Surrender Novena
Learn to let go and discover the serenity you desire with the Surrender Novena Series. So call to mind your intentions, and get ready for an incredible 9-day journey to peace.
Begin your 9-day journey to peace with this slow, steady, and mindful 39-minute workout. Ease into the class by coming into a comfortable cross-legged seated position where you will focus on your breath, thoughts of gratitude, and being present to God. Tekla's calm, gentle voice will lead you through a series of feel-good stretches to warm up your body and release any tension you may be holding in your neck or back. Then you'll transition to a plank and chest lift series to work your entire core, shoulders, chest, and glutes. Build strength in your legs with side lunges, Lunge 2, reverse Lunge 2, side reach, calf raises, and a full squat. As you lie in reclined inner thigh stretch for the long hold, allow the words of the Surrender Novena prayer to sink into your heart, mind, and soul. The Scriptures throughout the class will awaken in you a spirit of trust in God, and the meditation during the final resting pose will invite you to place your anxiety and stress in Jesus' loving arms.
Surrender Novena Day 1
Surrender, J'abandonne tout, Alles überlasse ich Jesus, by Francesca LaRosa (www.francescalarosa.com), Resurrexi-Introit, by The Nobertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey (www.stmichaelsabbey.com)
The hardest part of anything is getting started, so congratulations—you've made it to Day 2 of the Surrender Novena Series! You will begin this 40-minute class lying on your back, practicing deep breathing to calm your mind and nervous system. After a full body stretch, you'll fire up your core with a series of bicycle variations. Roll up to seated and bring your legs wide for side bends and twists to loosen up your back. Then it's right back to more core work with seated twists, swan dives, planks, rolling, a challenging lifted leg and more. After engaging your abs, glutes, and quads throughout the whole workout, sitting back into rock for the long hold will feel heavenly. The Scriptures, meditation, and Surrender Novena prayer will ease your worried thoughts and invite you to turn to Jesus throughout the day, allowing Him to take care of everything.
Surrender Novena Day 2
Surrender Novena, by Francesca LaRosa (www.francescalarosa.com), MISSA IN Die-Gradual, by The Nobertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey (www.stmichaelsabbey.com)
Building upon the postures and prayers of the first two workouts in the Surrender Novena Series, this 43-minute class picks up the pace, challenges your balance, and takes you deeper—physically, mentally, and spiritually. After calming your mind and nervous system with deep breathing and warming up all your joints, you will move right into three dynamic flows that get your heart pumping and incorporate lunges, planks, elevated chest lifts, squats, and more. Then come to posture pose and work on your balance to fire up your glutes and quads. As you round forward in inner thigh stretch for the long hold, allow the words of the Surrender Novena prayer to fill your entire being and fill you with tranquility. The Scriptures throughout the workout will help you open your heart to God, and the meditation during the final resting pose invites you to do something today—such as surrendering everything to Jesus—to show your love for Him.
Surrender Novena Day 3
Surrender, J'abandonne tout, Alles überlasse ich Jesus, by Francesca LaRosa (www.francescalarosa.com), Anima mea-Antiphon, by The Nobertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey (www.stmichaelsabbey.com)
Give your legs a little love in this simple 34-minute class. After calming your mind and warming up your body with deep breathing and stretches that release tension in your head, neck, and shoulders, perform a series of calf raises, one-leg balance poses, and standing leg lifts. Take a quick break to stretch your sides and shoulders and open up your chest, and then move right into the main flow of the workout to stretch and strengthen your entire body. After repeating that flow three times on each side, transition to wide-leg posture for a forward fold and then heel-toe your feet in for a squat. Gracefully come down to the mat for more leg lifts and a quad stretch before pushing back to rock pose for the long hold. As you listen to the prayer for Day 4 of the Surrender Novena, allow the words to sink into your heart and encourage you to bring your worries to the Lord. Slowly move onto your back for a few wind-down stretches and one last twist, and then relax all your muscles as you turn your gaze to God during the resolution.
Surrender Novena Day 4
Surrender Novena, by Francesca LaRosa (www.francescalarosa.com), Missa in Aurora, by The Nobertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey (www.stmichaelsabbey.com)
Making sure you engage in some kind of physical activity every day is so good for your overall health and well-being. In addition to the many physical benefits, exercise helps reduce stress—and so does praying the Surrender Novena, making this series an effective way to overcome your big and little struggles. The beautiful music, tension-relieving stretches, familiar postures, and encouraging meditations in the Surrender Novena Series Day 5 workout will calm your mind, energize your body, and lift your soul. Surrender everything to God as you roll, lunge, and move your way to peace.
Surrender Novena Day 5
Surrender, J'abandonne tout, Alles überlasse ich Jesus, by Francesca LaRosa (www.francescalarosa.com), Granual Requiem, by The Nobertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey (www.stmichaelsabbey.com)
Kudos to you for sticking with the Surrender Novena Series for five days in a row! You've worked hard—physically, mentally, and spiritually—to build strength and surrender yourself into God's loving arms. That's why Day 6 of this series is a slow, 31-minute workout that will help you mindfully move your body without overdoing it. As you focus on increasing flexibility and mobility in your neck, chest, shoulders, back, and hips, allow yourself to release any tension you may be holding in your body and relax your grip on the things in your life you desire to control. By the time you come to kneeling for the final prayer, you'll be ready to head into the rest of your day with more grace, mercy, and serenity.
Surrender Novena Day 6
Surrender Novena, by Francesca LaRosa (www.francescalarosa.com), Missa in Nocte-offertory, by The Nobertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey (www.stmichaelsabbey.com)
Your body should be feeling good and ready to move after yesterday's easier Day 6 workout. Begin this 34-minute class lying on your back, practicing deep belly breathing, focusing on gratitude, and calling to mind your intentions for this novena. When you're ready, warm up with a full-body stretch before rolling up to seated to stretch your triceps, sides, and back. Briefly come to hands and knees and then transition to pike, pedaling your feet to loosen up the backside of your body. Flow into low lunge and shift your weight back to stretch your hamstring before coming to plank elevated chest lift on toes. Briefly work on your balance and open up your hip with a quad stretch, and then move right into your second flow: low lunge with a twist, high lunge with pulses, and a plank. Open up your hips with knee stack, making modifications if necessary, and then extend your legs in seated engaged for the long hold. The Scriptures, prayers, and meditations throughout this workout will remind you that Jesus still performs miracles today and invite you to ask God for help with whatever is troubling you.
Surrender Novena Day 7
Surrender, J'abandonne tout, Alles überlasse ich Jesus, by Francesca LaRosa (www.francescalarosa.com), Missa in Die-Introit, by The Nobertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey (www.stmichaelsabbey.com)
Stretch the sides of your body and strengthen your back with the second to last workout of the Surrender Novena Series. You will begin this 37-minute Level 1 class in a comfortable cross-legged seated position, focusing on your breath, thoughts of gratitude, and placing yourself in God's presence. Warm-up with a series of stretches, bends, and safe twists that loosen any tightness or tension you may holding in your neck, shoulders, hips, and lower back. In the workout portion of the class, you can look forward to a standing backbend, low lunges, a full squat, calf raises, head and chest lifts, and other dynamic moves to hit every major muscle group in your body. Rest in rock pose for the long hold and work your core before winding down and lying back in quiet pose for the Resolution portion of the class. The Scriptures, prayers, and meditations remind you that God is good and trustworthy and invite you to ask for His help and consolation.
Surrender Novena Day 8
Surrender, J'abandonne tout, Alles überlasse ich Jesus, by Francesca LaRosa (www.francescalarosa.com), Qui sunt isti-Responsory, by The Nobertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey (www.stmichaelsabbey.com)
Congratulations on making it to the last workout in the Surrender Novena Series. If there is anything that you are still holding on to—any worries or anxieties, physical stress—place it at Jesus' feet and resolve to let it go by the end of this 45-minute class. As stated in today's prayer, "There is no novena more effective than this." You will begin this Level 1 workout in a comfortable cross-legged seated position, calming your mind and nervous system with deep breathing and thoughts of gratitude. Take a few minutes to warm up your body by easing into stretches and twists that loosen your neck and shoulders, open up your chest, and feel good on your back. Transition to standing for the first flow, which will work your shoulders, arms, back, core, and glutes. Follow that up with lunges and a challenging balance series to strengthen all the muscles in your legs before coming to seated to fire up your abs. As you lie back in reclined inner thigh stretch for the long hold, the words of novena prayer will wash away your fears and fill you with hope. Courageously carry this hope with you for the rest of the day—and your life—and resolve to turn to Jesus whenever you're feeling anxious, saying, "O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything."
The Surrender Novena Day 9
Surrender Novena, by Francesca LaRosa (www.francescalarosa.com), Cantemus, by The Nobertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey (www.stmichaelsabbey.com)