A letter from DeAnna: My Personal Transformation During our Recent Teacher Training

Hello Dear Yahweh Yoga Family,

As I write this, it is the first day after our January, 2010 Christian Yoga RYT Teacher Training graduation. During the ending days of the training, many students used the words “personal transformation” to describe their teacher training experience.

As I was reflecting on what students had to say, I realized that I too experienced personal transformation and deeper appreciation of daily life as a result of my role in our last class.

Hard work and the Word of God

Twenty-three students participated in our teacher training experience this month: they were Christian women from all over the world, from all backgrounds, and of all ages and fitness levels.

This was the first session of our revised RYT program where we cut back from 22 eight-hour days to twelve- to fourteen-hour days…for 15 days straight!

By the end of those long days, we came to realize that we had all grown close in heart and fellowship as we filled our minds and bodies with education about God, health and yoga. We pushed our bodies to the limits in terms of strength and endurance, and relaxed together over healthy eating and drinking.

Having this entire experience tethered in the Word of God was truly amazing for me personally.

Why this course was different from other sessions

I was asking myself, what was so different about this course and why did it impact me so intensely?

I won’t sugar-coat it, we worked long – and sometimes grueling – hours. Yet all the women, from ages 20s to 70s grew in their confidence and ability to teach Christian Yoga.

As my first yoga teacher told me once: “If it’s not hard, why are you doing it?” I realized that pushing myself to my limit was invigorating and I believe everyone else felt the same way. We were proud of ourselves (and it wasn’t like we went beyond good sense and/or safety), but we did push ourselves and it felt great to do so.

Overcoming the challenges of long days with the blessing of being able to serve both God and these wonderful women with my co-instructor (and precious daughter) Courtney, was life-changing for me. It helped me to see that God loves me so much that He has placed this purpose in my heart to help build strong, skilled, Christian yoga teachers to serve others worldwide. I know Courtney feels the same way.

How the students transformed

All 23 students could feel the presence of God each and every day and they radiated His love as they encouraged their classmates to reach their goals. We all saw first-hand how people of different ages and fitness levels can teach some form of Christian Yoga. I truly believe that all of the students came away with a new awareness that they can personally serve others through the gift of health and fitness.

Time to chill

Honestly, it may take me a week to process and recover! But an important part of my personal transformation is a renewed realization deep in my heart of the importance of living a balanced life that offers time for personal quiet time with God each day, my own personal fitness time, caring for my home, visiting with my friends and of course…relaxing at the spa.

Our thanks go out to you

I know that there were many of you praying for the students and Courtney and I during training; thank you sweet friends. His presence was felt at all times and we thank you for your encouragement.

To all of our Yahweh Yoga teacher training students that were there…we love you forever and eternity.

To all the YY staff teachers…you rock! Thank you for the memorable classes.

To all the YY studio students…thanks for your patience during these two weeks, we love you!

To Julia and Star Lynn…The plant-based menu was truly delicious and inspired us all to appreciate a more natural and healthy lifestyle. Thank you for the sacred yet fun flavor of each meal.

To our families…We love you! All of us —students and teachers— involved in the training couldn’t have excelled without your love, help, encouragement, and support during this time and always.

To God be the Glory!

Love,
DeAnna

Christian Yoga Teacher Training: Food, Glorious Food!

Proper nutrition is key for our trainees’ energy levels

Since we have gotten such a positive response from you on our peek into the world of our teacher trainees, we thought you might like to see what our students eat while they are here for the 15-day intensive Christian yoga retreat.

Light and Nutritious Food for a Health Transformation

Let’s face it, how many of us think about the fuel we put into the bodies God gave us? Most Americans grab processed, unhealthy “food” and wonder why they feel tired, sick, and unhappy.

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.
–3 John 1:2, New International Version

One of the things we believe at Yahweh Yoga is that eating a whole-food, unprocessed plant-based diet is important to good health. And since most of trainees enroll in our program to jump-start a personal change (as well as a professional one) we wanted our students to experience the best food possible so they could experience for themselves how good a clean diet can feel.

Chef-prepared Vegan and Raw Selections

Does the idea of a plant-based diet scare you a little? Don’t worry, many people feel that way at first, but we find that this reaction is typically a reaction to the unfamiliarity of vegan and raw food more than anything else.

So we decided that if our students are willing to go outside their comfort zone, we should give them food worthy of the effort they are making. We hired Chefs Julia and Starlyn from Whole Foods who have kept our students fueled for rigorous yoga and intensive learning sessions — all while introducing how beautiful and delicious healthy food can be.

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Are you wondering if Yahweh Yoga’s Christian Yoga teacher training is the right step to start your professional, personal, and spiritual transformation? Please see our Teacher Training FAQ for more information, or contact us to speak with us personally.

