Attention to our bodies is an important part of spiritual practice. During a pandemic that has disrupted everyone’s lives, connecting the balance of body and soul is essential. The Advent story remembers a time when violence and evil seemed insurmountable. Chaos masquerading as order in the world. The broken were abandoning hope. God’s answer: A healer to restore body, soul and peace. Today, we pause to tend our wounds and heal lives out of balance. The practices below seek to restore the balance between body and soul. Both are silent practices. Invite Jesus into the simple movements of your body practice to restore what is broken to the beautiful and whole image of God.
10-minute Pingshuai practice (swinging arms)
20-minute simple, Qigong practice
Note: There are two options 10 minute & 20 minute. The 10 minute exercise may also be abbreviated to 5 minutes. The 20 minute exercise guides you through a variety of body practices, so feel free to sample a few and return at any time. We hope these might offer some simple practices to help you engage your body during prayerful meditation.
If you would like an added focus for your body/soul practice, consider a meditation on the familiar words of Psalm 23.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.
