While movement is so good for you, so is rest!  And I’m guessing you don’t have that on your to-do list or in your planner.  But slowing down, savoring the moment, stretching our bodies, and breathing deeply are all critical to our health. Especially during the crazy holidays!

Check out Revelation Wellness’ podcast and play a ‘Be Still & Be Loved’ episode.  Play either of the videos linked below from Holy Barre’s YouTube channel. Attend a Flex & Flow class at All Fit Collective. Or just turn on some slow worship music and either stretch or lay.  Fill your lungs with His breath and rest that good body He’s given you!

Okay, you might feel like you’re with your kids a lot. But in the hustle and bustle of class parties, schedule planning, carpooling, meal making, gift wrapping, and sports activities, how much genuine connection is occurring?

Let’s make some time to date your kiddo. Put the phones away, and connect with each of your kids during this holiday season. Maybe you schedule actual dates or maybe it’s more organic during times you’re home together. Our kids have lots on their hearts and minds too during this season . . . let’s not miss it! It’ll be valuable to everyone’s health and wellness!

Read the verses listed in the image for more truth.

This week we’ve focused on worship through our YouVersion Bible reading plan and barre workout together. While our worship can encompass so much of our lives and our relationship with the Lord and others, let’s focus on John 4:22-24 when Jesus speaks with the women at the well about what is to come. The NLT version might sound more familiar, but I love how Christ’s words are presented in The Message translation.

“But the time is coming—it has, in fact, come—when what you’re called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter. It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.” – Jesus

John 4:23-24 MSG

What freedom Jesus provides in that we can worship and connect with Him anywhere at any time! We can worship Him in any season and give Him all our emotions and experiences – the good, the bad, and the ugly! All He desires is that we bring Him our true selves, our spirit and soul, our heart and mind, engaged in His truth.

This beautifully ties to the Armor of God with the first piece being the belt of truth. Through Holy Barre, we keep our core engaged with the belt of truth wrapped tightly around our waist. We chose daily to worship and be ready for battle.

If worship is incorporated in all we do, what does that look like? How can we worship in spirit and truth at home? at work? in our marriage? in our parenting? as we run errands or do chores? in our friendships? in our church? in Holy Barre?

We get to dance to the rhythms of His grace while we stand firmly on holy ground! We worship in joy, peace, pain, frustration, love . . . because of and founded in the Spirit and Truth of Jesus! Join us as we workout and worship and burn bright in Spirit and Truth together!

Let’s keep this simple – eat more of what would have been in the Garden of Eden. 

We are blessed to have SO MANY food and drinks options available to us!  Yet many have been processed and dyed and restructured in ways that don’t fuel our body well.  And honestly just end up as junk in your trunk!

Enjoy the fun treats of the season, but when given a choice, go with natural, simple foods.  Like stuff that will go bad in five days. Like farm to table stuff.  Fresh fruits, veggies, grains, honey, nuts, etc.  

You’ll feel so much better keeping things fresh and simple!  And your body will be more ready to handle the delicious warm apple pie with homemade vanilla ice cream that your aunt always brings for Thanksgiving.

Take some time to look up the scriptures referenced in the image below . . . these words are sweeter than honey. 😉

Want to know an easy way to release stress and feel refreshed?  Get outside!  Sunshine, fresh air, and movement are so good for you – body, heart, soul, and mind! 

Go on a walk, go watch a football or soccer game, play some pickle ball, sit on your back porch, grab a bike and go, hike and observe the changing colors of leaves . . . just get outside! 

You can thank me later! Or more importantly, thank the Lord for His beautiful creation, which includes you!  Check out the scriptures in the image above too!

Ya’ll ready for battle? You realize the enemy would love to cause disunity among groups of people during this holiday time, right? Marriages are an obvious example. Next would be relationships with kids. Maybe big families. Neighborhoods. Communities. Groups of friends.

Good news! We can be armed and dangerous! Put on the full armor of God! Reflect on your physical posture. Your mental posture. The posture of your heart. And your spiritual posture. Engage that core and wrap that belt of Truth around your waist! Hold up that shield of faith and keep the sword of the Spirit held high! The gospel of peace keeps up marching forward. Our hearts stays guided with the breastplate of righteousness. And we chose, every single day, to put on that helmet of salvation as the battlefield of the mind can be intense.

Go ahead, Beautiful Soldier! Read the scriptures in the image and let’s get ready!

So here’s the deal – go ahead and put some date nights on your calendar.  Before you start filling the nights up with holiday events and social gatherings, make it a point to have time with just your spouse over the next two months.  It can be an evening date, a Saturday morning one, or maybe a weekday afternoon while the kids are in school.

It’s easy to lose a connection in marriage during the holidays as you navigate busy schedules, family dynamics, and end of year work projects. 

Let’s be proactive and pursue each other intentionally.  Grab your partner and read the Bible verses in this image together.

As the seasons change and the temps drop, we’re more likely to get dehydrated and experience dry skin and lips. Plus all the rich food and drinks can dehydrate our bodies. So keep a water cup near all day and make a point to drink up! We’ll feel so much better! Plus, when our water intake is consistent, our snacking and overindulging are less frequent.

More importantly, drink on the Living Water, which truly refreshes the thirsty soul!  Go look up and drink up the verses in the image above! 

Don’t make exercise a chore this season! Move in love and let working out energize you!  

It is so good for your health and wellness to move your body in big ways, activate your muscles, and bump up your heart rate a bit. But let’s not make it complicated or stressfull!

Grab some friends or family to go on a walk. Plan a scavenger hunt with the little ones in your life. Go to a fitness class that makes you sweat and smile! Take rest days and just stretch it all out. Watch your Hallmark movies while on a treadmill or bike. Check out RevWell.tv’s website or Holy Barre on YouTube for fun, free, faith-filled fitness. 

But first, look up these scripture references listed in the image . . . what if fitness was just a way to get God’s breath in our lungs!?

We’re kicking off Holiday Health & Wellness with Holy Barre! Let’s burn bright in this season of fun celebrations and full schedules!

First up, stay comfy! While the stylish and cool outfits may look good, feeling good is way better!

Now we all enjoy dressing up in a festive new outfit, and there’s nothing wrong with that! I’m talking about the day-to-day activities. And I don’t know about you, but tight jeans and shoes with no support do not help my mood as the day goes on!

All this might sound trivial but just try it a few days – put on the jeggings, the athletic shoes, the comfy bra, and the loose shirt, and tell me how you feel at the end of the day. And then notice how that impacts your ability to love well and serve and savor the season!

Ultimately though, we want to be founded in His truth! So look up those scripture references in the image above. Let’s be clothed in dignity and strength, not worrying about what we wear, running freely with endurance, and living in His radiance rather than shame from clothes getting tighter as we move.

PS – Looking for a comfy and cute sweatshirt! The Radiant one in the pic is available at All Fit Collective in Edmond. Or contact us, and we’ll mail you one!