Body Language

One of the things I have loved about yoga over the years is coming to understand my body. Regular practice means learning your body’s limits, where you hold tension, and even how you approach challenges. One of the most informative practices happens at the end of a session. The teacher usually asks you to scan your body as you breathe calmly. Any tension remaining is released by concentration or relaxation and “sending” your breath to the tense area. You also learn which stretches are the most effective for your personal areas, whether it’s your neck, back or legs.

But more than anything, yoga teaches you awareness of your body. I learned that when I was stressed, my neck would tense up. I learned that when the baby fussed too much, my shoulder would tense up and hurt from cradling her nightly. I learned that when I stayed at my desk too long, trying to squeeze in one more task, my back would tighten uncomfortably. The body tries to send us messages all the time – we just have to pay attention.

The Old Testament writers seemed to understand this phenomenon. In Jeremiah, God talks about how the Israelites stiffened their necks. Though God sent prophet after prophet, the Israelites tensed up, trying to physically block God’s voice from entering their ears. In the Psalm, the psalmist warns that the people should not harden their hearts. Though God longed to be in relationship with the Israelites, the Israelites were so resistant that their hearts seemed to cut off connections to God. Our bodies react to God just like they react to rest of the world. 

Into this reality, the church offers us Lent, a time of yoga for the spirit. We take time to breathe in penitence so that we can let go of the burdens on our shoulders. We confess our sins so that our hearts might soften toward God. We pray so that our necks might not be so stiff. God knows our hearts, and also our bodies. Our invitation this Lent is to listen for the ways our bodies need a good stretch – to breathe in God’s grace and forgiveness – and to let go of resistance to our Lord. Amen.