Faith-Based Yoga: My Heart Behind Christ-Centered Movement
When Faith and Movement Meet
This week, I received yet another message from a fellow believer expressing concern about Christians practicing yoga. I understand where that concern comes from—truly. There’s a lot of confusion surrounding yoga and its origins, and as someone who loves Jesus and teaches yoga-based movement, I want to share my heart and perspective.
At Graceful Balance Wellness, our approach to yoga isn’t about religion or rituals. It’s about creating space to move tension out of the body so we can be still in the Lord’s presence. It’s about quieting our minds, opening our hearts, and making room for the Holy Spirit to move.
Why I Chose to Keep the Word “Yoga”
Before I ever taught my first class, I prayed long and hard about whether to use the word yoga. I wrestled with God about it. But in that prayer, He reminded me that it’s not about the word—it’s about the heart and the focus behind it.
When you come to one of my classes or retreats, you won’t find chanting or Eastern spiritual rituals. You’ll find Scripture. Prayer. Worship. Stillness. Breath. Movement that honors the body God created. You’ll find people meeting Jesus on their mat.
My mission has always been to help others make space for the Holy Spirit—to release the weight of life and draw closer to the One who heals.
How Trauma and the Body Connect
As a trauma therapist of 16 years, I’ve seen firsthand how trauma lives in the body. Even when the mind can’t recall what happened, the body remembers. It holds tension, fear, and pain until it’s safely released.
Movement—yes, even yoga-inspired postures—can help open those tight, guarded places and invite peace back in. When paired with prayer and Scripture, this becomes more than physical healing; it becomes spiritual restoration.
This is why I teach faith-based yoga. Because when we release what’s been held inside, we create space to hear God more clearly and experience His freedom.
God Designed Our Bodies to Move, Breathe, and Heal
Here’s what I know deep in my spirit: God designed our bodies to move, to breathe, to heal, and to stay connected—to Him and to one another. Nothing was created outside of His knowledge or power.
He is the Creator of all things. And He can redeem anything for His glory.
So why do we sometimes put Him in a box? If God can speak through a burning bush, heal with mud and spit, and part the sea with a staff—surely, He can use movement, breath, and stillness to reach the hearts of His people.
I’ve seen it happen. I’ve seen tears fall as people meet Jesus on their mat. I’ve seen anxiety lift. I’ve seen peace return. I’ve seen healing take place—body, mind, and spirit.
A Message to Those Who Are Unsure
If you’re coming from a place of concern or curiosity, please know this: you are welcome here. I honor your desire to keep Christ at the center. That’s my heart, too.
At Graceful Balance, every class, retreat, and session begins and ends with that truth—healing is holy work. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” — 2 Corinthians 3:17
