The essential practice of Body Prayer

Last updated on: July 22, 2013 at 12:37 pm by Teresa Blythe

The essential practice of Body Prayer 2013-07-22T12:37:33-08:00 Teresa Blythe

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A body prayer is any prayer that incorporates movement. It can be as simple as taking a walk with the intention that your every step be a prayer. The most popular form of body prayer today is yoga. Combining breath and movement with the intention of connecting with the source of life is a powerful form of prayer.

Spiritual directors frequently suggest body prayers for people who are particularly drawn to kinesthetic experience. If someone tells me they pray best when they are running or exercising, then I know body prayer will be important for this person. They are also good for people who are having trouble feeling “grounded” or fully present in their bodies.

Another popular body prayer is walking the labyrinth. A labyrinth is a pathway on the ground in which the path in is the same as the path out from the center, symbolizing the spiritual or life journey. Labyrinths are found all over the world, with the most famous being the one at the Cathedral at Chartres in France. There are hundreds of varieties of configurations of labyrinths. I even found a square one that someone had created in a desert wash near my home!

There are many ways to pray with the labyrinth and quite a few books on how to do this. I’ll share with you a traditional model for walking the labyrinth.

Stand at the entrance of the labyrinth and take a few moments to open yourself to God’s presence. Ask for greater awareness of God as you walk this labyrinth.
While walking around the labyrinth on the way in, reflect on ways you might let go of all that is weighing you down along your spiritual journey. This is traditionally called the way of Purgation.
When you reach the center, stop and linger as you continue to pray. Be fully present to the moment in God. You may sit, kneel or stand. This is called the way of Illumination.
As you walk the winding path out of the labyrinth, reflect on your life and how your spiritual journey connects with the wider world. This is a time to integrate the wisdom you received while praying your way into the labyrinth, letting go of burdens and weights, and the time spent with God in the center. This is the way of Union with God.
Pause again at the end (which is where you began this journey) to express your gratitude to God for the journey.

If you want to do this prayer practice but aren’t sure where to find a labyrinth, begin by doing an internet search for labyrinths in your area. Many churches and retreat centers have them painted or constructed outdoors on their campus and are delighted to have people come and walk the path most any time during the day. Some are even built wide and smooth enough for a person in a wheelchair to navigate. Another option for an all-weather labyrinth experience is a finger labyrinth—a wooden or paper representation of a path that you “walk” with a finger.

Body prayers are wonderful ways to experience God in motion. Keep a journal of your labyrinth experiences and share them with your spiritual director.

For more about spiritual direction as I practice it, check out my website. If you have questions or comments about the content of Spiritual Direction 101, please let me hear from you in the reply section below.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

July 12, 2013

The essential practice of the Breath Prayer

Next Post

July 26, 2013 The essential practice of Radical Acceptance

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent angels Anne Lamott Christmas church leadership clergy contemplation contemplative Christianity Desert Fathers and Mothers discernment election evangelicalism faith freedom guru healing interfaith dialogue Lent love Martin Luther King Jr media mind body spirit mystic Nativity nature new year's resolutions parables peace pluralism prayer prayer practices religious diversity resurrection Rules for Prayer Rumi saints sexual abuse spirit spiritual direction spiritual discernment spiritual mentor spiritual path spirituality stewardship Super Bowl terrorism theology transgender Uncategorized violence visioning vocation

Select a Month February 2026 December 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 June 2024 May 2024 March 2024 February 2024 December 2023 July 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 September 2022 August 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 October 2021 September 2021 July 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz