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.