I'm back from North Carolina and San Diego, and happily resuming my blog on this week's yoga class.
Most students initially come to yoga for the physical practice. We come to get strong and flexible, to overcome injuries and to reduce aches and pains from sports and daily living. We soon learn that the practice is much more than the asanas. No one needs to tell you. You discover the impact of yoga as you wake up to the present moment and all it's power. And then the more you attend yoga classes, the more you see that it's the advanced yogis, its the teachers and the seasoned practitioners that are taking childs pose, resting, and not taking every option. Whereas it's usually the new students that are huffing and puffing their way through flows and options their bodies may not be ready for.
One of the big things about a yoga practice is that it's a place to listen to your body and to get curious about what your body needs AS YOU GO. So if you want to do a strong practice, you will, but if you need a slow practice you can embrace that, too. Every day is not "handstand day" :)
The performance of an asana should be nourishing and illuminative... shedding light on what your body and mind need today. We concluded this week's asana practice with this guided meditation that focused on helping you feel like you're supported so you can open your heart: I encouraged students to find a posture in which their back felt fully supported ( legs up the walk, or sitting against a wall). I asked them to pay attention to their breath. To notice their body. I asked, "where is there spaciousness"? .... "where is there tension"?
I then asked students to move their attention to their back and allow themselves to feel supported. Holding this support in their body, I guided them to turn their breath and attention to their heart space. Asking, "is there fear"?.... "is there hope"? .... "is there both"? Just notice; just observe. Closing the meditation with guidance to release into the support against your back as deeply as you are able. Asking students ... "Is there room to relax and soften your heart space"?
From meditation we headed right into savasana. Namaste, Lynn
