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Prayer of Heart and Body: Meditation and Yoga As Christian Spiritual Practice [Paperback]

Thomas Ryan
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)

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Book Description

September 2001
If you're looking for clear links between Christian faith and the practice of yoga and meditation, this book is for you. Prayer of Heart and Body will help you integrate teachings from the Christian contemplative tradition into your practice and encourage a new appreciation for the role of the body in prayer. "Yoga," says the author, is "meditation in motion, a way to pray with one's whole being--body, mind and spirit. It was originally designed to prepare people for sitting meditation." The two work powerfully together.

Quoting extensively from such authors as Ignatius, John of the Cross, Rahner and Merton, Ryan explains what is distinctive about Christian meditation compared to some eastern forms, and looks at reincarnation and kundalini energy in the light of Christian faith, respecting the authenticity of other world religions and drawing from their wisdom traditions where appropriate. "Through this, Ryan integrates all that is beautiful, wise and holy in other traditions," says Jean Vanier in his Foreword, for a book that is "unifying and pacifying."

The final section gives explicit instructions on beginning yoga. Using easy-to-follow diagrams, it covers breathing exercises, warm-up exercises, and the postures, including benefits, precautions and contraindications for each. In all, the basic aim of this beautifully written book is to assist the millions of Christians who today are practicing meditation or yoga or both, to consciously integrate them into their Christian spirituality as effective instruments for their personal development in prayer and daily living.


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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Thomas Ryan, C.S.P., directs the Paulist North American Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations in New York City. Father Ryan also leads retreats in the U.S., Canada and Europe.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 319 pages
  • Publisher: Paulist Pr (September 2001)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 080914056X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0809140565
  • Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #284,513 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thomas Ryan is a native of Minnesota and a member of the Paulist Fathers community of Catholic priests. His ministry has been marked by three passions: spirituality; Christian unity; and interreligious understanding and collaboration. Fr. Tom is currently the director of the Paulist North American Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations in Washington, DC, and former director of the Canadian Centre for Ecumenism and of Unitas, an ecumenical center for Christian meditation and spirituality in Montreal, QC. An avid outdoorsman and appreciator of the theatrical and musical arts, he is the author or co-author of 14 books and leads retreats internationally.

Customer Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
(12)
4.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
74 of 77 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful, articulate Christian Review of Yoga November 18, 2002
Format:Paperback
As a Christian pastor who has found yoga helpful in my own physical and spiritual journey I have looked for something to help me discern the religious dynamics behind and or within yoga. Thomas Ryan's book is wise, clear, exceptionally well-writtten and uplifting as well. I love his chapter on How Yoga can help a Chrstian Pray. Ryan describes the way yoga works within our bodily systems in a way that makes what I have experienced for many years understandable for the first time. He also shows us how Christians can utilize the practice of yoga as a springboard to deeper levels of surrender and as Christians, to focus our surrender into the presence of God.
In the chapter, Notions Strange to Christian Ears, the author clarifies concepts connected with yoga and compares them to Christian beliefs in a very insightful way that I found immensely helpful. He explores the concepts of reincarnation, kundalini energy, chakras and astral bodies and contrasts them with Christian convictions about death and resurrection, and the goal of meditation-prayer for Christians: communion and even union with God.
Some Christians are afraid of Yoga, or condemnatory. I have always felt a l ittle unsettled because I did not understand how yoga and Christianity interfaced. I have a lot more to read in this wonderful book and am finding it perfect for my search.
Ryan also offers insights that I find immensely helpful in my own spiritual practice: like cues during the day that can call me to take an idle moment and focus it in some deep prayerful breathing, times of tension or discouragement or tiredness or boredom that can be my moment to breath the Breath of Life again.
I have only read two chapters of this exceptional book and am stopping writing to go back to the delight of reading it. I invite you to give yourself a gift!
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83 of 90 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Useful and interesting August 8, 1999
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I have been learning to do yoga for health reasons, to enhance both my physical strength and the body/mind connection in order to reduce the effects of fibromyalgia. I am interested in both the physical as well as the spiritual effects of yoga. Because I am a Christian, I have found it hard to use traditional yogic, primarily Kundalini chants, as they do not represent my religious views completely. This book has helped me to put my yoga practice together with my Christian beliefs, and to begin to explore and accept the mystical spirit of God in a new way. I recommend it to anyone who is on the same spiritual and health path.
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Intriguing January 3, 2007
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
3 Types of people need to read this book:

1) Christians who are just beginning (or thinking about beginning) a yoga practice; especially if they have ever worried that practicing yoga was somehow practicing Hinduism.

2) Yoga practitioners who either don't take time for meditation, or who have trouble focusing during meditation

3) People who are looking to enhance their prayer life.

Ryan does a great job of addressing the concerns that many in the Christian Church feel towards Yoga and other Eastern spiritual practices in addition to giving detailed guidelines for using meditation as a part of your prayer life. His writing is intelligent and direct- there is no "Christian-ease." Rather than spouting his own opinions about meditation, he quotes heavily from the teachings of Thomas Merton and John of the Cross, among others. Definitely worth reading.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars A great book for Christians questioning the value of meditation and...
It seems that many Christians don't see value in silent meditation. We can see that with the increase in worship services that are praise oriented with constant preaching and... Read more
Published on February 28, 2010 by Gloria
4.0 out of 5 stars Informative & well-written
The back cover of the book states that it is "a down-to-earth, how-to guide for the beginning meditator... Read more
Published on July 20, 2009 by A. Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars Best book on yoga I have ever read
Being a Christian and a yoga enthusiast, I have read many books on yoga, many from very recognizable names. This however, is a true gem. Read more
Published on February 21, 2009 by Sweetbriar
4.0 out of 5 stars Helpful and informative
Well-written and informative guide to the history and practice of Christian meditation, including yoga postures with illustrations. Read more
Published on February 12, 2009 by Kate
5.0 out of 5 stars Meditation is for Christians
When I tell believers that I am a Christian who meditates they either get excited and interested or a puzzled look comes on their face. Read more
Published on June 13, 2008 by Rhonda Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!
I am new to Christianity (I was baptized a little over a year ago) and wasn't sure how to incorporate yoga and meditation into my prayer life. This book was very helpful. Read more
Published on April 19, 2008 by Midnight Tarot
5.0 out of 5 stars Prayer of Heart and Body
Fr. Ryan and written an excellent introduction to the contemplative life for Christians who know little about it. His style is easy to read as he presents some fairly deep topics. Read more
Published on February 23, 2007 by Richard G. Waggener
2.0 out of 5 stars Not really Christian meditation
I'm not sure what Thomas Ryan, in Prayer of Heart and Body, is saying about whether the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus Christ are necessary for our salvation. Read more
Published on January 9, 2007 by C. Norman
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
I've not quite finished the book yet, but so far it has been a good education and a good history lesson of meditation within the Christian context. Read more
Published on March 10, 2006 by Micah Green
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