Yoga, on and off the mat to navigate life with ease ...
Rumi, a famous 13th century poet and scholar said "Remember the entrance door to the sanctuary is inside you" . Yoga has never been so popular as it is now…
For some people, it takes a crisis to take up this ancient practice, or maybe it is to stay strong, mobile and supple, to improve your posture, to get rid of that back pain… For others, it simply helps them to find a sense of calm and inner peace.
Yoga is a philosophy, science and an art, first described in old Sanskrit texts – the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras. Yoga is ancient, and yet so relevant to us in a modern frenetic world.
It allows us time to return to our body and reconnect with ourselves. The word yoga is generally translated as joining or union. Yoga is a journey of exploration of the body & mind with breath is the bridge.
20 years ago, if you asked me why I practiced yoga, I would have said because it makes me feel good. I took it up in my 30s when I belonged to a gym in London. One day, I thought I’d try something new so I joined a yoga class. I enjoyed it but what I was not prepared for was how well I slept that night and how amazing I felt the next day. I felt calm and reenergised so naturally, I kept going to class. I was hooked.
One thing led to another, which led me to workshops with famous teachers like David Swenson and John Scott, both well-known Ashtanga teachers – although I did not know of them at the time. I discovered there were several styles of yoga. I just happened to have started with Ashtanga, which I enjoyed enormously. It required effort and focus but the rewards were so worth it. I then went on yoga holidays and retreats and never looked back. Before I knew it, I had embarked on a lifelong journey.
Hatha yoga is the foundation of yoga from which other styles emerged through various teachers over the years. I started discovering and exploring several of them: Iyengar, Sivananda, Shadow yoga, Hot Yoga, Scaravelli yoga and so on. Even though they were all so different, I loved them all. I loved how it shaped my body, sharpened my mind, made me feel good, energised and relaxed overall. I felt whole.
How could yoga help us in our daily life ?
It keeps our body young and at ease. It works on our energy level & breath. It is also a great to relax and peel off the layers of stress. There is no age for yoga. My eldest student is 80 years old.
You could view yoga as connection, exercise, cultivating wellbeing, healing or a transformative process…
It is a great way to connect to yourself but also to socialise and connect with others, have a chat and a laugh. Once a month, we all go out for a cup of tea after class. At Christmas, we may bring some mince pies to share. We exchanged life stories, health tips and so on. This is the power of the “Sangha”.
Yoga can be a way to keep fit and flexible, work on balance and posture. You may supplement this with another activity to boost your cardio. You may wish to do yoga for your wellbeing. It helps regulate your energy, improve your digestion, immune system, sleep patterns, etc. Yoga encompasses asana (poses), breath work, (pranayama), relaxation, meditation and cleansing techniques. It all depends on the kind of class you choose to attend.
Yoga can also help with healing and recovery. Yoga therapy has become quite popular those last few years. I have had many people coming to class because of back ache, which practically seem to vanish after one or a few sessions of yoga practice – depending on the style.
When we practice on the mat, we move the whole body, warming up the joints and muscles before moving into the poses or a flow. A good class will encompass all those elements and have that curve of effort where you prepare yourself for the peak poses and slow down towards the end, finishing with a good stretch and relaxation.
So, on a physical level, yoga helps relieve body tension, improve posture, breathing, mobility, energy. It develops clarity, focus & attention. It develops body awareness & co-ordination, increases strength, balance, flexibility and promotes both circulatory & immune systems to name but a few benefits.
On a mental level, you learn to still your mind finding inner peace & balance, letting go of the stresses of modern life. It improves your mood: Wave goodbye to depression, anxiety & sleep issues. You feel alert, yet calmer & more relax. Yoga brings more poise and balance in your life. It boosts positive thinking and resilience over time.
What style of yoga to practice ? Know yourself...
The style varies according to age, energy, health and goals. You need to vary the practice according to how you feel. One day, you may feel strong and practice Ashtanga. Another day, if you are tired, perhaps choose Restorative or yin yoga instead to nurture yourself and allow yourself to reset, recharge. Tune in to yourself and ask the question. How do I feel physically, mentally and emotionally. What do I need today ? What will serve me best ?
