This article is also in the Dutch language available.
1. What does Tikva mean?
The word Tikva is a Hebrew word which means ‘hope’ or ‘expectation’. Tikva as a workout is a form of physical exercise and relaxation. It applies calm, muscle-building movements that stimulate blood circulation. The movements are simple and effective: they increase the mobility, improve the breathing, stimulate the blood circulation and improve flexibility and stability. Everybody may participate at their own ability (1).
There are various kinds of exercises, e.g. exercises focused on dynamic and statistic stretch exercises (Tikva stretch); exercises focused on relaxation (Tikva relax) and on mobility workout (Tikva forte) (1).
Tikva is a form of physical exercise and a way of relaxation based on a Christian foundation.
During the workouts, encouraging and edifying Bible texts (e.g. Psalm 23) are read that offer strength and inspiration, because Biblical thoughts can influence our lives positively and for our benefit. Participants don’t need to be Christians to participate in Tikva, but Tikva itself is distinct from other forms of exercise in which non-Christian spiritual beliefs are integrated, such as yoga (1).
During the lesson, soothing music is played that has been composed especially for Tikva (1). After a lesson, there is an opportunity for an interaction with the instructor. Besides, one can adjust the texts according to the audience; so it doesn’t have to be just for Christians (2).
In the Netherlands, there are 30-35 places where you can participate with Tikva. The session lasts half an hour to 45 minutes (2).
2. How did it arise?
The concept of Tikva was created by Mimmi Edin and the techniques of the Tikva workout were developed in Kungsportskyrkan in Huskvarna, Sweden. When Tikva was created, Mimmi was the project manager at a health and fitness center at het local church (1). A couple of years ago Tikva was discovered by Janita Stoorvogel, who works at the Christian sports organization Next Move (2).
Tikva was emerged from Mimmi Edins’ need for wholeness and restoration after she suffered injury from whiplash. During her medical consultations she was advised to take yoga classes, but instead she decided to search for something that wasn’t rooted in non-Biblical beliefs. In cooperation with a physiotherapist, she discovered soothing, invigorating exercises to stimulate the blood circulation, which helped her to recover from her neck injury. While she continued to develop the Tikva concept, other exercises and techniques were added, whereby muscle building, strength and stamina workouts and relaxation were applied in layers. As the concept evolved, she integrated the reading of Bible verses during the Tikva sessions that add strength, truth and meditative elements which help people to make the connection between body, spirit and soul. Tikva inserted later, in cooperation with musician and composer Fredrik Larsson, soothing music that created an atmosphere of inspiration (1).
The concept of Tikva combines three elements:
- Physical exercise
- Biblical truths
- Music
These three elements combined, lead to an exercise of hope for the whole man: in the same order, body, spirit and soul.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNA6fU8fs5s
3. What should we think of it?
Janita Stoorvogel considers Tikva to be a form of exercise and relaxation. “The dynamic exercises will cause your body to relax, which also will relax your mind. The Bible texts that are read during the exercises will cause your thoughts to focus on something positive. It encourages you. I consider it to be a way of exercise that is good for spirit, soul and body” (2). You can link certain exercises to a certain thought. Or vice versa, one can give an expression (a depiction) to a thought or a song with exercise or a dance such as we sometimes see with drama presentations in church services.
Tikva may look similar to Yoga, but it is essentially different. The source of yoga is Hinduism. With Tikva, the source is God and the Bible. Janita Stoorvogel states: “From within yoga one is trying to empty himself and is seeking to find energy within himself or within different things. With Tikva on the contrary, we fill ourselves with the words of God and we focus ourselves on Him. We believe that we are dependent on Him, and that He alone can give us what we need” (2).
Exercises combined with Bible texts such is intended in Tikva, is not necessarily wrong. People should, however, be alert that by repeating a text many times while exercising, it may end up to have the effect of a mantra spell and in that way they lose sight of the context of the Bible text. It can become more than a technique instead of an encounter with God. Therefore, the question is very important by whom the exercises are being led.
Finally, people should consider that a body exercise only acquires its relevance by the context in which the exercise is being offered. Exercises do not only acquire relevance by the actions or movements themselves, but mainly also by which meaning the exercise is given implicitly or explicitly. And in looking for relaxation, not only the exercises are important as such, but also insight in and awareness of possible causes of the tension felt, and/or surrendering this burden to God.
Learning how to deal with tension has much more value throughout the day than only searching for relaxation during the exercise. So it is fine to shake off the tensions, but it is also important to prevent excessive stress. Anyway, there is hope for overstressed people, also through other methods.
4. Literature
- Wat is tikva? Wat is Tikva – Tikva
- Tikva, een vorm van bewegen en ontspannen bij God. https://www.eo.nl/artikel/tikva-een-vorm-van-bewegen-en-ontspannen-bij-god-1
- Nieuw in Nederland: Tikva, bewegen, bezinnen en ontspannen tot Gods eer. https://www.gezondenweldoen.nl/single-post/nieuw-in-nederland-tikva-bewegen-en-ontspannen-tot-gods-eer
- Dick en Daniël geloven het wel, Nederlands Dagblad #120 – Tikva als christelijk alternatief voor yoga? Zo kun je geloven met je lijf. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXoEKOwyh9g
- Janita Stoorvogel, Ontdek een gezond leven met God (Leeuwarden: Sestra, april 2022). ISBN 9789464250275
