— WHAT IS GRACE X STRENGTH? —
Grace x Strength offers a sacred space for people to come into community to experience God’s grace and strength through Christ-centred yoga and soul care programs. It was founded in 2017 – 2 years after God had placed it on my heart to make yoga teaching a path to help others experience spiritual growth rooted in Gospel truth. Alyssa, my co-founder and soul-sister, and I had both been praying individually for this opportunity. We believe that our intersecting paths is providence. After much prayer and many vision castings together, Grace x Strength was born organically.
Grace x Strength is not just a brand to us. It’s a journey – a discerned calling. It will be ever-evolving and an open invitation to YOU. Be a part of our community and help us grow and serve our community authentically by joining our Christian yoga classes online, retreats, workshops, events and journeying with us on social media. Learn more about our classes & programs here.
— WHAT IS CHRISTIAN YOGA & WHY? —
Christian Yoga is simply a form of yoga where we move, breathe and be in the presence of God. The practice is God-honouring in every aspect of it. The purpose of the meditation component is simply to devote space to hear from God and meditate on Scripture. The breath work and movements are for health and well-being benefits. There are variations to the purposes of each individual’s practice but at the core of Christian yoga, it is a well-being initiative with the purpose to draw closer to God and be in relationship with Jesus.
For many Christians, yoga is a no-go zone because of its common misconception that yoga is a religion. Yoga is NOT a religion. It is an ancient practice that started more than 5000 years ago with a rich and complex history from the Indus Valley. The practice compromises mainly of breath work, meditation and physical movement. Yoga has traditionally been passed on from teacher to student and today, there are many different lineages. A lot of people associate yoga with Eastern religions, but yoga does not need to marry up with a religion. Some would even argue that yoga is completely non-religious. It is, however, a deeply spiritual practice where the message of the Gospel can be introduced and a space where the Holy Spirit can work in the hearts of those who seek Him.
In today’s modern western culture, yoga is known to offer many medically-proven benefits for the mind and body, and as a great fitness initiative. For many people, yoga is nothing spiritual but a healthy regime that combines some elements of mindfulness. I, personally, believe this to be effective, too.
At Grace x Strength, we believe in the mission field that God has called us to: to create a sacred space and invite people into community to experience God’s grace and strength through Christ-centred yoga and soul care programs.
Having been at the forefront of the controversial debate on whether Christians should do yoga, the team at Grace x Strength and I have compiled a guide to answer some FAQ and a guide to help you discern whether yoga is 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.