A friend from TOPS follows this program, which when I joined I agreed not to share. During the exercise chatter, the instructor stressed the "mind and body" connection. Guess who I thought of.
St. Dominic.
St. Dominic has nine ways of prayer because he also saw the mind and body connection.
(1) Kneeling. Think of praying to your God. The only way to approach your Creator is on your knees.
(2) Prostrate on the ground. You humble yourself as low as you can by stretching out on the floor.
(3) Offer Penances. In Dominic's day, some people whipped themselves in imitation of Jesus being scourged at the pillar. Nowadays the very idea is abhorrent. I offer a penance instead.
(4) Eucharistic Adoration.
(5) Orans position.
(6) Praying hands stretched up as high as you can.
(7) Lectio Divina.
(8) Walking while meditating, singing, and praying.
(9) Bowing, kneeling, genuflecting.
See the connection between the body expressing reverence to God. The mind uses the body to express worship.
