I started my B1 Health Coaching class this week and one of the first topics that we delve right into is the importance of yoga as a self awareness tool. As I mentioned in one of my earlier posts, yoga would fully justify its place in our world as a fantastic workout and great way to stretch your muscles if that was all it offered. However, it is SO MUCH MORE.
Yoga has been around for thousands of years. I can't think of many other things that have been as sustainable. It's because it works and is a proven way to integrate mind, body and spirit. This integration is the only way to lead to longterm healing, health & happiness. Yoga also provides a gateway to one's authentic self and the opportunity to access unlocked potential.
On your mat (and off during "real life,") the key is to stay completely present in your body as well as your mind. To observe every sensation, thought, feeling and resistance that comes up. When you reach what is called your "edge" in yoga practice...when a physical or emotional sensation becomes so overwhelming that you want to flee from it, you have a choice. Physically, you can choose to stay with the feeling (as long as it is not pain you are feeling...you must have the presence of mind and body wisdom to recognize the difference.) This is when you might create a little bit more length or opening in a posture and when you grow in your physical practice!
Emotionally, something might surface that you become aware of. You can choose to completely feel this emotion or to stuff it back down inside. If you allow yourself to really feel it, you might realize that this thought or emotion does not serve you anymore and that you have no more room for it in your life. This simple observation will decrease it's holding power on you while helping you to realize that YOU are not your thoughts. You will then begin to shed layers upon layers of false beliefs that have been built around your soul over the years and come closer to revealing your authentic and peaceful self. For this process to begin however, you must feel these thoughts & emotions and face them head on, which is not always easy.
If none of this makes sense to you, don't worry! It didn't to me either until I started practicing yoga on a regular basis. I assure you, however, that through the simple act of meditating (either "in motion" during yoga or by sitting quietly and simply observing your thoughts) that something truly magical will happen to you.
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