CityView Magazine

16 | January/February 2015 chaotic, "plugged-in" world? For most, even ancient yogis, sitting still in contem- plation, meditation and prayer seems an impossible goal. Arising from this dilem- ma thousands of years ago, physical yoga sequences were created to bring disci- pline and awareness to body movement, breath and the mind. is discipline and healthy movement orchestrates concentration on the present moment. Such focus on the present is where God constantly asks his followers to remain… deeper in prayer and stillness with the Lord. roughout the bible, Christians are encouraged to meditate on the Word or parables and "pray without ceasing" (1 essalonians 5:17). But again, without learning how to be still and present, quiet meditation is nearly impossible. Yogic breathing techniques and poses are a tool Christians can utilize to help clear the mind, bring focus and prepare for studying scripture, praying and meditating on the Word and God. e Bible speaks of letting go of anxiety, attending the present day, and trust- ing the Lord with tomorrow (Matthew 6:24-34). During yoga practice, one is oen pushed to the limit with a challenging pose while the teacher might suggest surren- dering into the sensation and letting go of judgment of one's body. Such thoughts directly parallel God's request that in difficult times one leans into Him, surrenders to Him without question (Proverbs 3:5-6). Learning to withhold judgment, tame the tongue and still the mind and body are all part of the yogic discipline. Accord- ing to the Bible this practice also helps one to be a disciplined disciple of the Lord (James 3). Paul teaches again in 1 Corinthians 9:27 to discipline one's body. As one's yoga practice evolves to include mental aspects, moral and ethical val- ues such as service, forgiveness, compassion, and purity are cultivated. Yoga's in- struction on these oen parallels what Paul taught the new Christians about being patient, kind, respectful, obedient and humble (1 Corinthians 13:4). e challenges endured on the yoga mat, lessons of patience and surrender help one facilitate these into his or her daily lives. Again, this parallels a deeper trust in the Lord during times of strife. e practice of yoga is not a religion but a gi. A gi one can use to facilitate glorifying the Lord in his or her body, mind and soul (1 Corinthians 6:20). Take a deep breath, bow in and grab your mat! Namaste'… Amen! For more biblical references to use for your practice, meditation, and under- standing of how Yoga can relate to Christianity and the Bible check out: Genesis 2:7; 1 Corinthians 15:44-48; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 9:27; Psalm 104:34; 1 Timothy 6:6. CV The practice of yoga is not a religion but a gift. A gift one can use to facilitate glorifying the Lord in his or her body, mind and soul. Stop. Think. Prevent Overflow. faypwc.com Grease... It's a Pain in the Drain. Pouring grease, oil or fat down the drain? OUCH! It can block our sewer lines, causing wastewater to back up. And that can hurt our drinking water at its source. It can harm the environment and your property, too. Wastewater overflow is costly to clean up, which could also hurt our committed efforts to keep your rates down. That's why at PWC, we urge you to follow these guidelines … so you won't have a pain in the drain. • Pour grease, oil or fat (let it cool if it's hot) into a disposable container and put it in the trash. • Wipe grease from pans with a paper towel before you wash them. • Never put meat scraps down the drain. • Compost vegetable scraps or put them in the trash – instead of throwing them down the drain. • Don't put other solid objects down the drain or flush them down the toilet. For more information, see the Environmental section of our website.

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