Spring & Easter Christian Yoga Class Outlines
We’re pleased to offer four new Christian yoga class outline perfect for the Easter season and spring renewal:
You can see more themed and holiday class outlines in our 24 Christian Yoga Class Outlines (2 per month done for you)
1. From Darkness to Light: A Good Friday Practice
- Focus: Surrender, reflection, and the meaning of Christ’s sacrifice
- Postures of Surrender: Consider kneeling, prone and supine backbending forms, and any supine posture
- Gentle inversions for Postures of Reflection
- Scripture focus: Matthew 27:45-50
- Practice gentle forward folds and heart openers symbolizing submission to God’s will
- Postures of Humility are encouraged: Humble Warrior, kneeling postures
- Closes with candle lighting meditation on Christ’s promise of resurrection
2. Resurrection Joy: Easter Sunday Celebration
- Focus: New life, joy, and the power of Christ’s victory over death
- Postures of Courage, strength and victory; Warrior Postures, Standing and Balancing Postures
- Victory Breath / Breath of Life / Breath of Fire
- Scripture focus: John 20:1-18
- Includes energizing sun/Son salutations representing the rising Son
- Include another powerful pranayama technique
- Culminates in victorious warrior poses embodying Christ’s triumph
3. New Creation: Spring Renewal Practice
- Focus: Personal renewal and transformation in Christ
- Sequence to include a flow that starts small then expands (transforms), such as beginning in fetal position and ending in Reverse Warrior.
- Scripture focus: 2 Corinthians 5:17
- Practice postures that open the heart and lungs to the breath of new life
- Standing, seated, prone and supine heart openers
- Includes guided meditation on areas where God is creating new growth
4. Walking with the Risen Lord: Emmaus Road Experience
- Focus: Recognizing Christ’s presence in our daily journey
- Interoceptive pranayama techniques; Humming Bee, Cooling Breath, etc
- Scripture focus: Luke 24:13-35
- Incorporate walking meditation if possible, or just meditation as well as standing and balancing forms
- Ends with breaking bread communion reflection
- Breaking bread / communion can be replaced by a guided meditation or imagery of communion and breaking bread.
Below is a sample of a sequence you could incorporate into any of the above classes.
Embody the true meaning of Easter with this mini-sequence:
At the Cross Mini-Sequence
This 10-minute sequence can be incorporated into any class during the Easter season or used as a standalone devotional practice:
- Begin in Child’s Pose (surrender)
- Arms extended forward or alongside body
- Prayer focus: “Lord, I lay my burdens at Your feet”
- Rise to Table Top (preparation)
- Strong and stable on hands and knees
- Prayer focus: “Prepare my heart to receive You”
- Extend to Cross Position (from Table Top)
- Extend right arm forward and left leg back
- Hold for 3-5 breaths
- Prayer focus: “Your sacrifice brings me balance”
- Repeat on opposite side
- Heart-Opening Camel Pose (receiving grace)
- Kneeling with gentle backward bend
- Hands on lower back for support
- Prayer focus: “Open my heart to Your love”
- Hold for 3-5 breaths
- Restful Child’s Pose (gratitude)
- Return to Child’s Pose
- Prayer focus: “Thank you for Your perfect gift”
- Rest for 5-7 breaths
Scripture to accompany this sequence: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8
This mini sequence combines gentle, accessible movement with resurrection-focused breath prayers to create a deeply meaningful practice.
- Theological Foundation: Each pose intentionally connects to a part of the resurrection story—from the stillness of the tomb to the victory of new life.
- Breath Prayer Integration: The breath prayers use simple, powerful phrases that can be easily remembered and synchronized with the breath. Each prayer connects directly to the theological meaning of the corresponding pose.
- Accessibility: The sequence is designed to be accessible for most practitioners, with options to modify as needed (keeping knee down in lunges, softer expressions of poses).
- Timing: At approximately 15 minutes, this can be:
- Added to the beginning or end of a longer class
- Used as a standalone devotional practice
- Incorporated into Easter morning worship services
- Taught in small group settings
- Scripture Connection: The sequence begins and ends with resurrection scriptures, grounding the physical practice in biblical truth.
