Yoga for your mind, body and spirit

In recent years, yoga classes have been increasing in popularity for those looking for a way to relax, and a way to increase strength and flexibility.

Students of Brooke Boon’s weekly yoga classes at the Ahwatukee Foothills YMCA are there for yet another reason. Christian faith-based yoga classes have also been growing in popularity and Boon’s ministry, Holy Yoga, has proved so popular that it will go international this year, adding another nine certified and registered instructors - for a total of 23 nationwide.

“The message today was about doors,” said Boon, after filling in as the instructor for the Friday class. “If you leave your spiritual doors open, you invite temptation.”

Boon is one of many who are finding a way to integrate their faith with yoga. In the past, faithful were generally wary of practicing the Hindu-based meditation and exercise routine. But the Christian yoga movement has grown in popularity as yoga instructors like Boon incorporate the postures and breathing exercises with Christian scripture and prayer.

Like many faith-based yoga classes, a Holy Yoga one-hour session uses scripture instead of the traditional Hindu chants, but keeps the poses like Lotus Flower, Frog, Warrior I and Downward Dog. The scripture focused on is based around a central theme of the instructor’s choosing - developed much like a weekly sermon.

“Every class is different and the material is relational,” Boon said, who founded Holy Yoga in 2005 in Ahwatukee Foothills. The ministry quickly became a registered school of yoga, training yoga instructors like Dawn Rutledge.

“All the traditional aspects of yoga like well-being and relaxation are there,” said Rutledge, who now leads Holy Yoga classes at Horizon Presbyterian. “We just incorporate prayer and scripture throughout.”

But the faith comes first, Boon said.

“The yoga is secondary,” she continued. “This is a spiritual discipline and this is all about Christ.”

The yoga poses are simply a tool to teach students how to become more open spiritually, she added.

“The best compliment I ever received was from a student who said she had never felt more connected to Christ anywhere else,” Boon said.

While Boon’s mission is to introduce the faithful to a new way to connect with God, she said Holy Yoga can also work the opposite way - using a familiar practice to spiritually “getting one’s feet wet.”

“We want to facilitate a way for believers and non-believers to hear God’s truth,” she said. “There’s something to be said for the truth - it pierces your heart and goes through bone and marrow. Our classes can be very emotional.”

“It’s a real treat,” said student Amy Caron about having Boon fill in for the regularly-scheduled instructor. Caron said she regularly attends Holy Yoga classes because, “She’s the best thing that ever happened to us here.”

Holy Yoga classes are held weekly in Ahwatukee Foothills: at Horizon Presbyterian Church, 1401 E. Liberty Lane, Holy Yoga Slow Flow is held Tuesdays at 9 a.m., Saturdays at 9 a.m. and Friday at 9:15 a.m.; Gentle Holy Yoga classes are held Thursdays at 6 p.m. Classes are held at the Ahwatukee Foothills YMCA, 1030 E. Liberty Lane, Fridays at 1:30 p.m.

For more information on Holy Yoga, visit www.holyyoga.net, call (602) 321-1819 or e-mail info@holyyoga.net.

--Lauren Vasquez can be reached at (480) 898-7917 or lvasquez@aztrib.com.