While theologians caution against yoga as a spiritual meditation, SoulCore instead keeps focus on Jesus, Mary, organizers say

ROYAL OAK — Hands and knees on the mat, extending the right arm forward, left leg back. Hold the position, tighten your stomach, breathe.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. ...

At the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak, it's not yoga. It's SoulCore. 

SoulCore is a series of movement exercises that incorporate the mysteries of the rosary, giving participants the opportunity to contemplate Mary’s life and fidelity in body and spirit.

The national ministry has classes across the country, including one at the Royal Oak basilica, the only parish in the Archdiocese of Detroit that offers the Marian-inspired exercise.

“SoulCore is a floor mat exercise movement, combining the prayers of the rosary with the core exercises — pushups, side planks, sit ups — while praying the rosary,” said Sue Niehaus, one of three SoulCore leaders at the parish. “We have a candlelit room and soft music playing during the exercise; it’s a quiet, relaxing way to pray the rosary, a beautifully meditative prayer.”

While Catholic theologians caution against the use of yoga as a spiritual meditation, given its connection to Eastern spiritual practices incompatible with the faith, Niehaus says SoulCore instead keeps the focus on Jesus and Mary.

“There were some different reactions when I brought up SoulCore, but the parish clergy looked into the information,” Niehaus said. “The founder of SoulCore has a brother who is a priest, and the focus of the SoulCore program is about doing movements with the rosary. It’s all focused on prayer with exercise as a benefit. Some question whether yoga leads people away from the Church, but this is about praying the rosary, leading people to Christ.”

Shrine has been hosting SoulCore in the parish’s auxiliary building for three years now, offering classes on Tuesdays at 6 a.m. and Thursdays at 7 p.m., along with a gentle course for seniors at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays.

Niehaus said anywhere from 10 to 20 people come to each class, with as many as 300 people trying it at least once. People bring their own floor mat, and the group says a quick opening prayer before turning on relaxing, meditative music and lowering the lights.

Niehaus or one of the other instructors then leads the group in the rosary, with each prayer corresponding with a different exercise.

After proclaiming the mystery, the instructor reads a short reflection on the mystery and then the group begins pushups during the Our Father. Niehaus says the first half of the Our Father, and then participants silently pray the rest. After the Our Father, the group moves on to the 10 Hail Marys, switching exercises for each of the recitations. After that, participants hold a yoga “Surrender” position for the Glory Be.

Niehaus and other exercise enthusiasts brought SoulCore to Shrine three years ago after she helped coordinate a 5K as a fundraiser for the parish and school’s athletic department. After hearing adults wanted an exercise that incorporated the faith, Niehaus discovered SoulCore.

Shrine parishioner Joanne York started SoulCore at Niehaus’ urging, and because she was looking for an excuse to exercise. Since she started, she’s discovered a new appreciation for the rosary.

“SoulCore brings a new aspect to the rosary; it’s something different each week,” York said. “Sometimes the focus is more on the exercise, sometimes it’s more on the prayer, and sometimes they just melt together, as you find the strength to continue the exercise.”

During the exercises, participants go at their own pace, with the focus on maintaining a calm, meditative state during the prayers.

“This made me say the rosary at home much more than I used to,” York said. “When Sue teaches the class, her soothing voice really brings a sense of reflection, and now when I have a time by myself at home or in the car, I think of those reflections and try to sneak in a decade.

“I definitely focus on Mary and the rosary much more than I ever did when I’m by myself,” York added. “It’s like two birds with one stone, getting a great exercise while praying the rosary all at once.”

During the summer months, Niehaus reports there is a wide range of participants, from high school students to senior citizens.

“I think one of the most wonderful things I’ve seen is the connection of a wide range of people, from high schoolers and college kids to a group of elderly people who are searching for a soul connection, a physical connection,” Niehaus said. “In evening classes, people in their teens up to people in their 70s are there, making these bonds. Where else would they be crossing paths?”

St. Patrick Parish in Brighton and St. Thomas Parish in Ann Arbor, both of the Diocese of Lansing, are the only other Michigan parishes that offer SoulCore, but on Oct. 10, Shrine will host a discovery retreat for parish leaders who might be interested in bringing a SoulCore program to their parish.

Polly Shea of crosstown parish St. Mary in Royal Oak, said SoulCore has opened up a new apprecation for praying the rosary.

“I never did yoga or workouts in a prayerful mode before,” Shea said. “I like the way it is formatted in a prayerful way. It’s a way of being more with God and Jesus in a quiet atmosphere. When you’re praying while doing the exercises, you feel more confident, more at peace. I don’t say the rosary that often, but this is a nice way to say the rosary once a week.”

Niehaus said for many SoulCore participants, the weekly class is their only chance for exercise, and a regular opportunity to pray the rosary.

“I think we find over and over again, people already are doing some form of workout or are already praying the rosary, and this is a chance to incorporate both,” Niehaus said. “For those beginning to find the rosary in their prayer life, this is an easy way to integrate it. It flows well for most people, to empty their mind and open themselves to Christ.”