DeAnna Discusses Self-Discipline and Health

Suggestions to make the new decade your healthiest

We know that being fit and losing weight are typically high on most people’s goals for the New Year. The big question is not “Do you want to lose weight?” but rather, “How do you nurture self-discipline and willpower?”

As God is our witness, we all know that praying to Him for strength, wisdom and obedience on the subject of health is very important and foundational to achieving our goals.

The flipside of this, however, is that God gives each of us the gift of choice. At every moment we have the gift of saying yes or no to every last thing in our life: healthy eating vs. dishonest eating; a loving nature vs. a critical spirit; a fit, strong body vs. a weak, ill vessel.

The key is having the discipline to make the choice that God wants us to.

Based on my own walk with the Lord and my own struggle to regain my health, I have found that the following three activities help keep me healthy and Christ-centered:

Go to a quiet place to pray, rest and listen to God daily.

Scripture says in several places that Jesus routinely went to the mountain where he had a quiet place to rest, pray, and listen for the Father.

To really affect change in our lives and transform it by “the renewing of our minds,” (which then leads to the renewing of body and spirit), I find that several times a day, even if just for five minutes, I need to stop my mind, go within, breathe and remember my goals and pray for strength to overcome temptations.

This regular practice helps me become the observer of my thoughts and choose which ones are honest before I place my belief and actions behind them.

Engage in activities that force you to exercise discipline

Of course, my favorite way to do this is through a yoga class. When you come to a yoga class three times a week, it focuses you and keeps you aware of your health goals; this is crucial to your success. We must remain conscious of what we are doing.

Remember to begin very slowly so that you don’t get too sore. Starting out in “boot camps” and exercise that is too harsh to begin a new lifestyle is a formula for failure. You will get sore when you begin exercising, but if you don’t overdo you can take a nice hot bath and perhaps an ibuprofen and you will be fine to continue. Just don’t quit! Just remember, you’re sore if you do nothing, your sore if you’re an athlete. So which way do you choose to be sore?

With God’s support, make a point to exercise for an hour five to six times per week (I suggest combining yoga three times per week and walking at first; you will be taking steps toward purifying your mind, body and spirit. You will begin to see victory over the enemy who would seek to destroy you and the plans God has for you. Plus, you will feel and look awesome!

Read and reflect on what the Bible says about discipline and health

Proverbs 8:32 (The Message)
So, my dear friends, listen carefully; those who embrace these my ways are most blessed. Mark a life of discipline and live wisely; don’t squander your precious life. Blessed the man, blessed the woman, who listens to me, awake and ready for me each morning, alert and responsive as I start my day’s work. When you find me, you find life, real life, to say nothing of God’s good pleasure. But if you wrong me, you damage your very soul; when you reject me, you’re flirting with death.

Proverbs 12:1 (The Message)
If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes with it— how shortsighted to refuse correction!

Proverbs 13:18(The Message)
Refuse discipline and end up homeless; embrace correction and live an honored life.

3 John 1:2 (King James Version)
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers.

The rest is up to you

The formula for being healthy and fit mind, body and spirit is pure and simple, eat well, exercise, spend time quietly alone to regroup with God (several times a day), and keep pressing on toward the prize our Savior has for you. Being healthy is VERY important to God. Once you get this, then it’s like anything else you choose to be obedient about and the rewards are truly outstanding.

Let’s all pray for each other to have the quiet time, discipline and heart for a serious upgrade and transformation of our lives this decade. Happy 2010!

Love,
DeAnna

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DeAnna Smothers, co-founder of Yahweh Yoga, has been practicing Christ-Centered Yoga for over 25 years. Do you seek answers about Christian Yoga or health? Please email DeAnna with your questions.

Surprising reasons people want to learn to teach Christian yoga

At every one of our teacher training classes, I ask the students why they want to take our teacher training. Surprisingly, students never say: “Because I want to become skilled at yoga.” In fact, I can’t think of one student that named yoga expertise as their primary reason for wanting to get their RYT certification.

We thought you would be interested in the top reasons people become Christian yoga teachers:

Reason 1: They seek personal transformation.

People want to make a permanent shift into a healthy lifestyle to transform their lives. By taking the time to get their RYT, people realize that they will also have a condensed period of time where they focus on learning and practicing the mind, body and soul aspects of premium health that will forever change and enhance their lives. Although it starts as way for students to take time just for themselves, they soon realize that taking they have the tools to serve others better.

Reason 2: People want to earn extra income and do something meaningful at the same time.

In this economy, earning supplemental income is important to many people, but earning money isn’t the only reason people go to work each day. Many of our teacher trainees want the satisfaction of offering the healthful practice of yoga in a Christ-filled atmosphere of praise and thanks.

Reason 3: Teacher trainees love yoga but are uncomfortable in new-age settings.

