In Spiritu

Christian Yoga
Supporting an Ignatian Journey

Come to Manresa! Imagine -- behold God, beholding you, and smiling … finding God in all things … moving forward from where you are now to discover a new place of fulfillment, joy and peace. We offer you Christian Yoga, a practice of asana postures, prayer and Christian music to awaken your whole being to a consciousness of God's presence everywhere. Join with us to explore the spirituality of St. Ignatius - it is a journey into the community that God invites each of us into … to be in communion with Him.

Christian Yoga will touch upon the prayer traditions and exercises in Ignatian Spirituality and move us closer to finding the peace and love that comes from resting in the God who is everywhere.

Leader:
Grace Seroka Graduate of the Ignatian Spirituality Program.
Certified instructor and member of YAGD (Yoga Association of Greater Detroit )

2012 Spring & Summer ProgramS
Dates and Times: Monday Evenings: 5:30 - 6:45 PM

Spring Session: April 23 and 30; May 7, 14 and 21
Summer Session: June 4, 11 and 18; July 16 and 23; August 13, 20 and 27

Cost
Spring Session: prepaid with $50 or as a drop in at $12 per class
Summer Session: Summer classes are provided on a drop-in basis at $12 per class.
Payments may be made by cash or check the day of the class.

Equipment:
Please bring your exercise mat and blanket or towel (some extra mats are available for
your use.) Therapeutic bands are needed and are available for purchase at a cost of $8.
Weather permitting we may be outside.

Registration:
Send your name, address, phone number, and your check payable to Manresa. You may
also register and pay with your credit card online or by
telephoning the office: 248.644.4933.

Some Comments & Feedback

When I first practiced yoga over thirty years ago, I appreciated the physical benefits of flexibility and balance as well as the mental tranquility it produced. Christian yoga, however, has taken my awareness to both a deeper and a higher level. I feel a wholeness-- an integration of body, mind, and soul. I think of the Scriptural injunction to "be perfect", that is, "complete", and Christian yoga leads me closer to that goal. —Rosemarie Gancer

Christian Yoga started me on the path to a deeper trust in God's hand in my life. In easing the stress from my body, it quiets my mind to help me trust God's presence in the challenges of my daily life. —Susan Raymond

Christian yoga is a form of prayer for me, involving mind, body, and spirit. I also find it especially helpful in quieting my entire being before a Christian mediation "sit". I experience Christian yoga as a strengthening of my body, as well as a nurturing of my entire being as a temple of the Holy Spirit. Christian yoga plays an important part in my relationship with God, others, and myself! —Artemae Anderson

I've been doing yoga since September and my flexibility has increased tremendously. It seems to have helped with my golf game and has given me much better focus in day to day activities. It has actually made me look at food differently also. I do not eat as poorly as I did before. It has been a real blessing in my life. —Andy Szombat

Often for me, Yoga class is like a beautiful spiritual experience in which the mind, body, and spirit are moving together in harmony. —Deanna Tabar

Yoga at Manresa is a gift from Grace Seroka. Her encouragement to find God in our physical and emotional bodies allows us to deepen our faith. When I attend class, I feel a sense of tranquility and peacefulness. —Rosemary Fox

When I meditate at the end of the session and you read to us from scripture, I feel like I am floating and hearing the words of an angel speaking to me. Thanks from the bottom of my heart! —Leslie Krajewski

I have always wanted to take a yoga class and this one fit into my schedule but what a blessing waited for me! I expected the class to be special because of the Christian aspect but it did not prepare me for the Spirit-lead peacefulness that was truly evident in our sessions. Thank you for a fantastic experience! —Alice Kolbasa

A Note on Church Teaching and Manresa's Christian Yoga

The official documents of the Catholic Church contain two references to yoga. In October 1989 the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a letter On Some Aspects of Christian Meditation. In August 2003 the Pontifical Council for Culture and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue issued a provisional report called Jesus Christ, the Bearer of the Water of Life: A Christian reflection on the "New Age." The first mentioned yoga once, in a footnote, as an example of an Eastern form of meditation; the second mentioned yoga twice in general fashion with other Eastern methods. While the documents allow that methods of prayer deriving from non-Christian religions can help Christians in their prayer, they warn that discretion needs to be exercised to avoid syncretism and to see that elements do not creep in that are contrary to the fundamental nature of Christian prayer and practice. At Manresa we are dedicated to the promotion of Christian prayer. We wish to assure any who may be concerned that we do exercise due discretion here, and that Manresa's Christian Yoga courses do not contain elements about which the Congregation and Councils are concerned.