The Practice of Being Happy and Holy
Scripture
Base your happiness on your hope in Christ. Romans 12:12 Phillips
Spiritual Focus
“What a happy and holy fashion it is that those who love one another should rest on the same pillow.” Nathaniel Hawthorne
Devotion
At a recent Yogadevotion spring retreat a conversation ensued among participants about the title of the retreat: Happy AND Holy. The idea that one could be happy and holy at the same time was at the center of the dialogue. It wasn’t hard for participants to visualize happiness as a faithful follower of the ways of Jesus, but many struggled to see holiness as part of their interior story. God is holy, Jesus is holy, and the Spirit is holy, but do we see ourselves as fitting that description?
Sometimes, in an attempt to wrap our minds around certain concepts we engage in an either/or narrative: we or they, in or out, happy or holy? But these are false dichotomies; Richard Rohr refers to this kind of thought pattern as “dualistic” thinking. In Jesus’ language there is no “or”; there is only love. When we are able to look through the lens of love we see no other possible scenario: all are truly welcome, and holiness naturally follows our happiness.
One of the best things going on in the yoga world right now is the idea that yoga is for EVERYbody. This has always been the case, but it has taken a while for EVERYbody to embrace this truth. You may hear a reminder from a yoga teacher that goes something like this: “Modifications in asana are neither lesser nor better; they are simply the same pose, done differently.” Chair yoga is for EVERY body, and adaptive yoga is a powerful practice.
The interconnectedness between happiness and holiness is a faith practice we can take away from our mats. When we connect with God’s Holy Spirit, draw upon the love God has so freely given us, and share that love into the world as happy AND holy people, we change the narratives that have divided us.
Breath Prayer
Inhale | I Am
Exhale | Happy AND Holy
Pose Focus: Twists are a wonderful way to embody the concept of “and” rather than “or.” As we rotate the spine we both compress and stretch, stimulate and sooth. Whether standing, seated, or supine, always begin your twist with a gentle contraction of the belly on an exhalation. This engages the torso first, allowing the twist to emanate from the spine rather than from the shoulders or neck. Upon inhalation lengthen your spine, chest open, and on the subsequent exhalation you might find more room in the twist. Breathe easily and steadily while holding the pose. When one direction is completed, embrace the other.
