About Yoga
Yoga is about reconnecting with your ‘inner’ self, beyond the thoughts that you have about yourself to the real you, where there is no judgement about who you ‘should’ be, no worries about the future and no hang-ups about the past. I call this being in the ‘present moment’, and it is a difficult state to achieve with the mind. Your body only exists in the ‘now’, yet nearly all of our thoughts are about the past or the future, regretting, planning, reassessing and worrying.
Our minds are constantly busy, and often noisy with chatter, as we continuously talk to ourselves in the world of thought. It is virtually impossible to be completely in the present moment at all times, and some of our ‘past’ and ‘future’ thoughts can definitely be beneficial. However, anxiety caused by worry, or sadness caused by regret, are emotions activated by negative thoughts that can lead to mental and physical ill health.
Yoga practice helps to rebalance by concentrating on the breath and working with the physical body to get back in touch with your ‘self’, eventually you may find that – even just for a moment – you find some space in your mind between thoughts where you are just ‘being’. Some may get this simply through focusing on something you enjoy doing: gardening, painting, walking in nature – whatever it is that works for you – use it!
There are eight ‘limbs’ or paths of yoga that help lead us to ‘enlightenment’ or becoming ‘self’ aware, mindful, more spiritual, whatever you want to call it. Some of these are practised in the yoga class and others are more of a ‘way of life’.
EIGHT LIMBS
- ‘Yama’ are the moral codes that control thoughts, speech and actions, such as non-violence and truthfulness.
- ‘Niyama’ are the ‘dos and don’ts’ or rules by which we conduct ourselves with discipline, such as type of diet and learning to appreciate what we have.
- ‘Asanas’ are the physical postures that prepare the body for meditation.
- ‘Pranyama’ is control of the breath to increase vitality and mental focus. In yoga there is one word to describe breath, life and energy: ‘Prana’. Control of this with the breath affects our nervous system, heart rate, and psychological state. Conscious breathing can revitalise the body as more oxygen gets to every cell.
- ‘Pratyahara’ is withdrawal of the senses, allowing the mind to turn inward.
- ‘Dharana’ is concentration of the mind, keeping it focussed.
- ‘Dhyana’ is the state of meditation, a state of 'non-thought'.
- ‘Samadhi’ is an almost trance-like state, transcending sensory experience; enlightenment reached!
What is my style of yoga?
