Make time for yourself and connect with God during Holy Family’s new Lenten Movement & Mindfulness program held on Wednesdays from 7-8 PM beginning March 12th. During this six week discovery series led by Jolene Johnston and Greta Wilson, you can deepen your Lenten journey in community with others from the #holyvillage. Come for one gathering, or come for all! Each session will begin with some fun movement to release stress, great for ages 5-105! After grabbing a quick sip of water, slow things down into stretch and meditation through scripture. While each session will be geared toward all fitness levels and ages, it’s always a good idea to consult your physician before starting any new program. Please wear comfortable/workout clothes and sneakers. You are invited to bring water and a yoga mat/beach towel as well. Questions can be directed to Jolene and Greta at jjohnston@hfec.org. This gathering is free and open to all – bring a friend!
Week One: What is Yoga?
Yoga is a practice that combines physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation to promote overall well-being. It originated in ancient India and is designed to improve flexibility, strength, balance, and mental focus. Moving your body to help you feel more stronger, flexible, balanced and relaxed.
Meditation is simply sitting still (or lying down) and focusing your mind so that you feel calmer and less stresses. You can focus on your breath or a word to help clear your thoughts.
Bible verse for Meditation
Psalm 139:14-16: I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
Week 2: Reviewing the 8 Limbs of Yoga
The Yamas: A Moral Guideline or Pathway to Ethical Living
Yama #1 Ahimsa: Don’t be violent to myself or others; Be caring to myself and others. The essence of ahimsa is non-violence of our own heart.
Meditation: Thoughts of guilt, shame, resentment, disappointment all have a seed of violence within them. Words like *should* and* must* are the same. When we are unable to forgive ourselves or someone else, when we carry resentment; when we expect far too much of ourselves and put the responsibility of the whole world on our shoulders; when we expect the whole world to run according to our liking we are being violent towards ourselves and the rest of the world. When we don’t act according to our truth, but out of our fears, we are being violent to ourselves… Truth and nonviolence are inseparable. (www.gaia.com)
Bible Verses for Meditation
Romans 12:17: “Live at peace and do not do evil. Do not repay anyone evil for evil.”
Matthew 7:12: “Treat others non-violently as you would have them treat you.”
Week 3: Truth/Not Lying
Satya translates to “truth” or “not lying,” and in practice it means being honest in our words and action and with ourselves and those around us. Satya is essential for building trust and respect in relationships, and for fostering a sense of inner peace
Meditation: Dishonesty can be expressed as speaking an untruth, hypocritical behavior (saying one thing and doing another), failure to keep a promise, or violating a trust. Does lying hurt people? It can. But it always hurts our selves – we who hold forever that experience of being dishonest. Each dishonesty sows a seed inside of us, and each of these seeds has the power to undermine our ability to be our best selves. By practicing honesty, we are allowing our best self to flourish.
Bible Verses for Meditation
Ephesians 4:15: Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
John 8:31-32: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Week 4: Non-Stealing
Asteya translates to “non-stealing” and reminds us that we have all that we need; that we should act from a place of abundance instead of scarcity. It isn’t just stealing as in taking an object but also refers to stealing of time or energy
Asteya reminds us to claim and even appreciate the ways we are different and to meet one another with openness and respect. This is the ground for connected relationships with ourselves and others.
Asteya reminds us to claim and even appreciate the ways we are different and to meet one another with openness and respect. This is the ground for connected relationships with ourselves and others.
Meditation: The Buddha said, “Be where you are . . . otherwise you will miss most of your life.” When you’re not where you are, you steal from yourself the experience of being alive in that moment. If you do that most of the time, you will miss your life. It’s completely natural for the mind to wander, for memories and plans and conversations to pass through your head. That’s what the brain does. But the unwatched mind is like a runaway train—it’s very hard to slow down and see clearly. That’s why yoga (including meditation) is so profound and important. It’s training yourself to be aware of the sensations, thoughts, and emotions present in any given situation. Rather than running off in the story of those thoughts or feelings, see them as ever changing and watch their fluctuations like clouds in the sky. Asteya reminds you that you never get a day back, but you always have the moment at hand.
Bible Verses for Meditation
Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control
James 3:16: Jealousy only produces negative consequences. “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.”
Ephesians 4:28: “Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.”
Week 5: Right Use of Energy
Brahmacharya or ‘right use of energy’ Sometimes mistaken for celibacy but Brahmacharya is not about deprivation or repression. The association comes from initial practitioners of yoga and those that were seen as high spiritual achievers (think gurus, Monks, Priests). Brahmacharya is about conscious choice, self-awareness, and aligning our energy with our highest values Brahmacharya as ‘right use of energy’ leads us to consider how we actually use and direct our energy. Brahmacharya also evokes a sense of directing our energy away from external desires – you know, those pleasures which seem great at the time but are ultimately fleeting – and instead, towards finding peace and happiness within ourselves.
Meditation: When we embrace Brahmacharya, we tap into a wellspring of vitality, purpose, and joy. By practicing moderation, we free ourselves from the grip of addiction and compulsion, and we open ourselves to deeper levels of
creativity, connection, and spiritual growth. Brahmacharya is not a destination but a lifelong journey. It’s a continuous
practice of self-awareness, self-discipline, and conscious choice. As we navigate the challenges and temptations of the modern world, let Brahmacharya be our guiding light, illuminating the path to a more balanced, fulfilling, and joyful life.
creativity, connection, and spiritual growth. Brahmacharya is not a destination but a lifelong journey. It’s a continuous
practice of self-awareness, self-discipline, and conscious choice. As we navigate the challenges and temptations of the modern world, let Brahmacharya be our guiding light, illuminating the path to a more balanced, fulfilling, and joyful life.
Bible Verses for Meditation
1 Corinthians 6:12: “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.”
Proverbs 25:27: “It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory.”
Proverbs 25:27: “It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory.”