Customer Reviews

Yoga for Christians: A Christ-Centered Approach to Physical and Spiritual Health through Yoga

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is exactly what I've been waiting for. It is full of advice for Christians on incorporating prayer and Scripture meditation into a hatha yoga practice. For the movement part, there are chapters for each of four different phases of an asana practice, warm-ups, balance, strength, and surrender (floor), where each posture is explained and pictured. Lower or higher intensity levels are sometimes shown as well as helpful information given regarding some postures which should not be practiced under certain physical conditions. there are also included a few flowing sequences to pick and choose from based on how you feel that day as well as chapters on practicing with children and partners. A nice full length workout DVD is included. Susan's charming, downhome personality really shines through in her writing style. What a sweet lady. This book presents a Christ-centered approach to yoga which is focused on quieting and stilling (not emptying) the mind in order to deepen your relationship with God. I see no reason for anyone who is secure in what he or she believes to be offended.

As a Christian who has also discovered the physical benefits of yoga, I was delighted to stumble upon this title. I appreciate Susan Bordenkircher's writing and thought the book did a good job of addressing concerns Christians may have as they embark on practicing yoga.

Theologically, though, I get a little nervous with people who say God "gave" them a particular revelation, when that revelation isn't pretty directly tied to Biblical text, so her statement that in January of 2002 she "heard" God express to her heart "His long-term vision for the ministry of Christ-centered yoga," seems sort of bizarre. I'm not saying she didn't feel something or that her ministry is not pleasing to God, just that I think Christians (in general) are way too casual about attributing stuff to God that is really, more accurately, just what they wanted to do anyway. Making it "from God" tends to add weight to the statement, that may or may not be appropriate or accurate.

Anyway...I think her explanations of the yogic postures are great, the pictures are good in the book, and her suggestions for incorporating my faith in Christ into the time I spend on the yoga mat are wonderful.

But, one major reason I bought the book was for the accompanying DVD. I was hoping to find a perfect guide to my daily yoga practice. Unfortunately, there are some production-type issues that keep me from liking it enough to

do it very often.

Susan's voice, with a higher pitched Southern drawl, while surely pleasant enough for conversation, becomes somewhat grating during the workout. There are times where it feels almost like she is shouting...it's just too loud or high-pitched or something...but instead of being able to concentrate on what she is saying, or on worship, I find myself distracted by her voice. If compared to, say, Lara Hudson's voice in the "10 Minute Solution Yoga" DVD, it is just irritating. Lara's voice in that DVD is soothing and professional.

About the first 15 minutes of the DVD are instructing you in some of the opening poses (Cobra, Downward Dog, Fold) and then, after that instruction, there is about a 4-5 minute segment where she just runs through them without so much instruction, which brings the first part of the DVD to about 20 minutes. Unfortunately, during that 4-5 minute segment where we run through the poses, the background music sort of comes to the fore (see below). There is no chapter break here, I just noticed that the activity changes. At that point they move into more postures for balance and strength (for about another 25 minutes), and it concludes after about 45 minutes total.

The other thing I found really distracting was the background music. Again, in another setting I might like it, but the guitar & strings, while definitely mellow, is sometimes a little percussive for what I am trying to do in my practice. Worse, is the vocal line that sometimes comes through. How am I supposed to pray and meditate and think with these singers vocal coming through loudly and clearly? The text of what they are singing is his:

Be still and know that I am God,

Crawl into my lap and let Me love you.

Makes me think there is a good reason for the neutral, shimmering, Asian-style music featured in many yoga DVDs. I had not really thought about this before, but it makes a big difference in how much I can concentrate during the practice. It just did nothing for me and I found it distracting.

So overall...if I had only had the book, I think I would have rated it higher. Having been primarily interested in the DVD, and having been disappointed with it, my review falls to 3 stars. The yoga content of the DVD is fine, it's just the other stuff that bothers me, and that other potential buyers might want to know about. If you are looking for a book on Christian yoga, this might be it. If you want a good DVD, there are tons of other ones on Amazon that you will find more conducive to a good practice, and with many of them, you can use the Christ-centered techniques that Susan emphasizes seamlessly with those DVDs.

