Research confirms it: Yoga is excellent to tackle stress

Did you know that according to Mayo Clinic research, yoga is a great way to beat chronic stress and anxiety?

Ohhh, the price of stress!

A 20-year study by the University College London found that unmanaged reactions to stress were more of a risk factor for cancer and heart disease than either cigarette smoking or high-cholesterol foods. According to a 2006 study at Rockefeller University in New York City, stress can even shrink your brain cells and prematurely age your immune system. (Reported in Twin Cities Business Magazine)

The Jesus Christ advantage

For believers, I think that Christian yoga is even more effective than secular yoga in combating stress because by taking the time on your mat to remember who you are in Christ, remembering His promises of comfort and safety and adding the benefits of regular yoga practice simply produces better results than practicing yoga without HIM at the center.

I believe it takes 100% full confidence in God and His Word and regular (3 x per week) Christian yoga practice.

Anger and stress are incongruous with God

Many believers say they have faith, yet they walk around stressed, angry, resentful, bitter.

This is incongruous with having 100% faith in God and His Word. When we believers realize that each of us makes a choice moment by moment as to what thoughts we will believe in, the true power God has given us is obvious.

If we choose to hang out in anger, stress, resentfulness and bitterness, then who’s fault is it really if we are stressed? Each person has to be responsible for what they think, eat and do. We are not promised a rose garden, but we are promised that God will never leave or forsake us, that we are to give Him our burdens, trust and love Him with all our hearts, souls and minds and to leave the driving to Him.

But do we? NO! We forget and it is my humble opinion that the road to peace within is paved with a combination of taking the time to be constantly reminded of God’s promises of safety so we stay in our right minds.

Take responsibility for your stress

By choosing to practice Christian yoga regularly, we are reminded of God’s promises and inspired to stay on course with healthy eating and to move our bodies in a way that gets out the kinks… we are taking responsibility for our stress levels in the most positive way possible. Even those who are physically challenged can practice some form of Christian yoga.

So in this busy holiday season, I would like to encourage you to practice Christian yoga, if not with us at our Chandler studio, then somewhere where you can enjoy healthy yoga and Christian fellowship. There are wonderful teachers worldwide.

As a community of believers, we encourage you to deal with the natural occurrence of stress in a way that honors God and keeps us at peace within healthy bodies.
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One of our favorite poses to de-stress is the Child’s Pose. Read more about how to do this post in our new series: Christian Yoga pose of the Week.

Relax right now with Child’s Pose

Child’s pose is a resting pose in yoga

Its benefits are amazing. For example, child’s pose:

• Helps calm the brain
• Relieves stress and fatigue
• Opens up the low back
• Stretches the hips

Step one: Come to knees and separate knees wider than hips width.

Step two: Bring big toes together

Step three: Inhale, as you exhale lay torso down between thighs and rest forehead on mat.

Step four: Extend arms either over the head or back toward the feet.

Step five: Breathe and let go.

Note: Be sure not to round the shoulders and you may use a blanket to support head if you would like.

We encourage you to enjoy the benefits of this glorious resting pose during the busy holiday season.

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This is an excerpt from our guide to self-care, Christian Yoga: Restoration for Body and Soul.