Personal Study , LDS in the world
3 min read
In the tranquil interior of a Hindu temple, Wendy Cullum rests in the final pose of her yoga class. With her eyes closed, she focuses on letting go of worries and drawing closer to God.
Wendy, like other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has found in yoga a tool that not only improves her physical health, but also her spiritual life.
Although yoga has roots in India, its practice in Utah has grown among those seeking inner connection without abandoning their Christian faith.
“When I relax in silence and think about Him, I feel that I trust God more.”
She is not alone. Many Latter-day Saints incorporate practices such as meditation, mindful breathing, and yoga into their daily spiritual routine. For them, these disciplines do not compete with their faith, but rather complement it.
A new way to connect with the divine
Philip McLemore began practicing yoga after a spinal injury. He discovered not only physical relief but also a new spiritual dimension. For years he taught meditation to other members of his faith and says these practices made him more compassionate.
A reading in the New Testament profoundly affected him: Matthew 11:28–30, where Christ invites us to take his yoke. The word “yoke”—which in its linguistic root is related to “yoga”—speaks of union.
For McLemore, this idea of union between body, soul and God is the heart of both yoga and the gospel.
Today he meditates before a small altar in his studio, with a figure of Christ in a contemplative pose. There he feels that his two worlds meet.
LeAnne Tolley, a member of the Church and a yoga teacher, began her practice after an injury prevented her from continuing to train. Over time, she discovered that yoga offered her more than physical movement: it taught her to reconcile with her body.
“My faith teaches that God has a glorified body. Being like Him involves taking care of both the spirit and the body.”
For LeAnne, many forms of Western spirituality separate the physical from the spiritual, but her faith—and her experience with yoga—have shown her that the two are deeply intertwined.
Although she has faced criticism from those who don't understand this connection, she states with conviction: “What I have learned through yoga has only strengthened my testimony. I keep what builds my faith.”
Spirituality beyond the formal
Naomi Watkins distanced herself from the Church several years ago, but found in yoga a way to heal and reconnect with herself. After years of feeling that her body had no place within her religious experience, yoga offered her a path to reclaim her inner voice.
Through breathing techniques and mindfulness, she managed to calm the mental noise and rediscover her intuition.
“My body speaks to me. It warns me before my mind does. And for the first time, I listen to it.”
For Naomi, yoga did not replace a religion, but became her way of connecting with the divine from within.
Thomas McConkie left the Church in his teens. Two decades later, exploring paths of deep meditation, he felt a calling to return to his roots. Inspired by early Christian contemplative traditions, he founded a meditation community in Salt Lake City.
“Our doctrine teaches that all of creation is composed of divine light. These practices help to awaken that light within us.”
For many Latter-day Saints, yoga and meditation are not just wellness trends, but tools that help them live with more intention, more connection, and more faith.
resorce Associated Press
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