The word YOGA means "yoke" (or union) and helps us to yoke together body, mind and spirit -- through breath. The breath is the closest we humans can come to describing spirit. Breath is like a messenger. In-spiration (into spirit) and Ex-piration (out of spirit).
     INHALATION is a receiving - an opening - a doing nothing but allowing.
     EXHALATION is a giving - a letting go - a releasing.
    Through breath, we lose our sense of "separateness" and begin to sense the breathing of nature, of the universe, and of the spirit that moves throughout all creation. Man is a mind operating through a body (in every cell), rather than a body containing a mind.
    Our bodies are the total expression of our souls. Yoga is a way of discovering this inner world. Our practice should therefore be a kind of "delving inwards", in order to live more fully outwards. Our Yoga-practice should always be an unfolding, rather than an achievement.
 
    BEFORE STARTING AN ASANA or pose, there must always be time taken to do a preparation (like cats do).
    Breathe in and wait - only then, as you breathe out, should you move into the posture itself.   
    Since all the air has gone out with breath, you must of course breathe in to come back to yourself - THUS GATHERING ENERGY!
    Remember: the greatest "Inspiration" is Mother Nature bringing together the body, a mind-awareness, and the breath by:
* sitting quietly and closing your eyes
* drawing your awareness backwards
* withdrawing to the back of yourself
* imagining that you are  sitting just behind yourself
* allowing the breath slowly to penetrate and explore the whole of your back as it fills up every pore
* consciously filling the ribs and side, and allowing the belly to breathe
* only when the back is fully expanded, may you let the spine RELEASE VERTICALLY.
 
     THE SPINE is like a plant in a pot or in the earth. The PELVIS is the bowl containing that earth. The plant (spine) wants to grow out of the earth. The pelvis-bowl is offered up to the heavens, in order to give a feeling or meaning to the pose.
    Be, therefore, MOVED INTO a pose, rather than putting yourself into a "position".
 
    WHEN DOING THE ASANAS (poses):
     * Remember: instead of going straight into them -- prepare! Wait until you are quiet.   
        Withdraw to the back.
     * Then, when the back is fully expanded, let the spine release vertically on EXHALATION.
      * INHALE, and do nothing but allowing: riding high with the breath, and letting it carry     you further and further into the pose.
      ALL YOGA POSES ARE ABOUT AWARENESS AND UNFOLDING.
      Focus on the sacrum and the pose will then open up: it's where the BODY-ENERGY lies!
      Flower out from there: UNFOLD, slowly undoing with the breath the blocks you have within
      -- once centered there, you will be able to withstand any attack.
      The essence and the spirit of the asana is the boundless energy that flows through all
      creation.
 
     TADASANA (Tree): reminds one of man when he stood up for the first time. It is symbolic of
     linking the heavens with the earth:
     * feet on the ground (sensing energy from the Great Mother) * head is in the sky
     * man/woman is the link in between when man first stood and realized, "I AM"
     * now, move the awareness to the feet and even beyond -- penetrating the earth like the  
       roots of a tree (NOTE: there may be a moment of feeling out of control)
    * The pelvis may realign and other changes may take place
    * Let the pose become a natural growing process as it travels through body and along with it
      while it releases
    * Do not let the brain dictate instructions from the outside to move the limbs
    * Instead, let the mind/body/breath unite -- this takes patience
    * Go with the joy of expansion and stretching * Reach up to the sky
    * Focus on the centre of gravity
    * Withdraw to the back of yourself
    * Make space in the spine - release it!
     * Create space between the shoulders and ears
     * Align and do a little "reverie" -- feel the blood flow
     * Try to undo your tied-up emotions and the contractions of the solar plexus that occur from
        anxiety, by gently BREATHING!
     Yoga works because we are normally so involved in being "separate", and our yoga practice helps us to lose this separateness. First learn to feel comfortable in your body, and you will then begin to feel comfortable with other people, as well
    Breath is a way towards all that. Namaste! *
 
Recent blog posts * Laughing all the Way to the Mat -- Shared Vision article  for more