“Christians need Yoga“ The story of a Christian Yogi with Paul Hoffman

This episode features Paul Hoffman, a devoted Christian who discovered yoga and has found it deeply enriches his religious life and spiritual connection. He shares how yoga complements Christian teachings and practices, helping him integrate breath, movement and prayer.

 

Paul recounts his journey to incorporating yoga into his church community and daily spiritual rituals. He provides insights into how yoga can allow Christians and people of all backgrounds to more fully embody sacred teachings. 

 

They discuss...

 

- How yoga created a framework for Paul's daily devotional practice and connection to the divine presence. 

- Adapting yoga for Christians using biblical language and Christian concepts.

- Teaching yoga and breathwork before Sunday services at his Episcopal church.

- Experiencing yoga as a form of whole body prayer and spirit baptism.

- Integrating sacred sexuality, intimacy and union as yoga.

- Releasing grief, trauma and obstructions through asana to receive grace.  

- Participating through yoga in the grace and blessings already present.

 

Favorite phrases:

 

"Yoga has urged me, forced me, urged me to take seriously what it is that I'm doing in church." 

 

"The kingdom is, inside you or, you know, the, the divine is like, yeast and bread. it's just part of the deal."

 

"What I'm starting to feel is that, well, no, actually that's, that might be where it is for me. it's a lot of conditioning, a lot of programming to, to break through, isn't it? This notion that you get to God by giving up sex."

 

Resources:

 

Paul Hoffman's website: www.breathemovepray.org

 

Timestamps:

 

[00:00] Introduction  

[00:01] How Paul was first introduced to yoga by his wife

[00:03] His beginner's yoga retreat with Mark at Esalen

[00:07] Finding yoga provided what was missing from only attending Sunday church  

[00:10] Using Christian concepts and chanting in yoga class

[00:15] Adapting yoga language and teachings to the Christian context

[00:22] Yoga helps actualize the essence of Christianity  

[00:26] The continued impact of realized beings like Jesus

[00:31] Participating through yoga in the living divinity 

[00:35] Teaching yoga at his church on Saturdays  

[00:43] A dying friend urging him to start a daily prayer practice 

[00:48] Yoga as receptivity to Christ's baptism, releasing obstructions

[00:54] Introducing yoga at church through video 

[01:00] Yoga practice as participating in ever-present grace   

[01:10] Conclusion and close