Traditionally, yoga is not associated with any religious practice, yet activities found in many traditional yoga classes, such as chanting and studying materials that may be uncomfortable for people raised in Christ-centered homes.

Almost all of our Christian Yoga teacher training students began their careers by exploring yoga in a secular environment, but once they learn of a Christ-based alternative, they feel much more at home in their practice.

Reason 4: Leading Christian Yoga classes to helps teachers work through personal trials.

Many of our graduates are drawn to teach during times when they are struggling personally. For example, graduate Lynn Singer found that teaching Christian Yoga was instrumental in dealing with the grief she felt after her son died. Another one of our graduates, Tamara Buschel, came to teach Christian Yoga to restore her own health as she fought a neurological disease.

Reason 5: They feel called to serve.

You know how relaxed and in tune with God you feel after taking a Christian Yoga class? Many of our graduates decided to become Christian Yoga teachers because they wanted to share this same feeling with their families, friends, and churches.

One of our graduates, Ashley Getz, went back home after receiving her RYT designation and taught classes in a basement for her family and friends. Now her sisters, her mother, and her mother’s close friends are Christian Yoga teachers themselves. Ashley’s major in college and graduate school is Dance Therapy, now she has incorporated Yoga Therapy into her teachings.

Have you ever thought about attending the Yahweh Yoga teacher training program?

The need for more Christian Yoga teachers is great. We receive calls and emails all the time from people requesting classes worldwide. If this appeals to you, please call for more information today.

Our LAST sale on teacher training ends December 31—no other sale will be offered in 2010. This sale is good for all 2010 teacher trainings.

8 Steps to Unleashing your Inner Athlete After Age 60

I have realized this year that God places the deep desires of our heart in our hearts for a reason, so we will know his purpose for us. If we take the time to be still and listen to what’s in our hearts I believe God meets us there. Scripture says that Jesus went to a quiet place where He rested and prayed every single day. So I figure if the desire of my heart to be the athlete within me then that must be God’s will for me because that’s where he talks to me, in my heart.

My heart tells me there are many of you who want authentic health and fitness and to make the shift to the athlete within you. So from my heart to yours, here are eight steps to unleash your inner athlete after age 60 (though it will work anytime):

Healthy Step #1: Acknowledge the importance of health

Fully acknowledge to yourself that being authentically healthy is in fact a deep desire of your heart, begin to pursue your dream to become an athlete. Stay focused and mindful that this is your truth. Don’t get lazy - remember what Scripture says about sluggards.

Healthy Step #2: Don’t bite off more than you can chew

When starting the shift to a healthy lifestyle, start out very slowly. For example, take a Rest & Restore class twice per week to begin opening up your body, and begin walking 1/2 hour six days per week.

The point is to get your lifestyle to accommodate regular exercise and not getting so sore that it is a deterrent to continuing. After you do this for a month, you will know where to take it. Just know that you might be a little sore, and this is okay. The journey can be fairly gentle and still allow the athlete within you to appear.

Healthy Step #3: Pay attention to what you eat

All healthy, physically fit people watch what they eat. If you want to see what our food system is really like now and what you are actually putting in your mouth you may want to rent Food, Inc. and Food Matters on DVD. Then you will understand why we need to eat organic fresh foods.

Healthy Step #4: Kiss extra fat goodbye

An athlete is lean and excess fat needs to go. You can get rid of it by eating 80% raw organic fruits and vegetables, vegetable juices daily. The shift to quality food is important for weight loss and muscle strength. Almost all health thought leaders I read say that ALL of our food now needs to be organic, most of our diet (80%/day) should consist of fresh raw organic fruits and vegetables, no processed foods, no colas, no white food like sugar, pasta & bread, very minor coffee (no more than 2 cups per day), use agave and Yakon Syrup for sweetening and then very little.

Scripture says not to be gluttons or to eat too much sugar for a reason…it makes us tired, overweight and diseased. We all also know we should have small portions at our meals. Most everyone has heard the studies that say high calorie intake = fatter, shorter life span.

Healthy Step #5: Make healthy friends

If you don’t have friends who exercise regularly add a couple to your list. For example, a lot of people enjoy coming to our yoga studio with a friend or two to enjoy their workouts together. Don’t throw your old friends out if they choose not to be healthy, just make sure you have a couple friends who enjoy the same kinds of foods and exercises and hang with them too.

Healthy Step #6: Keep God front-and-center

Keep intimacy with God because spiritual health is the most important part of physical health. This is why I LOVE Christian yoga. You get so much done in one hour, relax, peace out, draw close to God, listen to great Christian and secular music, stretch and exercise every one of your muscles, sweat some and leave invigorated! What’s not to like? This is just me but I think everyone in the world should practice Christian yoga two to three times per week. It keeps you centered and clear and maintains awareness of your spiritual nature. It brings clarity, purpose and joy.

