“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”
– Socrates
Charissa is a Yoga Teacher and Yoga Chaplain through Yoga Chapel. Charissa completed her 200 hours of Yoga Teacher Training through Many Rivers Yoga Teacher Training (http://www.manyriversyoga.com) in February of 2018.
Ongoing Yoga Chapel: Pastor Charissa offers FREE yoga, here at Santa Clara United Methodist Church, each Thursday morning, starting at 9:30 A.M.
Location: Santa Clara United Methodist Church, which is located at 1700 Lincoln Road in Santa Clara, CA
When the weather is nice, we meet outside in the courtyard. Otherwise, you can find us in the sanctuary.
What is yoga? A holistic moving meditation and grounding practice that joins your breath with your movement in order to nourish the body, mind, and spirit.
What to Bring:
· A mat
· A hand towel
· Water
· And a friend
Affordable mats can be found at places like T.J. Maxx and Target. If you are wondering about the hand towel, it is for mopping sweat from your brow, as necessary. You can also get a mat cover (or use a beach towel) to go on top of your mat. If you become a regular yoga practitioner, yoga blocks are also a nice addition to help with modifying postures.
When the weather is nice, we will be practicing yoga outside. As such, you may want to consider wearing a hat and/or sunscreen. If you have longer hair, I recommend pulling it back out of your face.
Consider coming out and giving yoga a try!
We look forward to seeing you there.
Charissa is also available to lead yoga classes in the community, in retreat settings, and at conferences.
Contact Charissa if you are interested in partnering with her and having her offer a yoga class or series.
Yoga is one of the ways that we can connect with self, connect with the Divine, and connect with one another. What shows up on the mat teaches us about life. When we are struggling with a balance posture on the mat, it points to imbalance in our life. When we do not give ourselves grace on the mat, we tend not to give ourself (and others) grace in life.
Yoga reminds us to be actively present in this moment, to pay attention to our breathing, and to link our breath with movement. In yoga, we find grounding and peace. Yoga is centering. The practice of yoga helps us to grow and be our best authentic self in a space that is safe and encouraging. Wherever you are in any posture is enough. You are enough, just as you are, in this moment.
“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you cannot practice any other virtue consistently. Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.”
– Maya Angelou
Did you know that both the Hebrew (ruah) and the Greek (pneuma) word for “breath" used in the Bible, is also translated “Spirit?” Through the practice of yoga may we breathe in healing energy and breathe out whatever no longer serves our best self.
