The Asana Every Christian Needs

While there are many approaches to the practice of yoga, most classes share common rituals. They often begin with grounding and breathwork and conclude with Savasana, or Corpse Pose. Whether you attend a power vinyasa class or a gentle yin practice, the intention remains the same: to bring greater awareness and regulation to the mind, body, and spirit.

One of the eight limbs of yoga is asana, the physical postures that are woven together to create a practice. Among these postures is Balasana, or Child's Pose—a familiar shape that teachers often cue when students need a moment to breathe, rest, or settle into stillness. While many postures challenge our strength, flexibility, or balance, Child's Pose asks something entirely different of us.

It asks us to surrender.

Psychologically, Child's Pose can signal safety to the nervous system, encouraging the body to release tension and move from striving into rest. Spiritually, it offers a powerful invitation to trust.

The symbolism is difficult to miss. Child's Pose mirrors the posture of a heart submitted to God. It reminds us to release our grip on control and trust the One who holds all things together. In many ways, the posture becomes a physical prayer. As we soften into the pose, we are reminded of Christ's invitation: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28, NIV). The Lord commands us to come to him, and he will provide the rest that we need. Adopting balasana is  a beautiful way to lay at his feet upon our mats. 

I remember the first yoga class I ever attended. I slipped into a small studio tucked away near Washington Square Park in the heart of New York City. I was attending New York University for graduate school, and my stress level was at an all-time high. Desperate to regain a sense of balance, I wondered if yoga might help.

I felt self-conscious and completely out of place. At the end of class, the teacher invited us into Savasana and encouraged us to simply rest. All I could think about was getting to my next class before my lunch break ended. I quietly rolled up my mat and slipped out the door before Savasana was even finished.

A few years later, yoga had become a regular part of my life. The more I learned about the practice, the more I began to treasure those moments of stillness. What once felt uncomfortable became sacred. In a culture that prizes productivity, achievement, and constant movement, we often undervalue restoration. I believe this is one of the enemy's greatest distractions—to keep us busy enough that we no longer recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit.

This is the invitation of Balasana.

Physically, Child's Pose guides the body into a position of humble surrender. The hips sink back toward the heels, the torso folds forward, the arms reach out, and the forehead rests on the ground. There is no striving in this posture. No performing. No proving.

Instead, there is yielding.

The symbolism is difficult to miss. Child's Pose mirrors the posture of a heart submitted to God. It reminds us to release our grip on control and trust the One who holds all things together. In many ways, the posture becomes a physical prayer.

As Christians, we are called to trust God rather than carry every burden ourselves. Jesus modeled this surrender in the Garden of Gethsemane when He prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." (Luke 22:42, NIV). His words remind us that surrender is not weakness; it is trust. It is choosing God's wisdom over our own understanding and His plans over our preferences.

Perhaps this is why Child's Pose resonates so deeply with so many practitioners. Beneath its simplicity lies a profound truth: peace is often found not in holding on tighter, but in learning to let go.

Balasana invites us to do exactly that—to rest, to trust, and to surrender ourselves to the loving care of God.

Anna Marie Valentine

PhD, LPC, RDT, RYT-200

Moved By Grace Counseling 

Anna Marie Valentine is a licensed professional counseling, registered drama therapist, registered yoga teacher and PhD in mind/body medicine with a specialization in integrative mental health. Originally from Dallas, TX, she now lives with her husband, son and three dogs in Hattiesburg, MS. She believes in the power of a holistic approach to health and wellbeing and integrates somatic practices into her work as a counselor. She uses her mat as an active form of nervous system regulation and worship. She aims to bridge the gaps between psychology, somatics, and theology to unlock the power and importance of stewarding our bodies as living temples