— WHAT IS GRACE X STRENGTH? —
Grace x Strength was born in 2015 when God placed it on my heart to make yoga teaching a pathway for others to experience spiritual growth rooted in Gospel truth. After more than 12 years in corporate and marketing, I discovered the transformative power of movement during my second pregnancy while navigating a migraine disorder. What began as a personal journey of healing quickly became a calling - to create a space where faith and yoga could meet.
Two years later, Alyssa( my co-founder and soul-sister) joined me. A Pilates teacher and wellness blogger who shared the same heart for Christ-centred living, we had both been praying individually for this opportunity. We believe our intersecting paths are nothing short of providence. After much prayer and many vision castings together, Grace x Strength grew organically into a thriving community where people could show up, body, mind, and spirit, and leave feeling equanimous.
As the vision continued to unfold, a divinely timed partnership formed with Be Still Movement, a Christ-centred wellness platform dedicated to helping people experience peace, strength, and a deeper connection with God. Today, Grace x Strength continues its journey as part of the Be Still Movement family, expanding its reach and creating more space for people to encounter God in the everyday rhythms of their lives.
Grace x Strength is not just a brand to us. It's a journey, a discerned calling, and an open invitation to you. What started as one woman's story has grown into a shared mission: to help people come home to themselves, and to God.
Be a part of our community by joining our Christian yoga classes online, retreats, workshops, and events. Journey with us on social media. Learn more about our classes & programs here.
— WHAT IS CHRISTIAN YOGA & WHY? —
Christian Yoga is a form of yoga where we move, breathe, and rest in the presence of God. The practice is approached with God at the centre in every aspect. The meditation component creates space to hear from God and reflect on Scripture, while the breathwork and movement support physical health and overall well-being. While each person's practice may look a little different, at its core, Christian yoga is a well-being initiative with the intention of drawing closer to the Triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
For some Christians, yoga can feel like unfamiliar territory, often due to the misconception that yoga is a religion. Yoga is not a religion. It is an ancient practice with more than 5,000 years of rich and complex history rooted in the Indus Valley. The practice is largely comprised of breathwork, meditation, and physical movement, and has traditionally been passed from teacher to student across many different lineages. While yoga is sometimes associated with Eastern spiritual traditions, it does not need to be tied to any religion. Some would describe it as entirely non-religious. It is, however, a deeply spiritual practice, and one where the message of the Gospel can be introduced and the Holy Spirit can move in the hearts of those who seek Him.
In modern Western culture, yoga is widely recognised for its many evidence-based benefits for the mind and body, and is embraced by many simply as a meaningful fitness and mindfulness practice. I personally find this to be a valid and effective approach, too.
At Grace x Strength, we are called to a mission field: to create a sacred space and invite people into community to experience God's grace and strength through yoga and soul care programs rooted in Biblical truth.
Having engaged with the ongoing conversation around Christians and yoga, the Grace x Strength team and I have put together a guide addressing some frequently asked questions — as well as a resource to help you personally discern whether yoga is right for you.
Read “Should Christians Do Yoga?” or take the leap and experience for yourself with my online videos.
AT GRACE X STRENGTH, WE HAVE 3 SIGNATURE PROGRAMS:
GRACE FLOW
Grace Flow classes are Vinyasa-style which sync movement with breath. We like to think that they are a beautiful expression of the body’s movement, much like dancing. Often accompanied by soft contemporary Christian worship music, classes start off with breath work/meditation/prayer with themes drawn from Scripture before entering into a flow sequence and closes in meditation/prayer.
STRENGTH BUILDER
Strength Builder classes are focussed on individual pose breakdowns and are slower paced, similar to Hatha Yoga. Poses are broken down for more precision and to offer the benefits of stretching and strengthening of targetted muscle groups. Often accompanied with Scriptural themes, classes start off with breath work/meditation/prayer and enter into postural breakdown - often holding poses for longer. Classes close in meditation/prayer.
STRETCH & REST
Stretch & Rest classes are similar to Yin Yoga classes where the aim of the session is to stretch out tight muscles and create space for the mind to rest. These classes focus on breath work and decluttering the mind from the stresses of everyday life, and instead, restoring the mind with Biblical reminders of rest and meditating on God’s Word. These classes are incredibly soothing and calming for the nervous system.
TAILORED SPECIALTY PROGRAMS
KIDS YOGA
Start building healthy habits for your children at a young age! Not only is it important for them to learn some get techniques to help them with stress management, in this modern world-gone-crazy with social media influences that can bring unbalanced attention to body image and identities, Kids Yoga can help children develop the right attitude towards their growing bodies, centred around Gospel Truth.
YOGALATES
Prefer to take on the benefits of Pilates and combine it with some funky yoga moves? Our co-Founder, Alyssa Mak is certified in both Pilates and Yoga, making her the perfect trainer. Find out more here.
CHAIR YOGA
Chair Yoga offers an alternative to our core programs for those who are less mobile, the physically disabled and/or the senior community.
As the name suggests, Chair Yoga is done with the assistant of a chair. The student is either seated in a chair or using the chair and various props to assist them into yoga pose variations that benefit muscle groups that a traditional pose offers.
YOGA THERAPY
Yoga therapy uses a variety of yoga practices aimed to improve a health condition. I am a trained yoga therapist with a passion to help women with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, migraines and athletes. Find out more by clicking on this link.