No, yoga isn't a religion. Hindu is. However, yoga provides a framework to help you live a little more in line with your religion. American yoga teachers might mention the Yoga Sutras in their classes, and the sutras themselves give you tools how to reach union with the object of your desire. It's similar to what St. Teresa of Avila talks about in Interior Castle. The aim in yoga (and contemplation) is union or oneness. It's up to you with whom you want to be unified.

Background music by Chris Collins at Indiemusicbox.com.

How easily our emotions pull us out of control! It's one thing to feel an emotion, but it's another to let it run rampant in our brain. Add some impulsivity in there, and you've got yourself quite a conflict. Handling our emotions and impulsivity can be a difficult task, so that's why we turn to a stillness practice. This is training the mind to pause rather than react to the conflicts in your mind and in your world. Practicing stillness allows you to harness your emotions and impulsivity so you can use that energy to create positive, purposeful change without regret.

Starting Sunday, February 18 at 7 a.m., I'll be leading a live, virtual Christian contemplative practice on the Insight Timer app. You can find a new, live contemplative practice each week by heading to my Insight Timer profile: insighttimer.com/brad4d_wellness