Metanoia Place Volunteers

Rev. Renee Franzen:

My professional background in social work, marriage and family therapy and ministry all come out of the one call placed on my life from Isaiah 61 years ago. I am Ordained with the Evangelical Covenant Church of America, with a focus in Spiritual Formation. Former Lead Pastor, I currently pastor part time while serving as a Spiritual Director and Supervisor to Direction students as well as speaker and retreat leader. I love preaching and teaching the Word of God, and watching as God binds up the broken hearted, releases captives of darkness and of prison, and bestows a crown of beauty in replacement for despair. It is my greatest joy to help people learn to hear the voice of God in their own lives. Our God is a healer of body, hearts, memories and Spirits. I am a wife of over 44 years, the mother of 3, and grandmother of two.

Julie Thour, RYT 200 | Yoga

I completed my 200-hour yoga certification at a Christian yoga studio. I love integrating my faith in Christ with my yoga practice. Time and time again, the Lord envelopes me with His presence as I worship Him moving through postures. It is an amazing time to worship and focus on the Lord. As we practice, we meditate on scripture and move to Christian worship music. Scripture tells us to take care of our temples – our physical bodies. Yoga is a wonderful vehicle to take care of our body, soul and spirit. We invite God into every breath.

In 2018 I completed a Christian-based trauma sensitive yoga training through Holy Yoga. Through this gentle, invitational, Christ-centered practice, we create space to gain awareness of how trauma has impacted our body and emotions. We practice grounding ourselves in the Lord and inviting the presence of God through breath and gentle movement.

Restorative yoga is an area where I have taken additional training. It is a simple, restful practice to quiet the mind and body so we can actually “be still” before the Lord. In restorative yoga poses, the body is completely supported in positions of openness and ease to encourage deep relaxation. When the body is supported and at rest, our mind will then rest.

Teaching yoga since 2005.

Julie Thour, RYT 200

Julie’s Training

  • 200 hr – Registered Yoga Teacher certification from Christian based Yahweh Yoga, Chandler, AZ

  • CCYT, Certified Christian Yoga Teacher

Additional Trainings

  • Holy Yoga Trauma Sensitive yoga training

  • Relax & Renew certification with Judith Lasater

  • Advanced Relax & Renew certification with Judith Lasater

  • Anatomy training w/ Ray Long

  • Workshops include: prenatal yoga, yin (deep stretching) yoga, low back yoga therapy, and breath practices.