Holy Yoga event will blend faith and meditation

For some people, Holy Yoga is exercise for the Christian soul.

On Saturday, Aug. 12, participants in Raleigh can join in with 11 other cities for a nationwide Holy Yoga experience. Founder Brooke Boon will lead a virtual Bible study, and the event will also feature yoga practice, meditation, music and prizes.

Holy Yoga organizers describe themselves as a community of Christian believers trying to bring the Gospel to the world through yoga.

“Gospel-centered yoga is a practice that embraces the essential elements of yoga – breath work, meditation and physical postures,” said Diane Stakoe, a Holy Yoga instructor and therapist in Raleigh. “In all of these elements, Christ is the focus of our intention and worship.”

You don’t have to be winning warrior pose or dominating downward dog to take part in the experience.

“Anyone and any ability is welcome to attend this practice,” Stakoe said. “We will be teaching pose modifications both in and out of a chair for those with limitations. If you can breathe, you can take part in this event.”

Participants will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Church at Perry Creek, which meets on the campus of Riverbend Elementary School. The address is 6210 Perry Creek Road, Raleigh.

The cost is $25. To register, go to https:/holyyoga.net/holy-yoga-experience. Walk-ins are also welcome.

“God’s greatest commandment is for us to love him with our mind, body, soul and heart,” Stakoe said. “Then he said, ‘Love one another.’ And that is Holy Yoga – worshipping Jesus and loving those around us.”

Meditation and yoga retreat

Unity of the Triangle will host a two-day meditation and yoga retreat Aug. 19-20.

The special guest for the weekend is Yogacharya O’Brian, a spiritual teacher, poet, writer and founding director of the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment in San Jose, California.

On Saturday, Aug. 19, O’Brian will join with Unity’s senior minister, the Rev. Neusom Holmes, to co-host a meditation retreat from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

On Sunday, Aug. 20, O’Brian will speak at Unity’s 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. series on the topic of how to fall in love with your life. Later that day, she will lead a Kriya yoga class from 1:30 until 3 p.m.

The cost of the retreat is $60, and a love offering of $25 is suggested for the yoga class. Unity of the Triangle is located at 5570 Munford Road in Raleigh.

For more information about the church, go to unitytriangle.org.

This story was originally published August 11, 2017 at 1:17 PM with the headline "Holy Yoga event will blend faith and meditation."