We can stress ourselves in a Yoga class because we want to succeed in the poses at all cost. Or we have this idea that there is only one way to do the pose; just like the picture in the book or on the DVD. So here we are in a class, new to Yoga feeling unsure and insecure practicing the poses. We may look at another student to see if we are doing the pose correctly, and feel even more anxious. Or we may feel determined to get it right.
True to the mind-body connection, the body will respond to these feelings with a clenched jaw, furrowed brow, tight neck and shoulders, clenched fist, and other muscular tension right there on the mat. Right where you came to unwind and de-stress. So what can be done for mind-body wellness?
How about going back to basics, the ABCs.
A - Acknowledge your mental state and name those desires.
B - Breathe out through pursed lips a few times to breathe deeper.
C - Compassion. Have compassion for yourself.
It's a good idea to practice a few poses that you like at home. Several verbal cues are given in class to enter into the poses. You may not remember them all at home. I have found these 3 principles shared by Vanda Scaravelli very useful and they apply to any pose you are practicing.
(1) Allow your body weight to drop to the ground
(2) Lengthen the spine; and
(3) Feel the wave of the breath.
The right Yoga moves can include the right way to move. Yoga poses can be practiced in any number of ways ranging from effortless with maximum attention to the internal world, to effortful with concentration on looking right.
If you feel at ease practicing with full effort and very much dislike the slower style, then by all means practice with full speed and remember to take time to rest after your practice. On the other hand if you prefer a slower practice, be attentive and curious as you sail through the poses.
There's room in Yoga for us all. We bring ourselves to the door of Yoga and find it open. If we look down there is a welcome mat for us to drop our weight and maybe even our excess baggage. When we find the spine and grow long, we may feel we belong. And when we surrender to the feeling of the wave of the breath, we navigate the present moment.
May you sail with Yoga through the journey of life.
Heather Greaves is the owner of Body Therapies Yoga Training. She organizes yoga and meditation retreats and workshops in Ontario and Barbados, and has been helping yoga enthusiasts learn to teach yoga in a certified program. For more yoga tips or to sign up for our monthly newsletter visit http://www.yogatogo.com/
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