faith

FLEX AND STRETCH

Posted on by pennyjoliver

Time on your mat invites you to stretch not only your body, but your emotional, mental, and spiritual self as well. Let yoga serve as an exploration, so that God can use to move you ever closer to that lovely state of balance where you feel alive and awakened, energized yet relaxed, refreshed and rejoicing, peaceful and loved… all in the same moment!

Being physically flexible is not just about being able to get into into pretzel like positions as in yoga. Actually, flexibility is the ability to move muscles and joints through their complete range of motion. Increasing flexibility improves and stretches your range of motion, thus enhancing daily life in a multitude of ways. Flexing and stretching improves circulation by increasing blood flow and nourishing muscle tissue. Frequent flexing and stretching helps reduce tightness in muscles and allows you to maintain better posture. Flexing and stretching also relieves tension, enhances coordination and balance, increases energy levels, aids in pain relief and improves your sense of well being. Flexing and stretching can also be an attitude that invests and transforms the mind. Flexible minded persons are able to take advantage of opportunities, flourishing and growing in the process. It challenges us to leave our comfort zones and offers us new ways of experiencing God, ourselves, and the world.

Researchers at the University of California, at Berkley, introduced an amoeba into a perfect, stress free environment (the amoeba is a single-celled organism that lives in marine environments). The temperature, moisture level and food supply were all perfect for the amoebas survival. The amoeba needed to make no adjustments to improve its life. One would think that the amoeba simply lived the good life, right? Unfortunately for the amoeba, it died. The saying “you’re either green and growing or ripe and rotting” is quite true here. The amoeba needed challenge in order to multiply and grow. Without challenge in life, it could not survive.

In the Bible, God used example after example of men and women who left their comfort zones and were able to accomplish amazing things. Moses, David, Joshua, Ruth, Debra, Paul, Mary and Jesus are just a few! Think about their lives and the way they allowed themselves to be flexible before God.

Some people say the moment you leave your comfort zone is when life really begins. I don’t know about you, but I call that faith!

 

 

…” I came that you may have life and live it more abundantly”-

John 10:10

HALLELUYAH!

LUNGE POSE CHALLENGE (first step of faith)

Posted on by pennyjoliver

Anjaneysana, or more commonly called Lunge Pose.

Lunge pose is an approachable yoga pose. It stretches and builds strong sculpted legs, releasing tension in the hips. Practice Lunge Pose regularly and you may be able to raise your arms up and arch your back, engaging your entire upper body for a full body pose.

Sometimes in life, the only available form of transportation is a leap of faith. But soon the doubters appear to shut us down and freeze us up. “It’s impossible!”, screams pride. “It’s risky!”, declares experience. “It’s pointless!”, offers reason. And somewhere in the deep and mysterious chambers of our heart, a teenie tiny voice rises and whispers softly, “Give it a try”

God tells us…

…”do not fear for I am with you” Isaiah 41:10

As we lunge forward in Lunge Pose, let it be the outer expression of our heart’s willingness to take that first step of faith.

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Directions:

Step forward with your right foot and gently bend over it. Lower your hands or fingertips to your mat for balance and support. Keep your forward knee directly over your foot while straightening your back leg. Sink your hips, relax your shoulders and soften your collarbones. Inhale and exhale long and deeply for 1 minute. Then, try your other leg.

For a more intense stretch, lower your back knee and the top of your foot to your mat. Inhale long and deeply, remaining in Lunge Pose for 1-3 minutes. You may also stretch your arms up and arch backwards, also inhaling and exhalinh long and deeply.

Lay down, relax and breathe long and deeply. Where might you be leaping forward in your life?

xxoo

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