Holy Yoga: Exercise. for the Christian Body and Soul (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: holy yoga, fleshy excess, yoga lifestyle, Downward Facing Dog, Mountain Pose, Child's Pose (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Evangelical Christians are not often very enthusiastic about yoga, dismissing it as irrelevant at best and Satanic at worst. But for Boon, an Arizona yoga teacher who is the founder of the Holy Yoga ministry, yoga is a worship tool to enhance her relationship with Christ. Although Boon's writing is primitive and breathless, with excessive use of italics and exclamation points, she offers some decent ideas and memorable spiritual quotes from the likes of Eugene Peterson, Lauren Winner and Richard Foster. Boon first outlines the theological reasons for yoga practice, likening it to ancient Christian disciplines like fasting. This section can seem defensive and apologetic at times, as Boon expends energy answering her evangelical critics. Part two briefly highlights yoga as a healthy lifestyle (e.g., it can improve circulation, relieve stress and maintain a healthy weight) and offers tips on incorporating yoga into a neophyte's regular routine. The final, longest section presents various postures, with black-and-white illustrations. However, the instructions are brief and vague enough that Christians who are new to yoga will definitely want to supplement their fledgling practice with more detailed, step-by-step information, such as that contained in traditional yoga books or Susan Bordenkicher's more thorough Yoga for Christians. Note: DVD and photo insert not seen by PW. (Aug. 23)
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Product Description

People often equate yoga with
Eastern religion, but Brooke Boon
sees it as an exercise style that
Christians can use to generate patience,
strength, and deeper worship.
Author and yoga instructor
Brooke Boon combines her passion
for Christianity with her commitment
to health to introduce yoga as
a physical and spiritual discipline
that strengthens the body and the
soul. Clear explanations and photographs
make yoga accessible for
any reader, and Brooke offers customized
routines for readers struggling
with specific issues, such as
weight loss and anxiety. Through it all Brooke uses scriptural
references to help reinforce the idea that by taking
care of our bodies we can also take care of our faith.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: FaithWords; Pap/DVD edition (August 23, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446699152
• ISBN-13: 978-0446699150
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #95,293 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A new focus combining Christian worship and yoga, August 20, 2007

By	armchairinterviews.com (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

Brooke Boon, founder of Holy Yoga, a ministry introducing people to yoga as a form of Christian worship, has written a passionate defense of the subject in Holy Yoga: Exercise for the Christian Body and Soul. Boon is an ardent champion of teaching believers to "practice the presence of God" through the physical practice of yoga which includes postures, breathing and meditation.

The first two sections of the book include chapters on the history of yoga; answering objections to yoga (such as yoga can't be separated from the Hindu religion); using focused breathing to more effectively meditate upon Scripture; and the benefits of yoga for physical health. The third section of the book gives clear instructions for the many and varied postures used in yoga, along with line drawings to illustrate.

Throughout the book, Boon uses Scriptural references to reaffirm Holy Yoga's intent: clearing the mind of everything except Jesus to facilitate the surrendering of our thoughts and wills to Christ. In this fast-paced and stressful society, prayer and studying the Word of God can be difficult because we are so easily distracted. Through the practice of Holy Yoga, Boon demonstrates that an attitude of continual prayer is a more attainable goal than we think.

I've appreciated the physical aspects of yoga for some time, using The Firm's Power Yoga DVD in my regular workouts. Through practicing Holy Yoga, I look forward to not only enhancing my physical health, but also drawing closer to the Lord through more focused time meditating on Scripture. If you are tired of the seemingly urgent things of life that clutter your mind, and desire a deeper walk with God instead, then I recommend you read Holy Yoga.

The advanced reading copy I received did not include the 50 minute instructional DVD that will be included with the published book. I will definitely be purchasing a published copy so that I can have the DVD.

Armchair Interviews says: A wonderful combination of yoga and using that quiet time to meditate on Scripture.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brooke Boon has taken back for the church what God originally intended for His people, September 27, 2007

By	Carol Kurtz "TitleTrakk.com" - See all my reviews

Most Christians don't expect to hear these two words in the same breath - "Christian" and "yoga". What would it be like? Can there really be such a thing? And more importantly, should there be such a thing? Brooke Boon answers the skeptics and enthusiasts alike in this ground breaking book/dvd combo.

