An Important update
This message is to let you know that the self-supporting ecumenical Fresh Expression known as Maranatha Yoga Cumbria and Maranatha Yoga UK is coming to an end. Each one of the 4 team leaders has prayerfully discerned that this is the right time to close.
Having led her last regular in person class in Kendal in December 2024, Christine Pickering, founder of Maranatha Yoga, has decided to step down from regular classes to focus on facilitating one off sessions.
Rev’d Steve Carter and Rev Pauline Steenbergen have been facilitating Maranatha Yoga UK wide on Zoom and nationally at workshops, gatherings and festivals since April 2020 and feel it is time to let go of MYUK as a pioneer ministry and mission. Rev’d Steve Carter continues to help congregations in interregnums in the North of the Diocese and he is in the ministry team in Belah and Stanwix in Carlisle. Rev Pauline Steenbergen continues to actively pioneer as a self-employed Christian teaching yoga, relaxation and meditation in North Cumbria.
Thanks are due to the Diocese of Carlisle, particularly Richard Passmore the Northern Mission Director, on behalf of the ones who have come to faith, found authentic belonging, grown as disciples or developed/trained as pioneer yoga teachers in their own context as a result of Maranatha Yoga. MYUK formed a unique niche over the years. God has achieved beautiful transformations through this intersection of yoga and Christian spirituality.
Therefore this website will close at the end of March. All enquiries about Maranatha Yoga can temporarily be emailed to nmc@carlislediocese.org.uk.
Pauline can be contacted via www.limegreenyogi.co.uk
Pauline, Steve and Una Bentley are leading an Embody Lent retreat in Iona Abbey from 5 -11 April 2025. See www.iona.org.uk for details and bookings.
To contact Christine Pickering about any one off Maranatha Yoga sessions, please email founder.maranathayogacumbria@gmail.com. On the 1st July 2025 Christine is facilitating a Maranatha Yoga Quiet Day event at Whalley Abbey to fine out more please visit here.
Maranatha Yoga UK, made in Cumbria, is at the intersection of classical Hatha Yoga practice and Christian spirituality. The purpose of this is to bring our body, mind and spirit into complete unity as a preparation for prayer and meditation. Participants in Maranatha Yoga gatherings say that their experience of oneness with God and Christian unity is made more real by:
- gentle stretching to calm the central nervous system
- breath awareness practices
- using tools to settle mental distractions and develop concentration skills e.g the simple mantra, Maranatha, used to focus and still the mind. This is the mantra used by The World Community for Christian Meditation (wccm.org). Maranatha is an Aramaic phrase meaning ‘Come Lord’.
- recognising that our bodies are temples to encounter the real presence of Jesus.
Maranatha Yoga UK is an ecumenical community of Christians practicing Yoga, who connect in a WhatsApp group and receive a quarterly Mailchimp e-newsletter. To join contact us.
Roots
Find us in the context of self supporting Pioneer Ministers, Cumbria Fresh Expressions in the Diocese of Carlisle, Cumbria, UK:
Diocese of Carlisle: carlislediocese.org.uk
God for All Cumbria: godforall.org.uk
Fresh Expressions UK: freshexpressions.org.uk
Further Information
Maranatha Yoga Cumbria was founded and developed by Christine Pickering who has been a practitioner of Hatha Yoga for over 40 years, a trainer of yoga teachers, a trained Spiritual Director and a member of The World Community for Christian Meditation.
The book ‘Maranatha Yoga’ has been developed by the author through the experience of teaching yoga for over 30 years. The physicality of the postures with the mindful, meditative qualities of the Christian reflections allow the participant to connect with their whole selves and to be at one with Christ.
For the seeker, the curious, the disciple and the teacher