This mini sequence would work beautifully during the Easter season but could also be used year-round to help practitioners embody the resurrection power available to believers through Christ.
Resurrection Mini Sequence: Rising with Christ
Introduction
This 15-minute mini sequence celebrates Christ’s resurrection through mindful movement paired with breath prayers. Each pose creates a physical embodiment of resurrection themes—emergence, transformation, and new life—while the breath prayers connect our physical practice to Christ’s victory over death.
Opening Meditation (2 minutes)
Begin seated in a comfortable position, hands resting on thighs, palms facing upward in receptivity.
Breath Prayer:
- Inhale: “Christ is risen”
- Exhale: “He is risen indeed”
Repeat for 8-10 breath cycles, allowing the reality of resurrection to settle into your body and spirit.
Scripture Focus: “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” (Matthew 28:6)
The Sequence
1. Child’s Pose: The Tomb (1 minute)
- Kneel and fold forward, arms extended or alongside body
- Forehead resting on mat, eyes closed
- Body still, symbolizing Christ in the tomb
Breath Prayer:
- Inhale: “In darkness I wait”
- Exhale: “For Your light to come”
2. Table Top to Downward Dog: The Stone Rolled Away (1-2 minutes)
- Rise to hands and knees
- Tuck toes and lift hips to Downward Dog
- Feel the opening and movement as the stone is rolled away
Breath Prayer:
- Inhale in Table Top: “The stone”
- Exhale to Downward Dog: “Is rolled away”
3. Low Lunge with Heart Opener: Emerging from Death (1 minute each side)
- From Downward Dog, step right foot forward between hands
- Keep back knee down for stability
- Gently lift chest and raise arms overhead
- Option to add gentle backbend, symbolizing emergence from the tomb
Breath Prayer:
- Inhale and lift: “From death”
- Exhale and open heart: “To life”
Repeat on second side.
Transition from Low Lunge into Warrior One, into:
4. Warrior 2: Resurrection Power (1 minute each side)
- From Low Lunge, pivot back heel down
- Straighten back leg and open hips to side
- Extend arms parallel to floor
- Gaze over front fingertips, embodying Christ’s victory
Breath Prayer:
- Inhale: “Your power”
- Exhale: “Raises me”
Repeat on second side.
5. Mountain Pose with Rising Arms: Ascension (1 minute)
- Stand tall at front of mat
- Ground through feet
- On inhale, raise arms overhead
- On exhale, lower hands to heart center
- Repeat 3-5 times
Breath Prayer:
- Inhale and raise arms: “I rise with Christ”
- Exhale hands to heart: “He lives in me”
6. Standing Forward Fold: Humble Gratitude (1 minute)
- From Mountain Pose, fold forward with soft knees
- Let head hang heavy, surrendering in gratitude
- Feel weight release through crown of head
Breath Prayer:
- Inhale: “By Your grace”
- Exhale: “I am saved”
Transition to bending the knees into Table Top, Pause for a couple of Cat – Cows if needed, Lie on the back into Legs Up the Wall.
7. Reclined Spinal Twist: Transformed Life (1 minute each side)
- From Legs up the Wall
- Draw knees to chest
- Extend arms in T-position or Cactus arms
- Gently lower knees to right, then left
- Allow spine to receive the twist as symbol of transformation
Breath Prayer:
- Inhale center: “Make me new”
- Exhale to twist: “In Your image”
8. Savasana with Cross Visualization: Resting in Victory (3 minutes)
- Lie flat on back, arms slightly away from body, palms up
- Legs extended, feet relaxed outward
- Visualize yourself resting in the shadow of the empty cross
- Feel the victory of resurrection flowing through your body
Breath Prayer:
- Inhale: “The victory is won”
- Exhale: “I rest in Your peace”
Closing Prayer (1 minute)
Return to seated position, hands at heart center.
“Risen Lord, thank You for the gift of resurrection power that lives within me. May my body be a testament to Your victory over death. As I rise from this practice, help me to walk in the newness of life You’ve given me. Let each breath remind me that Your Spirit dwells within me, bringing life to every part of my being. In Your holy name, Amen.”
Scripture to Carry: “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)