Yoga is a practice that has endured the ages, and it can be practiced in several genres. But Brooke Boon has developed a new one. She calls Holy Yoga "body prayer". It was designed as a physical expression of worship through movement, prayer, breath work, and Scripture. But Christians, to whom Boon is obviously speaking, are usually uncomfortable incorporating their bodies with anything spiritual. After all, we are supposed to crucify our flesh, right?

After making a compelling case for Holy Yoga and debunking the standard objections and fears with Scriptures and the quotes of numerous theologians, she explains the physical aspects and benefits of her practice. An integral part of which is Scriptural meditation. Just the word meditation conjures up images of eastern gurus and mantras for most of us. But scriptural meditation? It seems God had the idea of meditation in the first place, according to the Bible, and other religions have adopted the idea over the centuries. Unfortunately, according to Boone, the Church has fearfully thrown the meditation-baby out with the bath water.

I was most intrigued by Boon's picture of Scriptural meditation. She explains clearly and simply how to do it. One benefit to this training is the ability to concentrate on the Lord when praying, rather than finding you've spent the last ten minutes of prayer thinking about what to have for dinner. Does mental self control have immeasurable spiritual benefits? And can a Christian's practice of yoga bring the body, mind, and spirit all closer to God? I tried it out for the first time, meditating on a verse I'd chosen, taking deep breaths as per Boon's instructions, and looking at the clock before closing my eyes. By the time I opened my eyes again, fifteen minutes had passed. A true feat for me, although it was effortless and enjoyable. I followed her instructions when my mind started to wander, and I was able to stay focused on Him. I found the verse on the tip of my tongue and in the forefront of my mind all day until I went to sleep that night. This could be a great part of daily devotions.

Some Christians "tolerate" yoga if it is completely stripped of its spiritual aspects and only a physical exercise, called Hatha yoga. And Boon admits that this is better than practicing non-Christian yoga, as that can be an unacceptable and negative influence on her spirit, too. Holy Yoga is always practiced with Christian music, and it should be an uplifting, edifying experience.

She offers only one caveat: "There may be some people who should not practice Holy Yoga. If they have recently been converted from a New Age orientation and are not secure believers, then Holy Yoga is probably not the correct discipline for them. They might still be apt to take it in the wrong direction. This is similar to the discipline of fasting - which is not recommended for former anorexics, because of the danger of the spiritual fast being twisted into something no longer spiritual, and the person would end up in bondage again. This is not acting from fear but using discernment to make wise decisions."

Boon encountered malicious disapproval when she first came out with Holy Yoga, yet she is not defensive in her point by point Biblical explanations to these objections. After reading the book through to the end, it seems that the only standing obstacle to this complete form of worship is fear.

By the time you've read through the hands on tutorial part of the book identifying the postures, complete with diagrams, you're ready to put in the dvd. Boon has several students on mats on the ground in a beautiful outdoor setting in front of large red rocks. There are a few meditation messages, a prayer, and then the beginner's class starts. If you've never done yoga, you really do need to familiarize yourself with those postures in the book before you try the dvd. And when you've read and understand her philosophy, you are able to participate to a deeper level. There is gentle, instrumental music in the background, but it would have been nice if she had played some recognizable worship music.

She leads us through the positions, explaining ways to maximize them, and leads us to focus on our Savior throughout. She introduces the yoga band, block, and mat. But you really only need a mat or a non-slip surface to do it. The actual class runs 39 minutes, but the total time of the dvd is 50 minutes.

Brooke Boon has taken back for the church what God originally intended for His people - a life of dedication and worship, spirit, soul, and body.

--Reviewed by Carol Kurtz for TitleTrakk

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In Gratitude!, October 4, 2007

By	Betty C. Young (PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Where do I begin? Holy Yoga is an answer to prayer. I was a "yogini" for many years and as a Chrisitian, I found traditional Yoga conflicted by beliefs. I loved the energy, stregnth and flexibility I gained from Yoga, but I in my heart I wanted to find a way to link my Christian values with the physical benefits of yoga. Holy Yoga does that seamlessly and beautifully. Brooke is one of the most loving and encouraging people I have known. I invite you to take this journey with all of us who have found this beautiful path.