A letter from our XO Fitness Yoga Instructor: Paulette Monroe.
“There is often a misunderstanding that yoga is a religion; it is not.”
Praise, Pose & Pray is the intentional practice of connecting our entire being, body, mind and spirit with Our Lord and Savior.
“and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” – Mark 12:30
Chris and I are completely reliant on the Word of God through the Holy Spirit and prayer. God breathed life into us, therefor every breath and movement we feel is honoring and Praising Him! There is often a misunderstanding that yoga is a religion; it is not.
The word ‘Yoga’ meaning ‘to join’ or ‘to yoke’ or ‘to unite’. Indicating a perfect harmony between the mind and body and sequence of physical postures, breathing techniques, and sometimes meditation. Yoking breath with movement is vital in sports, various exercises and in everyday life.
“We practice movement with our minds set on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy”
In my training we were taught, and I believe that it is a spiritual discipline, much like prayer, fasting and meditation. We practice movement with our minds set on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” – Philippians 4:8
We desire to fill our entire being with the Holy Spirit. Not with emptied minds and hearts. We meditate on the wisdom of God’s Word, not on man’s wisdom. We seek simply to glorify Our heavenly Father!
At XO Fitness, we desire to help deepen couples’ connection to Christ and to each other. Our sole purpose is to honor God and to facilitate couples with an opportunity to authentically connect to God through His Word. We do this by prayer, posing, and praise to Him and Him alone. All while bringing awareness to the breath He has placed in our lungs.
There are many physical and emotional benefits to (Yoga) physical movement. They vary from the physical body to mental wellness. Yoga has been proven to be positive to your overall well-being and there are many studies on the benefits.
Yoga and stretching may:
- Increases your flexibility
- Increases your range of motion muscle strength and tone
- Improves your performance in physical activities
- Increases blood flow to your muscles
- Improves your posture
- Helps to heal and prevent back pain
- Is great for stress relief
- Can calm your mind
- improved respiration, energy and vitality
- maintaining a balanced metabolism
- weight reduction
- cardio and circulatory health
- improved athletic performance
- protection from injury
“It is the intention we put into the movements that is the difference.”
In closing: Yoga poses are simply a way to strengthen and stretch our bodies. Poses are movements that are used in everyday exercises. For instance, a crescent pose is really a Lunge. It is the intention we put into the movements that is the difference. It is prayer in motion. If you look into the history of running, you may find that the origin was linked to worshiping of idols. Today, we jog simply for the positive health benefits.
Drinking chocolate dates to historical findings in religious ritual sites of the Mayan people. Today, we eat chocolate simply because it is good. How we move our “God given” temples cannot be owned by one exercise name or modality. “Types” of exercise should not stop believers from the health benefits. God can redeem all things for His Glory! Without Him, nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:1-3)
“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body”. – 1 Corinthians 6:19-2
Praise Pose & Pray exists to bring couples together by honoring God through praise, breath, and movement in harmony with ‘The Trinity!’
Please see attached from John Hopkins on the benefits:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/9-benefits-of-yoga?amp=true