Yoga
Yoga means union with God, or, union of the little, ego-self with the divine Self, the infinite Spirit.
It is a very ancient science, thousands of years old. The perceptions derived from its practice form the backbone of the greatness of India, which for centuries has been legendary.
Most people in the West, and also many in India, confuse yoga with only the physical aspect like body postures. But for me yoga is primarily a spiritual discipline.
Not that there’s anything wrong with practicing postures. The body is part of our human nature, and must be kept fit so it doesn’t obstruct our spiritual efforts. Being a system of meditation techniques it helps to harmonize human consciousness with the divine consciousness.
Benefits of Yoga
Yoga is an amazing stress buster. Any yoga practice, even a short daily one, should be made up of three elements; poses, breathing and meditation. Studies have shown that those people who regularly practice all three elements are better able to regulate their heart-rate variability. This generally means that their heart rate is lower, giving the body the ability to respond to stress in a more flexible way.
Breathing deeply and calmly is an essential part of every yoga practice. Yogic breathing techniques (called pranayama) focus on trying to slow down the breath and on breathing fully from the pit of your stomach to the top of your lungs.
These methods will make you feel more relaxed and balanced and will help you face the day with confidence and calm. They also have some great side benefits including increased lung capacity. You can adopt these techniques whenever needed in daily life. They can help you stay calm in emergency situations, think clearer in stressful situations and they can help reduce pain.
Daily yoga practice will help stretch and tone your body muscles. Popular poses like the plank will simultaneously work on strengthening your arms, legs, shoulders and abs. You don’t have to be super flexible to practice yoga, the beauty of yoga is that it can be practiced at all levels of ability.
A few minutes a day practicing will soon make you really feel the difference in your flexibility, whether you’re pretty bendy already or not.
Daily yoga helps improve your posture, making you walk taller and sit up straighter at your desk. Aches and pains caused by incorrect body posture such as back pain can also be alleviated.
Are you coping with so much stress that it’s keeping you awake at night? Studies have shown that practicing daily yoga can reduce insomnia. When experiencing insomnia, practice relaxing asanas or postures, such as lying on your back with your feet up the wall. Relaxing yoga poses can calm both your body and mind.
Yoga and mindfulness go hand-in-hand. When practicing yoga, you will shift your awareness to the sensations, thoughts, and emotions that accompany a given pose. That awareness will bring the mind back to the present moment – the main aim of mindfulness – where it can stay happy and focused.
Practicing mindfulness has lasting physical and psychological benefits that are very much in line with the benefits of yoga. You will feel more calm and relaxed, and less stressed and anxious. You will experience higher levels of energy and enthusiasm and more self-confidence and self-acceptance.
Yoga poses and meditation require you to concentrate on your breathing. This process of observing your breath calms your mind and makes you more mentally relaxed. As a result of this mental stability, you’ll be able to recollect and retain more information. Meditating for just a few minutes in the morning can result in better concentration throughout the day.
1-on-1 Yoga Session
Private yoga classes are great options for yogis of all levels to delve deeper and
advance their practice. Having a 1 on 1 session gives me as your teacher the chance to completely tailor the class and the practice to the exact area you want to work on.
Practicing yoga closely in a supported, safe environment is a beautiful option for
beginners, who may be intimidated by attending a group class, who have an injury or need that time focused on working on their personal development.
For me Yoga is about your connection with yourself. It’s not about becoming the most flexible person in the world or being able to perform difficult poses. It’s about how gentle and loving can you be with yourself to deepen your mental and spiritual practice, by using your body as a tool.
When & Where
Would love to see you soon
