Joanna Bisceglio of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Stowe is a student of St. John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body,” and she believes that the health of body, mind, and soul are interconnected.

So she finds SoulCore — a movement born from the desire to nourish body and soul through prayer, core strengthening, and functional movements — the perfect combination as it is centered on the prayers of the rosary. It is an apostolate that intentionally engages the whole person in the sacred experience of the rosary.

“I also love to bring people together in faith and fellowship,” said the SoulCore certified leader

in the parish, adding that her pastor once told her the program is “like evangelization through fitness.”

Her pastor, Father Jon Schnobrich, explained that SoulCore is not “Catholic yoga” but is focused on prayer in and through stretching and exercising the body. “The meditations are focused on the mysteries of the holy rosary and lead the participant into a greater awareness of and the indwelling presence of God we receive in baptism,” he said. “Apart from a good workout for the body, the intention of SoulCore is to glorify God in all things.”

People of all ages and abilities join the 50-minute class at the parish center; they either bring their fitness matt or sit on a chair, depending on their level of personal fitness. “As we pray, each functional movement is simply an invitation,” and participants choose the level to which they take it, Bisceglio said. Prayer is the center, and the movements are optional and self-paced.

“Exercise and praying are linked to produce peace in my heart and soul. Now I often ‘hold’ a stretch for a Hail Mary instead of counting to 10,” said Lynn Altadonna of Blessed Sacrament Parish.

Bisceglio, who participated in a SoulCore Leader Training Retreat in Cleveland, pointed out that the need to involve the senses in interior prayer corresponds to a requirement of human nature: “We are body and spirit, and we experience the need to translate our feelings externally. We must pray with our whole being to give all power possible to our supplication (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2702).”

“Uniting body, mind, and soul in prayer makes our prayer more powerful,” she noted from Soulcore.com. “By uniting body with internal prayer, we offer God more perfect worship/praise.”

SoulCore began in Stowe last fall and takes place on Fridays at 9:15 a.m. in the parish hall after the 8:30 morning Mass.

“Soulcore is the perfect balance of spiritual growth and a great workout,” said Blessed Sacrament parishioner Aurora Heanue. “While saying the five decades of the rosary, beautiful scripture and meditative thoughts are offered that you can focus on while getting a terrific workout. It’s the best of both worlds.”

In the spring, there will be a SoulCore program in Morrisville at All Saints Catholic Academy

from 3:15 to 4 p.m. on a day yet to be determined. It will be student-oriented and include families.

Bisceglio said it is also hoped that SoulCore will be offered online next year in conjunction with the Diocese of Burlington.

“I love SoulCore because it is the perfect opportunity or method to get a rosary in my day and offer up sacrifice for a loved one in a special way,” said Blessed Sacrament parishioner Elisabeth Oritz. “The exercises really focus you on what you are offering up, and for my life it’s a great way to combine prayer and a workout unlike anything else I’ve done.”

A freewill donation of $10 is suggested — but not required — for SoulCore at Blessed Sacrament.

“I’m grateful for this opportunity to bring more people into the incarnational experience of another way to pray that embraces the whole human person — body, mind, and soul,” Father Schnobrich said.

For more information, go to soulcore.com.

—Originally published in the Fall 2023 issue of Vermont Catholic magazine.