Ten Principles of yoga...

I have carried these around with me for ever, even before I had the courage to take to the mat... and yes it does take courage to hit that scary place... a YOGA MAT!!! you want too, but can I do it, other people will be looking at me, I'm not bendy enough, I'm too fat, I've got an injury, I'm too old/young, its too slow for me, I don't have the time.... My yoga teacher, calls these kleshers, obstacles, excuses and barriers we put in place.  Take a breath, surrender it will change your life, you will find your love, or do as I did, carry these around for a couple of years and simulate your yoga practice :)

1. Breath

Consciously following the breath is one of the most important things you can learn from a yoga practise, it will help to balance out the central nervous system as well as help to still the mind.

2. Surrender

When working with the breath; the emphasis is on the exhalation. At the end of the exhalation, let the breath go as you completely surrender and wait until the inhalation moves towards you.

3. Stillness

Yoga is the development of understanding the deep internal movement and intelligence of the body. It is not based on external movement as in dance or athletics.

4. Centring

Yoga can help you move towards a deeper sense of self that can relieve anxiety and stress and can give you a stronger self-confidence.

5. Dynamic Core

As we learn correct alignment and correct breathing, we start to strengthen our dynamic core. This will allow the body and nervous system to function in their optimum way.

6. Ambition

There is no goal in a yoga practice. The goal is the practice itself.

7. Emptiness

The body is at its healthiest when we are in a situation free of pain and discomfort. Yoga is not about ‘no pain no gain.’

8. Letting Go

Within the practice of yoga we have the ability to release some of our deepest held conditioning. Flexibility and strength are purely a by-product.

9. The Guru

Yoga is a purely subjective experience. Learn to listen to your own body. You must become your own teacher and your own pupil.

10. Relationship

Yoga teaches us to see the inter-connected relationship of life and show us that where there is separation or disconnection, conflict inevitably results.

...and breathe

when I breathe 

I open up every cell in my body

to the good vibrations of the universe

I am full of light

everything is right in the world

and I am taken care of 

namaste 

Things Take Time

Trauma-sensitive yoga is a way for us to safely experiment with having a body. Through yoga we can experiment with:

• Breathing
• Moving
• Strengthening
• Stretching
• Resting

Bhu Mudra

I like this and we found stillness in class this morning.

Mudra of the moment... I discovered this on the Trauma Sensitive Yoga course in Brighton last weekend, its taken hold of me, the way some things do! Mudras are gestures/symbols/seals and are used to communicate certain states of our consciousness, they assist with grounding and centering. It works for me, helps to lift and lengthen too.  

Welcome to my world of yoga

Why Yoga?

Yoga is an ancient form of exercise that focuses on strength, flexibility and breathing to boost physical and mental well-being. It is an all-round exercise for the mind body and soul. The main components of yoga are postures (a series of movements designed to increase strength and flexibility) and breathing. The practice originated in India about 5,000 years ago, and has been adapted in other countries in a variety of ways. 

Yoga is a safe and effective way to increase physical activity, especially strength, flexibility and balance. Regular yoga practice is beneficial for people with high blood pressure, heart disease, aches and pains, including low back pain, depression and stress.

Yoga is showing up to your mat consistently not knowing what is going to happen and being okay with that. It’s about rehabilitating yourself and not believing you don’t have the time, are unfit, overweight, too old or too ill. It’s about believing that you can do anything even if it’s the most scariest impossible thing you could ever dream of. It’s about uncovering who you really are. It’s about being kind to yourself so you can then be kind to others. Yoga is about discovering that most of the crazy thoughts in your head are not true. It’s about being healthy without pushing yourself to your limit. It’s about slowing down and getting strong. Yoga is breathing and moving and smiling on the inside. It’s the hardest thing I have ever done, but also the best.

and breathe….

Namaste