Healthy Step #7: Don’t guess on your health level

I encourage you to take a blood panel test to find out where all your vitamin, thyroid and hormone levels are. Sometimes we feel tired because we don’t have the right vitamins in our bodies…you can’t get it all with food. After you receive the results of your Blood Panel Test, supplement where needed with excellent clean supplements, I recommend www.lef.org for the cleanest most reasonably priced supplements.

Healthy Step #8: Smile!

Have fun and enjoy your new lifestyle!

Please let me know your progress!

I hope this has been of service to you. Drop me a post and let me know.

Here’s to becoming the athlete within us,
DeAnna

DeAnna Smothers: Becoming an athlete at 60

Athlete - A person possessing the natural or acquired traits, such as strength, agility, and endurance, that are necessary for physical exercise or sports (www.thefreedictionary.com)

Last Tuesday evening while I was teaching a peaceful yet sweaty yoga class at our studio it hit me…at 65 years of age I have become an athlete! I asked myself “How did THIS happen?” I used to be a blobby, overweight, out-of-shape woman at 59!  I looked around and saw that I am kicking the butts of some people who are half my age and able to do every single thing I’m asking them to do.

Age is just a number

But before we go into how this happened, I would like to say that if I can become an athlete in my 60’s, anyone can regardless of their age or current fitness levels. I know you hear people who have accomplished desired goals say this about different things all the time… and now I know why…because they really mean it!:-) If I can become an athlete, anyone can.

Like most of us, becoming fit and healthy was a dream of mine. I wanted to acquire traits such as strength, agility, and endurance necessary for physical exercise and a healthy lifestyle. Think about it: Why would we want to be less than our best, period? Scripture says in 2 Cor. “Run the race in order to win. Win to get the prize”. What kind of a life plan is it to say “You know, I think I’ll just be 1/2 my best all my life”.

Where I fell short…and the wake-up call that made me pay attention

I’ve been thinking about and dreaming about being authentically healthy in mind, body and soul for years, wanting it, seeking it, falling short because I didn’t have the stick-to-iveness. I needed the proper motivation, but what was it? I needed to just do it instead of only thinking about it all the time.

I would love to say that my deep love for God and my perfection as a Christian is what did that job, but that would not be truthful. I would love to say that I did it to honor Him and be obedient to what Scripture instructs us to do, to take care of our temples mind, body and soul. But that would be an overstatement. I got here because a li’l bout with breast cancer got my attention loud and clear. (My cancer was gone after five months of natural cancer therapies…but that’s a story for another time.)

How you can make the shift in your life

My point here is that I had to be stopped dead in my tracks to have enough motivation to realize my dream of becoming a healthy fit athlete. Hopefully, you will be smarter than I and do it because you want to can and should.

It’s not rocket science, the formula is clear…eat right, exercise regularly (always include yoga in your exercise routine) and most importantly, take time to be still and peaceful long enough each day to commune with and hear God so you can be lead by Him in all you do. Very simple steps, really. But how do you actually make the shift to that lifestyle?

I wrote “8 Steps to Unleashing your Inner Athlete After Age 60” to help you with your motivation to make “the shift” once and for all to a healthy lifestyle. It is great fun and so rewarding! It outshines all the old stuff, trust me on this one.

A letter from DeAnna on transformation through Christian Yoga

Treasured Students and Friends,

So many of you have been asking me how at 65+ years of age (and having healed myself naturally of breast cancer) I am able to have the health and stamina that allows me to run a company and kick the booty of 21 year olds in my yoga classes. My reply is always “through personal emotional, spiritual and physical transformation”.

Lately, in our teacher training program I am seeing more and more students who want a “personal transformation” to transition once and for all into a healthy lifestyle just as much as they want to become Christian yoga teachers.

Our graduates tell us everyday their experience in our teacher training program greatly exceeded their expectations. It is our blessing to hear students comment that they never expected such inner-personal growth emotionally, spiritually and physically.  We find ourselves having more and more students who want the personal transformation of immersing themselves in the knowledge and practice of the Christian yoga lifestyle.

If you’ve been looking for a personal transformation this opportunity awaits you. We still have a few spaces left in our November RYT program and you are welcome to take the course for your own personal growth. Of course, you never know where these new credentials will take you. People worldwide call us everyday for teachers in their area and we simply can’t meet the demand.

Perhaps your heart has been pulling at you to take our course. Perhaps now is the time. If so, please contact us and register for your personal transformational experience. Financing terms are available. Please see our teacher training FAQ for more information.

In His Service,
DeAnna

If you want an introduction to our nutrition program come this Saturday to our Eating and Healthy Living workshop, meet some of the students in our current teacher training program and check it out for yourself.