My name is Felicia Evans (nickname Felicity). I graduated from the Yoga Abbey and am a certified 200 hrs Christian Yoga Teacher. I have been doing Christian yoga (which I refer to as Prayer and Movement to avoid any confusion with what Hindus do when they practice yoga) myself for over 10 years as a way of relieving stress and drawing close to Jesus. It is such a joy for me to share these beautiful practices with others.
I also studied ballet under Robert Ivy at the College of Charleston and have taught fairy tale ballet for Once Upon a Ballet and Barre Nation. I love teaching girls about their identity as real princesses, the daughters of the One True King.
Feel free to contact me with any questions: Hope.fire7@gmail.com
About the Name
When looking for a name, I always knew that I wanted to include “sanctuary”. To me, it invokes the feeling of safety in its most beautiful form: whether in a light filled cathedral, a parent’s hug or in the freedom to allow your muscles to gently let go and soften in a prayer and movement session.
Eden. This is such a rich and layered word for me. For years it felt so bittersweet: a majestic garden where Adam and Eve walked with God, forever closed off to us because of the Fall. This idea began to shift when I talking to my friend Camille Soltani Icely who richly explores Edenic concepts in her art, poetry and yoga practice. The Eden she speaks of moves and breathes and has new life. (I love all of her work and recommend her new book of art and poetry called “The Journey Within” https://www.sarahcamilleart.com .)
It made me wonder, could Eden truly be redeemed on this Earth? Unexpectedly, I got the answer when listening to a favorite author named John Elderedge talking about excerpts from his book “Resilient”(also a wonderful recommendation if you want to explore this idea more fully).
I began to see that God has been restoring Eden and our relationship of being able to be close to Him, to “walk with Him in the garden”(Genesis) ever since he instructed the Israelites to build the Tabernacle, and in some ways, even before that. But, specifically the Tabernacle and the Temple were places set aside to meet with Him and adorned with features that point back to Eden. Then in the New Testament, when Jesus as the Holy Spirit comes to live in our hearts, He sets up a tabernacle there as a “new outpost of Eden” in every believer.
One day, the ultimate redemption of Eden will come and be centered around the Tree of Life mentioned again in Revelation, but for now, we have this amazing opportunity to “walk with God” in the Eden sanctuary of our hearts.*
My hope is that these practices will be more than just exercise. My hope is that they help you integrate your whole self in pursuit of this wonderful goal: That you might make space to dwell with God each day, as sons and daughters of the One True King.
*If you are interested in further exploring Christian contemplative spirituality, with practices dating all the way back to the early 4th century AD, here is a list of authors to start with: St. Ignatius of Loyola, Thomas Merton, John Cassian, John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, Hildegard von Bingen, Julian of Norwich, John Donne, John Mark Comer, and Aundi Kolber, just to name a few.
One consideration to always remember when exploring Christian prayer and movement:
“What makes a particular practice Christian is not its source, but its intent. If our intent in assuming a particular bodily practice is to deepen our awareness of Christ, then it’s Christian. If it is not our intent, then, even the reading of scriptures loses its authenticity.” (Tilden Edwards, “Living in the Presence”)
My example here would be a Christmas tree. Not many people know that a Christmas tree originated with the druids. They were pagans who brought trees into their houses to symbolize fertility and everlasting life. Christians later adopted this practice to celebrate the birth of Christ.
I highly recommend exploring Christian stretching and contemplation. Again, it’s been a beautiful way of deepening my relationship with Jesus, and I would love to share the gift with you as well.
The Eden Sanctuary 