Having enjoyed Susan Bordenkircher's yoga workout tapes for over a year, I had to order her book. I was happily surprised at the very strong content and particularly the lovely writing voice and style Susan has. I say surprised because usually someone so strong in one area (yoga instructor), isn't necessarily strong in another area (writer). This is an A+ product all around! It contains a thoughtful and beautifully-written explanation of Christian yoga practice, outstanding photographs and pose descriptions, a great yoga session on the DVD, and best of all, a lovely and heartfelt call from the writer to draw close to "God our Creator, Jesus our Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit within us."

I am a God-fearing, patriotic, white American Christian who is not afraid of expanding my horizons with a little ethnic now and then. I even accompanied my wife to a few of her yoga classes, thinking it might do my stiff back some good. While yoga did do wonders for my back, when the instructor began talking about chakras, meditation and enlightenment, I knew I had to get out of there before I began worshipping elephants and two-headed gods.

I missed the relaxation, calm, and overall sense of greater healthfulness yoga gave me, but I was not about to let the temptations of mere physical and mental well-being lead me down the dark path and away from the One and True God. My wife thought my apprehension about the potential evil of these weird, Eastern ways was silly and that I should resume yoga. I love my wife dearly, and she is as good a helpmeet as a man could wish for, but I could not expect her to see the potential harm of practicing heathen rituals.

I was talking with my local pastor about the spiritual dangers of yoga when he informed me that a Christian yoga movement was on the rise and that I should check it out. I went on the web, found "Yoga for Christians" by Susan Bordenkircher, and decided to give it a try. This book not only has descriptive photographs for each of the positions and exercises, it also comes with an instructional DVD. More important, however, is the Christian focus of the book. Ms. Bordenkircher hits all the right notes, reminding us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, that we honor God with our bodies, and that everything we do and say must be as a representative of the Lord Jesus. So how does Bordenkircher reconcile the pagan practice of yoga with the greater glory of God?

"So to forego the healing benefits of yoga because it is sometimes practiced within a different belief system is like telling God that He is not big enough to take something from the dark and bring it into the light."

To Christians who fear that the yoga postures themselves constitute a form of pagan worship, Bordenkircher answers, "when you have a Christ-centered intent to your practice, how could holding that God-given vessel [our bodies] in any particular position be used for evil because of what another faith has named it?" She goes on to recount how many of our sacred hymns were adapted from popular bar songs and how rock and roll, the very embodiment of secular hedonism, has been co-opted into the service of the Lord by Christian rockers. Seen in this Christ-centered light, I realized I could not only enjoy the health benefits of yoga, but actually bring myself closer to God at the same time. Who would have thought that a pagan practice developed by Eastern heathens predating Christ by over a thousand years was actually a tool for the eventual glory of Christ the Lord? God does indeed work in mysterious ways.

Yoga has long been suspect among Christians as a facet of Eastern religion, but at least one author thinks it has received a bad rap. In YOGA FOR CHRISTIANS, certified group fitness instructor Susan Bordenkircher makes a case for yoga not only as something that Christians can use for stress reduction and exercise but also something that can bring them closer to God through scripture-based worship and meditation. "God is using our desire to have strong, healthy bodies and presenting us with an opportunity to, at the same time, develop a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him," she says.

Bordenkircher, the creator of the too-cutely named "Outstretched in Worship" video series, is a self-described "typically nervous, insecure, and therefore competitive person" who discovered that the regular practice of yoga helped her develop contentment and a heightened attitude of listening to God. She shares in her book and accompanying instructional DVD how Christians can integrate yoga positions with worship and scripture.

The book is designed to alleviate the fears of those who believe yoga is incompatible with Christianity, and introduce yoga positions and practice through both words and photographs to those who are new to it. "To forego the healing benefits of yoga because it is sometimes practiced within a different belief system is like telling God that He is not big enough to take something from the dark and bring it into the light," she writes. Conservative Christians who aren't convinced may be placated by bestselling evangelical author Max Lucado's endorsement on the back cover. (Lucado enjoys using yoga as part of his own fitness regime.) Bordenkircher also addresses the question, "Why do we have to Christianize everything?" Her response: "We are to live an integrated life for Christ."

I love some of the insights Bordenkircher offers here. "God's presence is in your breath," she writes in one passage, reminding us that our breath is also a reflection of our emotional state. "God designed your breath not only to reflect your emotional and physical reactions but to change them," she says. "With deliberate intention, you can go from stressed to calm in the matter of a few deep breaths." Who can resist this promising statement? Correct breathing is so important, Bordenkircher believes, that she devotes a whole chapter to it.

Black-and-white photographs used liberally throughout the book are very helpful in illustrating the right yoga positions, from "Star Gazer" to "the Downward-Facing Dog." The instructions alongside the photos are practical and succinct. I particularly appreciate the "high intensity/low intensity" options for different positions. Good photo sequences on building different sorts of "energy flows" (sequences of positions) are included, as well as a section for doing yoga with your children and with a partner. An index in the back with a listing of topics and positions would have been helpful for quick reference.

The DVD included with the book has its strengths and weaknesses. I appreciated having four people (including one man) show the different yoga moves. Laudably, there are different levels of yoga shown, which makes it easier for beginners to try yoga for the first time, and still lets the DVD be applicable for those in good shape who want to do "power yoga." However, the DVD might have been stronger if it was divided into more "scenes," which would let users skip through the session more easily to find different positions. Some listeners also will be distracted from their meditation on scripture and time with God by too much talking and reassurances in the narration. I was wishing for instrumental music instead of background music with lyrics. However, this might be a matter of personal taste. When using the DVD, I turned off the audio and followed along with my own instrumental music.

Christians who have no problem with traditional yoga may find this book and DVD complementary to their own workouts, adding some insights and ideas for spiritualizing their yoga time. However, they may feel that the reassurances offered throughout are unnecessary and somewhat distracting.

Those new to yoga --- and skeptical but interested --- will find the book and DVD set a good, thorough introduction to the practice and will appreciate Bordenkircher's reassurances that yoga can be a part of any Christian's spiritual life. And any Christian will benefit from her excellent emphases on listening, rest and quiet meditation. Ready, set: assume the "Double Pigeon" position!

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby

I love yoga and really like this book. While many people who practice yoga also practice an Eastern religion, this book proves that Christians can also enjoy yoga too without compromising their faith. I highly recommend this book to any Christian who is interested in beginning a yoga practice!

my main points are #ed at the bottom of this page if you would like to skip to the end... this is a wonderful idea!!! yoga has many benifits to anyone and that includes christians. the biggest problem everyone has with this book is that the word "yoga" was and to several still is the joining of human and god (some refer to it as a transformation of human to god). the thing is that here in america words change in meaning all the time. the union of man and god as far as i am concerned could just mean that god has moved into your heart and thus it could still meet the definition of "yoga" as far as that goes. the point i am trying to make is this...1) if you don't like it b/c it is called yoga, don't buy it but also don't stop others from buying it if they want 2) even though hindus named it, it doesn't make yoga stickly hindu 3) if you would like a nice peaceful workout without the influence of non-christian religions...BUY THIS BOOK!!!

I've checked out a couple of "Christian Yoga" videos (no other books yet) and was disatisfied because to me they seemed like big stage productions that tried to totally change what yoga is, some even changing the names of poses so they don't sound like "yoga" and/or making it a scripture memorization tool. I'm not a fan of trying to "Christianize" yoga but this book/video is different; it simply uses yoga practice as a time to empty the mind of worldly things, be still in spirit, get our focus off of ourselves and meditate on the Lord while moving through the breathing exercises and body strengthening poses. It's more like prayer and meditation, or simply alone time with Jesus, in motion. Susan Bordenkircher does encourage the use of scripture but only those scriptures that God brings to the heart rather than ones specifically prescribed by her (she does recommend scriptures during the video).

The accompanying video is simple with relaxing music and relaxing scenery. Ms. Bordenkircher explains some of the poses although for beginners, I would highly recommend reading the book first and learning some of the poses on your own.

I'll keep this short and sweet, I love this! I bought the book solely for the DVD it comes with. Susan's routine is great and she shows a few ways to do most moves (easy to advanced). Cobra is a difficult move for me so I have to make some modifications for that because it's used a lot in this routine and when she's doing the mantras it feels a little too busy with the moves and the words but otherwise I think this is fantastic.I come out of every session feeling closer in my body, mind and spirit to the LORD and just think this is something every Christian who wants to do yoga should try. I don't think I'd ever want to do yoga anywhere that wasn't Christ centered again, this is just so good for my soul!

This book explained to me (a Yoga novice)the true connection between Yoga and Breathing! I never understood this basic principle before when I'd read or tried DVDs. Having this book align with my own Christian beliefs and mindset makes me more open to this physical practice. I recommend it highly! Margaret Ann King