written by Aviva Tulasi
This week’s Lunchtime Learning on January 31 is Mountain and Chair Pose. Sign Up In Person or Online.
Yoga is not exercise. The physical practice of yoga will help you develop strength, improve circulation, maintain functional flexibility and target fascia lines but it does so much more than exercise. The integration that happens during yoga allows you to learn more about yourself. Practicing yoga supports a growth mindset. One in which you tune in and listen to what the body, mind and spirit have to say. There is no specific agenda but to open yourself up to listen and grow.
Every time we show up to our practice we can open ourselves up to learn something new. We can invite curiosity to listen and notice how the body, mind and spirit respond to our practice. If we are lucky, we will learn something new about ourselves. The simple act of noticing is proof of awareness itself. In our yoga practice, we might notice how we tilt the pelvis to support standing well. We can then apply that knowledge later in the day when we stand in one place to do dishes. Welcome learning.
Welcome observing without judgment or desiring to fix or change anything.
Observing. The mind gets distracted by all of the information from the senses. When talking to a loved one we might be thinking about how cold it is outside. We lose connection when we aren’t paying attention. When the mind is focused on what we are doing, we can really experience the moment. In our yoga practice, we can explore the body like a scientist and tune into all the sensations present. What does the body feel as it moves? What happens after leaving a position? Observing is learning to be in the present moment.
Without Judgement. The mind compares experiences and classifies things as pleasurable or not. Sometimes the pleasurable leads to pain (eating a donut for every meal could cause major health issues). While discomfort can be beneficial in the long run (activating muscles in new ways could cause soreness the next day but is needed to develop strength). When our actions are influenced by our likes and dislikes, we get stuck in an endless cycle of seeking. In our yoga practice, we can enjoy moving for movement's sake. What is a perfect pose? Who defines good? Observing without judgment is learning to be free from the pull of desires.
Without fixing or changing anything. The mind looks for danger and wants to be safe. We want to help others. Often the first thing that comes out of our mouths when a child tells you something that went wrong is a solution. However, an upset child doesn’t want to hear what they can do better; they want to be heard. The simple act of acknowledging allows one to feel valued. In our yoga practice, we can accept and be confident in ourselves. Can you sit with imperfection? What do you need right now? Observing without fixing or changing anything is learning that we are complete just as we are.
“Learning to skillfully and nonjudgmentally relate to pained or troubled features we adhere to as personal identities requires accessing our deeper nature, our AI [Awareness Intelligence]. Without this capacity, we unknowingly blend with other parts that seek to fix or force us to be a certain way other than how we are feeling or presenting. Genuine healing occurs not from a part to part relationship - although this is necessary as well at times - but as we learn to deeply listen and converse with the concerns and beliefs of our different aspects without adhering to any one perspective.” - Sarah Powers, Lit from Within
You are perfect and complete just as you are.
Email info@dogwoodstudioyoga.com with questions. We are here to help!
Aviva Tulasi is a certified yoga therapist (CIAYT) and studio coordinator at Dogwood Studios. Aviva applies the teachings of classical yoga (movement, focused breathing & meditation) to nourish the nervous system. Aviva’s classes empower students to explore their thought habits in order to promote greater wellbeing both on and off the mat.
SAM Sather, founder of Dogwood Studios, is a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT) and an Insight Yoga Institute (IYI) endorsed teacher. She individualizes the yoga practice with appropriate modifications for participants’ unique bodies and medical histories with a focus on finding calm and improving health. She offers several live, online and in person yoga classes as well as private sessions so you can focus on your needs one-on-one.
