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 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 the inner world
Our practice should be a kind of delving inwards, in order to live more fully outwards
Yoga practice must, therefore, be an unfolding rather than an achievement
Before you start 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 Nature

Bring together the body, mind-awareness and breath by:

* sitting quietly and closing your eyes
* drawing your awareness backwards, withdraw to the back of yourself
* imagine sitting just behind yourself
* allow the breath slowly to penetrate and explore the whole of your back as it fills up every pore
* consciously fill the ribs and side, and allow 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 earth
The pelvis is the earth in that pot
The plant (spine) wants to grow out of the earth
The pelvis is also like a bowl pot
The bowl is offered up so that there is a feeling or meaning in the pose
Therefore, now be MOVED into a pose, rather than putting yourself into a position

Asanas (poses): instead of going straight into them -- prepare
Wait until you are quiet
Withdraw to the back
When the back is fully expanded, let the spine release vertically on EXHALATION
INHALE, and do nothing but allow:
Ride high with the breath, and let 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 just stood up
It's symbolic of linking the heavens with the earth
feet on earth (sensing energy from the Great Mother)
head is in the sky
- man/woman is the link in between
man stood and realized, "I AM"
Now, move the awareness to the feet and even beyond, penetrating the earth like the roots of a tree (there is a moment of feeling out of control)
The pelvis may realign & 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 reach 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 & the contractions of the solar plexus that occur from anxiety, by gently BREATHING!
Yoga works because we are 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!