Category: Yoga

If your intention for the time set aside to practice yoga is for purification of your energy channels and cultivating gratitude and joy, consider this …

Nothing is so strong as gentleness,

nothing so gentle as real strength.

– St. Francis de Sales

 

Like water, be gentle and strong. Be gentle enough to follow the natural paths of the earth and strong enough to rise up and reshape the world.

-Brenda Peterson

– and that “world” referred above does not have to always mean to conquer the world, it can mean that of our inner world to really get to know with loving kindness … using multitude of meditation technique that resonates with you.  Oftentimes in this busy world that prioritizes productivity and efficiency to trump all other virtues,  that inner world is ignored, by-passed over the external validation…that cycle diminishes our immune system, our comfort … ultimately, that kind of life diminishes our energy.  Our energy level in an ideal state is vibrating and pulsating with vibrant energy when you need to really switch to “ON” setting.  So carving out the time and space to re-direct our attention, to re-focus on a journey of self-mastery yoga allows us to embark upon…

First … like with any travel plans, we need an itinerary, a design, a plan within the spontaneity and wonder … at least I do.  Need a discipline.  Because we don’t have so much time to spend hours doing yoga, why not mix Yang style of yoga or some exercise session (predominantly for muscular strength and cardio-vascular health); offset by Yin style of self-care (focus on fascia, expanding the range of motion – i.e., flexibility, internal organs & nervous system health and meditation weaved in); then some moderately active program that’s not extreme that you can stick with over time.  The program can be adjusted to be gentle enough to be consistent with the rest of your activity level so that it’s about long-term supportive and sustaining practice that you can stick with.

Some degree of intensity for some people, sometimes may be needed to wake up the sluggish body and mind; to burn heat for a cardio-workout, muscle strengthening – all good – but something you gradually work up towards … slowly.  Then, set aside this time to be kind and loving towards your body to realize who you really are.  Clearing the cobwebs in the spaces within; cleansing the space so that then we can sharpen our 5-senses to feel  … brainwaves re-calibration and clarity that’s brought on – so precious. So, wait, no rushing, no pushing, no pulling, AND gentle to boot?  That is NOT easy … to move fluidly like water … to flow and recede like waves with utter conviction that such flow & ebb cycles are unchanging and eternal. In a world constant with changes and impermanence, cultivate that equanimity, that knowing, that within all of us is that divinity, that spark, that … light … that’s forever – That kind of gentleness, is my intention.

Yoga Book Club anyone?  Reading them is great but then comes the actual … practice that balances the efforts with … ease.  After all, isn’t that what we are seeking?  To ward off dis-“ease”, to feel at ease, to move with ease, to abide in ease, after all the efforts we make for that “shift” and drop into delicious  … ease.

For me, approaching yoga not so much as just an exercise regimen but more as a centering practice and a fitness and healing modality. A page out of Timothy McCall MD’s “Yoga as Medicine” shows promising evidence on how “gentle” style of yoga fits into whole lifestyle re-evaluation to promote wholesome wellness.  Gentle is not easy.But give it a try.

*No worries – modifications and other asanas for alternatives are always available; there’s always GENTLE & KINDER paths to get to the same destination.  Yoga can be adapted for every body. Every condition. Every season of our lives – In fact, one can bypass all asanas(physical poses) and delve into the heart and soul and the ultimate intention of yoga – which is to take body and mind to a place where we are centered, conscious/awake and at ease.  Meditation practice to cleanse and purify our mind to enter into state of bliss …  that is the ultimate purpose, call it the intention, of yoga designed and evolved over thousands of years.

(adjust for hyper-extension tendencies of the elbows … to protect the shoulder girdles; compensate for lack of upper body strength or … hold bridge pose … for a safe practice:)

Yes !  My back is restored – no pain, no pain – lots to gain – heart center opened to progress up and forward not looking back – no fear WHEN approached with INTELLIGENCE.  My spine health restored thanks to Yoga for Back Care – to be further inspired, assisting Baxter Bell MD, my former Yoga Therapy Teacher Training faculty teacher for Anatomy and Sports Medicine modules.  Always honored to assist highly skilled and intelligent teachers who allow me to learn by assisting.  In gratitude for my restored back to get back to regain my full practice.  In deep gratitude to amazing teachers and yoga therapists we are lucky to have locally.

(btw, balancing on this tree trunk was rather … challenging due to the arch and rough nature of tree balk texture  … but … it’s work to reconnect with my inner-child while looking towards the future with hope and dreams. There’s so much going on in this pose – not recommended for the evening practice as it may be too stimulating.  But it may be just what’s needed for someone feeling a bit blue … a bit low.  No worries – there are also gentle ways to get to this same effect  – a restorative yoga way is super gentle and the effect, the end-result nearly the same or in a way, better –  it’s all lovely – love all modifications …)

Modifications & Prep work to get to Upward Bow (Wheel) Pose, coming up.