Holy Yoga: Exercise. for the Christian Body and Soul

Holy Yoga: Exercise. for the Christian Body and Soul
by Brooke Boon

Holy Yoga: Exercise. for the Christian Body and Soul
List Price: $19.99
Our Price: $4.99
You Save: $15.00 (75%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $4.25 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions


or

Book Summary Information

Author: Brooke Boon
Edition: Paperback
Book: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-08-23
ISBN: 0446699152
Number of pages: 240
Publisher: FaithWords

Book Reviews of Holy Yoga: Exercise. for the Christian Body and Soul

Book Review: Brooke Boon has taken back for the church what God originally intended for His people
Summary: 5 Stars

Most Christians don't expect to hear these two words in the same breath - "Christian" and "yoga". What would it be like? Can there really be such a thing? And more importantly, should there be such a thing? Brooke Boon answers the skeptics and enthusiasts alike in this ground breaking book/dvd combo.

Yoga is a practice that has endured the ages, and it can be practiced in several genres. But Brooke Boon has developed a new one. She calls Holy Yoga "body prayer". It was designed as a physical expression of worship through movement, prayer, breath work, and Scripture. But Christians, to whom Boon is obviously speaking, are usually uncomfortable incorporating their bodies with anything spiritual. After all, we are supposed to crucify our flesh, right?

After making a compelling case for Holy Yoga and debunking the standard objections and fears with Scriptures and the quotes of numerous theologians, she explains the physical aspects and benefits of her practice. An integral part of which is Scriptural meditation. Just the word meditation conjures up images of eastern gurus and mantras for most of us. But scriptural meditation? It seems God had the idea of meditation in the first place, according to the Bible, and other religions have adopted the idea over the centuries. Unfortunately, according to Boone, the Church has fearfully thrown the meditation-baby out with the bath water.

I was most intrigued by Boon's picture of Scriptural meditation. She explains clearly and simply how to do it. One benefit to this training is the ability to concentrate on the Lord when praying, rather than finding you've spent the last ten minutes of prayer thinking about what to have for dinner. Does mental self control have immeasurable spiritual benefits? And can a Christian's practice of yoga bring the body, mind, and spirit all closer to God? I tried it out for the first time, meditating on a verse I'd chosen, taking deep breaths as per Boon's instructions, and looking at the clock before closing my eyes. By the time I opened my eyes again, fifteen minutes had passed. A true feat for me, although it was effortless and enjoyable. I followed her instructions when my mind started to wander, and I was able to stay focused on Him. I found the verse on the tip of my tongue and in the forefront of my mind all day until I went to sleep that night. This could be a great part of daily devotions.

Some Christians "tolerate" yoga if it is completely stripped of its spiritual aspects and only a physical exercise, called Hatha yoga. And Boon admits that this is better than practicing non-Christian yoga, as that can be an unacceptable and negative influence on her spirit, too. Holy Yoga is always practiced with Christian music, and it should be an uplifting, edifying experience.

She offers only one caveat: "There may be some people who should not practice Holy Yoga. If they have recently been converted from a New Age orientation and are not secure believers, then Holy Yoga is probably not the correct discipline for them. They might still be apt to take it in the wrong direction. This is similar to the discipline of fasting - which is not recommended for former anorexics, because of the danger of the spiritual fast being twisted into something no longer spiritual, and the person would end up in bondage again. This is not acting from fear but using discernment to make wise decisions."

Boon encountered malicious disapproval when she first came out with Holy Yoga, yet she is not defensive in her point by point Biblical explanations to these objections. After reading the book through to the end, it seems that the only standing obstacle to this complete form of worship is fear.

By the time you've read through the hands on tutorial part of the book identifying the postures, complete with diagrams, you're ready to put in the dvd. Boon has several students on mats on the ground in a beautiful outdoor setting in front of large red rocks. There are a few meditation messages, a prayer, and then the beginner's class starts. If you've never done yoga, you really do need to familiarize yourself with those postures in the book before you try the dvd. And when you've read and understand her philosophy, you are able to participate to a deeper level. There is gentle, instrumental music in the background, but it would have been nice if she had played some recognizable worship music.

She leads us through the positions, explaining ways to maximize them, and leads us to focus on our Savior throughout. She introduces the yoga band, block, and mat. But you really only need a mat or a non-slip surface to do it. The actual class runs 39 minutes, but the total time of the dvd is 50 minutes.

Brooke Boon has taken back for the church what God originally intended for His people - a life of dedication and worship, spirit, soul, and body.

