And So My Journey Begins...

Tonight I paid in full and registered for my Holy Yoga certification courses. Instantly my stomach felt sick. 1. because it is a lot of money 2. because I doubt myself so much 3. because I am excited about what lies ahead.  I have never had a panic attack but I did have to slow my breathing and I did start crying. I am so thankful for my husband who has been so supportive and he believes in me so much.
So why do I want to do this? What am I even thinking? I began doing yoga since August 2015. That isn't very long and I'm not sure how long others have been doing yoga before they decide to become an instructor but I do know that it is my heart's desire to become an instructor. I believe that yoga is so amazing for the body. It has been a workout like none other that I have done. And it is more than just the body, it is about the mind and the spirit. But what I love the most is that I can meet Jesus on my mat. I love that I can meditate on His words, I can praise Him for the blessings in my life. I can beg him to help me, to strengthen me. Whatever is on my heart, I bring it on my mat and I give it to Him. For those that are confused let me run through my routine of what I do.
I arrive on my mat and I sit down. I pull out my essential oils, my favorite is Believe (from Young Living) I put a drop on my hand and rub my hands together then place one hand on my heart and one on my forehead. I close my eyes and I pray. I come to His throne and I ask Him to meet me on my mat, in my practice. I then apply my peppermint and deep relief to support my muscles and my respiratory system (my breathing). I lie down on my mat and I will think about what I want to gain from my practice. "Father, help me. Help me to forgive. Help me to love. Help me to be patient." These are some of the things I ask. "God you are able. I thank you for the breath you breathed into me." As I begin my practice, every time I reach for that breath I imagine God breathing life into me. Every time my arms are raised to the sky, I am reaching for His hands, giving all that I have to Him. Every time I am in a pose and I feel weak I think "I can do all things through Christ" Whenever we hold a pose and I am dying to come out of it and we finally do, I say "this is grace." You see, all of my practice is centered around worshiping God, drawing closer to Him. Sure, I am working out and I am focusing on leaning forward, lifting my foot, straightening my leg, pulling in my abs, breathing etc..... But I never forget God. The final pose is the resting pose. Just lying on your back. As I lie there I thank Him for a body that is able. For my health. For my life, my breath, my salvation. I ask God to help me to carry that breath throughout the day. When things get hairy, and I want to give in or blow up, that His breath will return to me.
That is my practice. That is me, meeting Jesus on the mat. It isn't my only form of worship. It isn't my only time with Him. But it is one of the ways that I connect with my Heavenly Father.
This is why I want to be a Holy Yoga instructor. So I can encourage and teach others to meet Jesus on their mats. To encourage them to carry His breath with them throughout the day. To hand their burdens over to Christ. To praise Him for a body that is able. I know that there is fear and doubt. I question myself, but that isn't from God. I know I have prayed about this, I believe that He is guiding me and drawing my path before me and I will continually come before His throne and find my confidence in Him.
If you have never attended a Holy Yoga Class, I encourage you to do so. :)