Our yoga practice opens us up to being present in the moment. Practicing with the intention to work mindfully through postures grants us the time, space and opportunity to slow down. Simply noticing our response to each posture, to each deliberate movement and giving our full attention to one thing is deeply soothing and insightful.
It’s easy to sabotage inner peace and concentration in everyday life. Digital devices make us constantly accessible and our multitasking behaviour shifts our attention from one thing to another, it feels like we’re always thinking about what’s next. Busy lives leave us feeling hurried and scattered, but we can learn to view the world with a quiet mind.
Our yoga practice provides relief for the nervous system, we learn how to control the breath, slow the pace and focus our awareness on sensations. As we work towards a quiet state of mind we begin to untangle from thoughts and mental chatter and open ourselves up to what’s happening in the moment. These calming techniques stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, the part of the autonomic nervous system that returns bodily functions to a calm state of being.
There is a sense of compassion and beauty in feeling each movement as the body unfurls and realises the posture. It’s refreshing to get out of your head and into your body! Moving in this way isn’t just about exercise, it becomes a creative experience which helps us to connect and communicate with a deeper layer of ourself. We can let go of expectations for our practice and experience a sense of releasing boundaries and opening up to possibilities, a sense of freedom. It is at this level of integration and awareness that we begin to acknowledge a sense of inner stillness and peace.
Experiencing a sense of stillness motivates me to return to my mat. Yoga recognises that the mind is naturally noisy and busy, it’s continually seeking solutions and trying to fix things. Our practice provides techniques which teach us to take a moment, to pause and step back. Creating space for introspection and time to reset expectations invites a fresh perspective. This is the yoga practice that inspires me, one that brings about positive change. From a place of stillness we regain calm and clarity and learn to listen to our inner wisdom.
I frequently talk about working mindfully in class. Mindfulness has become a buzz word in recent times, but this quality of being has always been part of yoga. The Cambridge dictionary defines it as “ The practice of being aware of your body, mind and feelings in the present moment.…” As we practice we cultivate a particular quality of attention to explore the effects and the changes which occur when we move slowly to the breath. Working with awareness is deeply grounding and helps us to cultivate a quiet state of mind that makes life easier, happier and ultimately more productive.
For this reason I will be taking a daily dose of mindfulness this year, both on and off the mat!
Wishing you happiness and peace in the new year,
Namaste