--Reviewed by Carol Kurtz for TitleTrakk

Summary of Holy Yoga: Exercise. for the Christian Body and Soul

People often equate yoga with
Eastern religion, but Brooke Boon
sees it as an exercise style that
Christians can use to generate patience,
strength, and deeper worship.
Author and yoga instructor
Brooke Boon combines her passion
for Christianity with her commitment
to health to introduce yoga as
a physical and spiritual discipline
that strengthens the body and the
soul. Clear explanations and photographs
make yoga accessible for
any reader, and Brooke offers customized
routines for readers struggling
with specific issues, such as
weight loss and anxiety. Through it all Brooke uses scriptural
references to help reinforce the idea that by taking
care of our bodies we can also take care of our faith.

Christian Living Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in Christian Living Books
A Survey of the Old Testament ImageA Survey of the Old Testament
by Andrew E. Hill, John H. Walton
Zondervan; Published: 2009-02-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $15.00
Price in other shops: $49.99
Steps to Christ ImageSteps to Christ
by Ellen Gould Harmon White
General Books LLC; Published: 2012-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.14
The 1928 Book of Common Prayer ImageThe 1928 Book of Common Prayer
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 1993-11-18; Leather Bound; Book
Price in other shops: $64.99
A People's History of Christianity: The Other Side of the Story ImageA People's History of Christianity: The Other Side of the Story
by Diana Butler Bass
HarperOne; Published: 2010-03-23; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.50
Price in other shops: $14.99
Works of Love ImageWorks of Love
by Soren Kierkegaard
Harper Perennial; Published: 1964-10-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.98
Price in other shops: $16.00
America by Heart : Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag ImageAmerica by Heart : Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag
by Sarah Palin
Harper Collins Publishers; Harper; Published: 2010-11-23; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $0.01
Price in other shops: $25.99
The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life In God ImageThe Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life In God
by Dallas Willard
HarperOne; Published: 1998-03-24; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $12.30
Price in other shops: $23.99
God for Us: The Trinity and Christian Life ImageGod for Us: The Trinity and Christian Life
by Catherine Mowry Lacugna
Harpercollins College Div; Published: 1992-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $78.36
Ruthless Trust ImageRuthless Trust
by Brennan Manning
HarperAudio; Published: 2004-01-06; Audio Cassette; Book
Best price: $3.07
Price in other shops: $18.95
The Screwtape Letters ImageThe Screwtape Letters
by C. S. Lewis
Macmillan; Published: 1982; Paperback; Book
Similar Books and other products
Yoga as Medicine: The Yogic Prescription for Health and Healing ImageYoga as Medicine: The Yogic Prescription for Health and Healing
by Yoga Journal, Timothy McCall
Bantam; Published: 2007-07-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.86
Price in other shops: $21.00
Beatitudes, Christ and the Practice of Yoga ImageBeatitudes, Christ and the Practice of Yoga
by Anthony Randazzo, Madelana Ferrara-Mattheis
Resurrection Press; Published: 2006-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.82
Price in other shops: $9.95
Eat This Book: Study Guide ImageEat This Book: Study Guide
by Eugene H. Peterson, Peter Santucci
William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Published: 2006-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.09
Price in other shops: $6.00
Reclaiming the Body in Christian Spirituality ImageReclaiming the Body in Christian Spirituality
Paulist Press; Published: 2005-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.07
Price in other shops: $16.95
Invitation to Christian Yoga ImageInvitation to Christian Yoga
by Nancy Roth
Seabury Books; Published: 2005-03-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.12
Price in other shops: $16.00
Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading ImageEat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading
by Eugene H. Peterson
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Published: 2009-07-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.57
Price in other shops: $17.00
Prayer of Heart and Body: Meditation and Yoga as Christian Spiritual Practice ImagePrayer of Heart and Body: Meditation and Yoga as Christian Spiritual Practice
by Thomas Ryan
Paulist Press; Published: 1995; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.00
Price in other shops: $16.95
Yoga Prayer ImageYoga Prayer
SOUNDS TRUE; Release date: 2005-05-10; DVD
Best price: $17.99
Price in other shops: $19.95
Hatha Yoga Illustrated ImageHatha Yoga Illustrated
by Martin Kirk, Brooke Boon, Daniel DiTuro
Power Systems; Human Kinetics; Published: 2005-10-20; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.96
Price in other shops: $14.95
Yoga for Christians: A Christ-Centered Approach to Physical and Spiritual Health through Yoga ImageYoga for Christians: A Christ-Centered Approach to Physical and Spiritual Health through Yoga
by Susan Bordenkircher
Thomas Nelson; Published: 2006-04-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.16
Price in other shops: $19.99