Blog: Registered Yoga Teacher Certification: What Does it Mean?

For new students, finding a qualified yoga teacher can present a challenge. Is there any standard or certification that identifies a quality yoga teacher? What if a practitioner wants to become yoga instructor? In selecting a yoga school, what makes one different from another?

Most experienced yoga practitioners recommend finding a Registered Yoga Teacher, certified by Yoga Alliance®, the national education and support organization for yoga in the United States. Yoga Alliance® works to ensure the quality and consistency of instruction within the yoga industry.

Yoga Alliance® standards strengthen the integrity of a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT®) in the yoga community and promote yoga teachers as well-trained professionals. Graduates may be designated as RYTs only when they receive at least 200 hours of training at a Yoga Alliance®-registered school that uses a definite, pre-defined curriculum and experienced instructors.

According to Yoga Alliance®’s Code of Conduct, an RYT® agrees to:

• Conduct themselves in a professional and conscientious manner.

• Acknowledge the limitations of their skills and scope of practice and where appropriate, refer students to seek alternative instruction, advice, treatment or direction.

• Create and maintain a safe, clean and comfortable environment for the practice of yoga.

• Encourage diversity by respecting all students regardless of age, physical limitations, race, creed, gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.

• Respect the rights, dignity and privacy of all students.

• Avoid words and actions that constitute sexual harassment.

• Follow all local government and national laws that pertain to their yoga teaching and business.

To find a Registered Yoga Teacher or Registered Yoga School, or to learn more about Yoga Alliance® and its industry standards, visit www.yogaalliance.org. The selected information shared here is from Yoga Alliance®’s website.

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