In Spiritu

In Spiritu: Prayer of the body and spirit
" We are called to worship the father in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23 )

2010 Fall Program

Incarnational prayer: prayer out of breath, therapeutic postures, sacred music, and quiet
meditation can deepen our worship to the Father. In the spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius invites
us to take a breath and say a word in prayerful breathing.

We invite you to join us any Monday evening (listed below) for In Spiritu … it is a time for solitude
and silence … a time for prayer and meditation … a time for withdrawal and meditation …a time to re-focus
your attention on God. Come join with us in our prayer of body and spirit.

Our program will create a space for peace and meditation within you and provide for an "upward lifting" of your mind, heart, and spirit to that of Christ. Classical yoga postures, with flowing therapeutic movements, blended with Scripture, and sacred music, will be used to quiet your being and allow God the inner sanctuary within you - it is a part of your movement towards holistic prayer: of the mind, body and spirit.

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

Dates and Times: Monday Evenings:5:30 - 6:45 PM
Session I: Aug. 23; Sept. 13, 20 and 27; Oct. 4, 11 and 18
Session II: Oct. 25; Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29; Dec. 6 and 13

Cost:
$70 for Session I paid in advance. $80 for Session II paid in advance.
Drop-in for single classes are $12. Payments can be made 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.