Develop body awareness. If you don’t know your own body or aren’t paying attention to your stamina level or even how you feel that day, there is always the possibility of doing more harm than good. Don’t let your ego get the better of yourself. As we age, does your body need the same practice as 10 years ago ? It is about listening and adapting.
Presence, Intention, Breath, Alignment & Pace
They all matter. What is our intention on the mat ? What do we wish to get out of it today ? Where is our attention ? Yoga requires us to be present, breathe. How well aligned are we ? Do we connect our breath to movement ? Should we do this pose before that one or the other way round ? Why are we doing this pose ? Sequence, pace, focus matter and will all help to achieve good results or not from our practice. The length of your practice may vary from 10min to 60min or longer. It does not matter as long as we keep our practice regular and consistent, even if sometimes we miss a few sessions. That’s perfectly ok.
How could yoga affect our energy and mood ?
Besides our physical body, we have an energy body. When we look at yoga, and the channels of energy within our body, we talk about energy pathways or “nadis”. It is said we have up to 72000 nadis, a complex system where our life force, our prana energy flows through bringing us vitality.
The pranic body, also called the astral body, has 3 main energy channels Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna. The latter runs through our spine. It is the connection between the earth, our roots and material life, and heaven, our higher awareness and our spiritual existence. It rules over our mental and physical functions.
The Nadis correspond with our hemispheres in the brain and rule over our logic as well as emotions. A balanced Nadi system brings intuition and knowledge together and unfolds the full active and regenerative potential. Using our yogic breath such as alternate nostril breathing helps to bring those two aspects into harmony and allow our body and mind to self-regulate and heal imbalances.
Do we need to be flexible to take up yoga ?
No. You start from where you are and just progress slowly. It does not matter if you can’t touch your toes… Strength, flexibility, balance come with practice. Accept that where you start might be different from someone else. It is advisable to start with a teacher as a beginner, so you can be safely guided and corrected if need be. Yoga is about you. There is no competition in class. Yoga is for everyone and all that is required of you is to come to the mat with no judgment, patience, perseverance and a curiosity of mind with an open heart.
Be prepared. Yoga may transform your life.
Just watch it unfold and notice how this slowly happens. We learn invaluable skills as it develops sharpness, focus, concentration and control. We also learn to let go and surrender. We learn to use our breath to serve us well. The breath helps clear channels or energy. We can use the breath to sharpen our brain. We can even use it to cool off in hot weather. In effect, yoga becomes a tool for life. It creates greater flexibility and skilfulness of response to life experiences.
In other words, yoga becomes a practice on and off the mat. Our mat practice prepares us and serves us well into our life. As it affects how good we feel, it will change how we relate to oneself and others in a much more positive light, encouraging us to be more cheerful, curious, tolerant and open minded. Above all, yoga brings stability, a sense of belonging and inner peace.
Yoga Union: Body & Mind work as One
Our thoughts instantly affect our emotions and bodies. Our circulation, muscles, breathing, feelings and more respond in turn affect how we feel. We may become stiff or have a very busy mind or we may be at ease in body & mind.
In yoga, we learn to manage our mind by way of our breath and body, bringing more peace, balance and harmony into our daily lives. As we get stronger and more flexible ‘in body’, we begin to feel the same ‘in mind’ – developing inner strength and confidence.
The purpose of yoga is to find stillness and connection within. Being present in the moment. Being kind to self and others, feeling good and content. Through a regular yoga practice, the body gains strength, balance, flexibility. Your mind becomes still. We develop breath, focus and concentration. Our whole person is filled with a sense of wellbeing, harmony and balance.
A few words I wrote about Yoga
“Take time out,
Be Present,
Reconnect with yourself,
Move, Breathe, Relax,
Ease body and mind,
Find stillness, harmony and freedom,
And ask “Who am I ?”
I run weekly classes in Wadhurst, Fordcombe and online. A blend of breathwork, yoga, Somatics, Pilates to feel good. I also offer workshops and 1:1. All welcome ! Just get in touch...
Group classes, Private tuitions and workshops available. For more info, benefits and testimonials on Yoga, Somatics, Classes, Events etc. pls visit www.yogawithbelle.co.uk
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