“WE PROCLAIM HIM, ADMONISHING AND TEACHING WITH ALL WISDOM SO WE CAN PRESENT EVERYONE PERFECT IN CHRIST.” COLOSSIANS 1:28

MODULE 6 LESSON 1

Christian Yoga: Why Excellence?

Why Excellence?

Excellence is the quality of excelling, of being the very best at something. As humans, we have an innate desire to be excellent. There is a reason for that. We strive for excellence because God is excellent in everything He does (Deuteronomy 32:4). Excellence is a quality and character trait that all Believers have because we’re created in God’s image. Genesis 1:27 

Let’s be clear right off the bat. Excellence and perfectionism are not the same things. Perfectionism refers to our tendency to strive for flawlessness and to set exceptionally high standards. It can accompany a critical spirit of self-evaluation and a concern for the evaluations of others. What we need to understand about perfectionism is it’s rooted in pride and is a sin. There was only one man ever who was flawless, and that was Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:21 

Excellence as a Christian Yoga Instructor

With an understanding of what excellence looks like from a biblical perspective, we are ready to put this principle into practice. 

Whether you’re new to teaching or a well-seasoned pro, there are many facets to the job. In this lesson, we will break down some of the components of teaching a yoga class and how and where we can apply excellence. 

Paul David Tripp summarizes it well In his article, God’s Glory, Our Excellence, “Our ministries are not just shaped by knowledge, experience, and skill, but by the true condition of our hearts. Excellence in ministry flows from a heart that is in holy, reverential, life-rearranging, motivation-capturing awe of the Lord of Glory. Excellence is, in fact, a relationship.”

In other words, We will be excellent at what we do because of our relationship with Christ! 

Going Deeper: Excellence with Integrity: Four Reasons Why How You Do Your Job Matters does a great job explaining excellence in relation to our God-given gifts. 

Where to Apply Excellence 

Now that we have a concept of what excellence Is, we need to know how to apply it to our teaching. 

In this section, we explore how to do just that. 

Class Content: As discussed in earlier modules, we want to pray and invite God into what we teach. Our teachings will be the very best possible when we partner with Him. This requires effort, time, and planning. Excellent class content will not happen haphazardly. It requires partnering with God to make the class what He wants it to be. Philippians 2:13Serving Our Students: When we adopt an attitude that our role in Christian yoga is to serve, not to be served, then we have an attitude of excellence. Having a ministry from the mat means we are actively seeking ways to step into another person’s life and be of service. John 13: 12-15 Communication: Having an approachable, open-door policy and communicating with your students will serve both parties well. Communicate expectations for you as a teacher. Proverbs 25:11

The following are suggestions on how you can excellently communicate to your students: 

Communicate to your students about what they need to bring to class. Mats, props, water, towel. Anything you wish for them to have that you will not provide, then communicate in an email and reiterate in class. If you are charging for classes, decide and communicate your payment options. Provide the options on how they pay and give a deadline. You will have to remind students when payments are done so have a clear system set in place. For in-person classes: You may want to establish some house rules for entering a studio space. For example, are cell phones allowed at the mat, or do you want people to enter the studio space quietly? What is your policy on coming to class late? These are things that must be communicated in writing and verbally.Finally, for online learners and virtual classes, do you allow them to have their screens turned off, or do you ask that they keep them turned on? 

Finally, it is important to remember our students won’t know what is expected of them unless we communicate. It is vital from the beginning to set healthy boundaries by taking the lead. 

Call to Action: Write for InsightConsider the following verses on excellence in the Bible. 

At the beginning of this lesson, we discuss perfectionism. Is this something you struggle with? If so, how has the biblical view of excellence helped with that?

Journal on the following:

Please share your verse with the PCYTT Facebook group and tell us why it spoke to you. 

Of these, which do you feel would be most applicable to you? Consider adopting this verse as your scripture for teaching. This verse will serve as a reminder as to why you’re teaching Christian yoga. Selecting a verse to give you purpose in excellence will be a source of encouragement for many years to come. 

What Does the Bible Say About Excellence? (openbible.info)

Take Note: With pride being the root of perfectionism, this may be an ongoing battle that is not easily overcome. If it is a sin pattern in your life, take time to pray and confess to God. Ask for God’s guidance and help. 

Perfectionism can leave us feeling unworthy, less than, and inadequate. None of which are truths when our identity is in Christ. As Psalm 139:14 says, I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 

Chrisitan mentoring or counseling can be a way to step out of this pattern. Acknowledge if you need help, and then bravely step forward and pursue it. 

What are some other ways we can apply excellence to lives? It would be great if we could allow this biblical value to permeate all areas of our lives so take a moment to list those out.

What, if anything, are you struggling to understand or apply regarding excellence?

Now that we understand the biblical perspective of excellence, what excites you the most when applying it to your teaching?

What are some other ways we can apply excellence to lives? It would be great if we could allow this biblical value to permeate all areas of our lives so take a moment to list those out.

What, if anything, are you struggling to understand or apply regarding excellence?