Near the end of her Yoga Development Course in 2013, Sheila Thomsen asked herself in the Little Bridge pose, “What am I bridging?” To her surprise, the answer was a clear “Yoga and Catholicism.” Since then, she uniquely combines the two through teaching Yasodhara Yoga in Catholic contexts.
An important part of my Catholic spirituality is my 25-year connection to the Monastery of St. Gertrude, a community of contemplative Benedictine Nuns in Cottonwood, Idaho. When I visited the monastery after completing the YDC and Yasodhara Hatha Yoga Teacher Training, my spiritual director suggested that I teach yoga there. She recognized that my spiritual understanding had shifted from my head to my heart.
I have since been delighted to offer classes during a weeklong silent retreat and a “Praying with the Body” retreat. I’m looking forward to another silent retreat in June. It will be quite a contrast to my involvement in busy Family Week at the Ashram, which I am equally enthused about!
During this time of bridging, I’ve clearly understood the similarity in the spiritual practices that I learned in yoga and in the Catholic Church. I no longer worry about choosing between two paths. There is really no choice to be made. What I am is a Catholic yogini.
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