Eighteen months ago, I thought yoga was that boring class that people chose to do because they were too lazy to do a real workout. How’s that for arrogance??
There’s more! I also avoided giving yoga a go because I didn’t have the time to ‘slow down’. I didn’t want to ‘waste my time’ + ‘miss out’ on accomplishing another thing on my to do list. Crazy huh??
No matter how much people raved about how good they felt doing yoga, I JUST DIDN’T GET IT. If the music wasn’t cranking, if sweat wasn’t dripping off the body, and the endorphin rush didn’t make you shake your ass or sing at the top of your lungs, I didn’t get how yoga could make you feel sooooo good. It was absurd.
Eighteen months ago, clearly, I was ignorant. I was stuck in my ways. I couldn’t see Yoga for what it really was because I was hanging on to a lifestyle that had served me immensely well most of my life…so why would I dare try something new??
Here’s why.
I initially enrolled in my yoga teacher training to deepen my understanding of myself. My desire to teach yoga was only ignited during the course when I realised that I had been practising elements of yoga for a long time…I just never labelled it as yoga.
So if you were like me or simply need some mind expanding reading to help you burst through your own preconceived ideas, here are 8 ways you can practice yoga and you can begin anywhere. In fact, you’ve probably already begun, you simply haven’t labeled it ‘yoga’.
1. i pose.
I get on my mat and I strike a pose. There’s mountain pose, child pose, pigeon pose, happy baby pose, cat pose, lion pose, tree pose, bridge pose, triangle pose, hero pose. I bend backwards and forwards, I twist and bind, I push + pull, I hold and release, I flex and stretch. To put it simply, I move my body.
2. i breathe.
Sometimes it’s long and slow. Other times it’s fast and shallow. Sometimes I breathe through one nostril and out through the other. Some days I use my breath to detox and cleanse, other days I use it to cool me down. But I like it best when it sounds like the ocean and becomes my soundtrack. To put it simply, I inhale and exhale.
3. i feel.
I turn inward and feel sensations arising from moment to moment. They can be pleasant or unpleasant. Either way, my body is communicating with me and I’m finally starting to listen. I’m learning to trust her, because she’s the one that’s always here in the now.
4. i focus.
I drop the distractions, I clear my mind and I concentrate. I forget about what just happened or what I need to do later. I drop it all so I can bring my mind to where my body is, the eternal now.
5. i observe.
I hold my seat and become the bare witness, the silent observer. It is here that there is no judgment, no attachment, and no reaction. I am aware.
6. i inquire.
I keep an open mind. I question everything and dare to know there’s more. I let go and make space for anything that is closer to the truth. I celebrate the mystery of life and embrace the art of not knowing. I dance to the beat of my own drum. I nourish my body and purify my mind. I indulge in radical self love and ignite my divine spark. But sometimes I get lost, and that’s totally okay.
7. i love.
I open my heart to give and receive. It’s filled with love, compassion, kindness, equanimity, and truth. Not always, but I’ve seen it many times before.
8. i bliss out.
When all of the above merge together in the exact same moment, magic happens. I am flooded with love, peace and joy. I am fully alive and awake. And most importantly, I remember.
+++
Beautiful blog Susana. I like your 8 points because I totally resonate and connect with them. Each day I do the same, pose, breath, focus, observe, inquire, bliss out and love. So simple yet you’ve hit it on the head.
Cx
Thanks Claire! There is definitely power in keeping yoga simple ;-) xx
Blissfull.I love your words.I will be making these my new mantras.xx
Very cool! x
I love these 8 points Susana. I used to practice yoga in my early teens (i was quite switched on back then, then went backwards as I go older!), and would love to get back into practice, having looked into classes in my area there are none I can get to; can you recommend any books or dvd you think could be useful for a ‘re-beginner.’?
[…] :: If you have resistance to getting on the mat (just like I did) then these 8 ways to practice yoga are for you. After a 3 day retreat in silence reviving my soul, I shared 18 reasons why I keep […]