Christian Yoga and the Practice of Slowing Down: When Movement Leads to Stillness
Some days I sit down to pray or meditate, and my mind just…won’t.
The thoughts are racing. My body feels restless. I can’t seem to focus, or settle, or feel anything. I want to be present in mind, body, and spirit but it’s like there’s a wall I can’t get through.
Over the years, one of the things I’ve discovered is that sometimes, the best way to get to stillness isn’t by forcing it. It’s by moving first.
Why It’s So Hard to Be Still Sometimes
We live in a world that moves fast. We carry a lot mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. And often, all that energy builds up and gets stuck in our bodies. Then, when we try to go straight to silence or prayer or stillness, it’s like our body rebels.
It’s not that we don’t want to be present with God, ourselves, or the present moment. It’s just that we’re not quite ready yet. Our nervous system is still in motion. Our muscles are holding tension. Our minds haven’t caught up with our intention.
Movement as a Way In
That’s why Christian yoga has become such a gift in my life.
Sometimes I step on the mat and I’m not sure what I need. But as I begin to move, I start to notice:
- A stretch that feels like release
- A tight area that needs some gentleness
- A burst of energy that wants to be used
- A space that’s tender and needs my care
By moving, even gently, I give my body the chance to speak. And in listening to what it’s saying, I create space for everything else to slow down too.
It might be a few strong power moves to get my blood flowing and some of the stuff that’s been stored up worked out. It might be a slow flow that helps me feel without going too deep. Sometimes it’s just stretching and breathing.
But by the time I’m done, something inside me has shifted. I’m more grounded. More open. More ready to be with God. I can begin to slow down.
The Body as the Path to Presence
In Christian yoga, we often talk about integrating body, mind, and spirit, and this is one of the most practical ways that happens.
We don’t separate movement from prayer. We don’t treat the body like something we have to push past to get to God. We let it be part of the pathway.
Movement is not a distraction from prayer. It can become the preparation for it.
Sometimes I only realize what I need to pray once I’ve moved enough to feel what’s actually going on in my body. Sometimes the tears don’t come until I’ve stretched into the space that’s been holding tension. Sometimes the whisper of God’s presence only comes after I’ve exhaled long enough to slow down.
An Invitation to Move First
So if you’ve been feeling stuck spiritually, emotionally, or physically, maybe the invitation isn’t to sit still and force your way through.
Maybe the invitation is to move first.
To stretch. To breathe. To feel.
To let your body lead you back to stillness.
It doesn’t have to be intense or long or fancy. Just enough to listen. Just enough to be with yourself. Just enough to be ready to be with God.
Want to Try This for Yourself?
If this resonates with you, we’ve created Christian yoga classes on our YouTube channel that offer this kind of space with gentle movement, intentional breath, and space to connect with God in your body.
Whether you’re coming with restless energy or a tired mind, these practices can help you slow down, feel, and listen. Sometimes the movement is what makes the stillness possible.
And when it is…what a gift that stillness becomes.
