Working It Out Through Movement
I’ve always tried to work things out in my head.
Thinking. Replaying. Planning. Ruminating.
If something felt off, I assumed I just needed to think harder or pray longer.
Sometimes that works.
But often, it doesn’t.
What I’ve learned over time is that not everything we carry can be thought through or prayed out with words alone. Some things live deeper than our thoughts. Some things take up residence in the body.
Your Body Holds More Than You Realize
Stress, grief, anxiety, joy, and exhaustion don’t just live in our minds. They show up in tight shoulders, shallow breathing, clenched jaws, restless legs, and heavy chests.
Our bodies remember our story.
And when we try to go straight to stillness or prayer without acknowledging what the body is holding, it can feel impossible to settle. The mind races. The body resists. Prayer feels blocked.
That doesn’t mean you’re failing. It may just mean you may not be in a place to start with words.
When Movement Becomes Prayer
One of the gifts of Christian yoga is learning that movement itself can useful for working through internal stuff we are holding and can also be prayer.
Stretching what’s tight.
Breathing into what’s tense.
Moving enough to let the body speak.
Sometimes a few minutes of intentional movement does what thinking cannot. It releases what’s stuck, softens what’s guarded, and creates space for clarity, peace, or prayer to emerge naturally.
Let the Body Lead You to Stillness
There are days when I step onto the mat carrying something heavy and I don’t yet have language for it. I just know I need to move.
As I stretch and breathe, something shifts. Not always dramatically, but enough. Enough to feel more grounded. Enough to notice what’s really going on. Enough to finally be still.
Sometimes the movement itself does the work. Other times, it clears the way for prayer, reflection, or listening to God.
An Invitation
If you’ve been stuck in your head, unable to settle, or frustrated that prayer feels out of reach, maybe the invitation isn’t to try harder.
Maybe it’s to move in God’s presence.
To stretch.
To breathe.
To listen.
You don’t need to force clarity or rush toward answers. Sometimes the most faithful thing you can do is let your body help you work it out.
