Yoga: Beyond postures and alignment.

Yoga is more than postures and alignment. Yoga, by definition, means to “yolk” or “unite”. It is the union of breath, body, mind, and spirit all stirred together in the pot we call “self”.

The practice of yoga is most commonly denoted by warrior pose, downward dog or seated meditation. Yet, this does not encompass the breadth of yoga as a practice. Yoga is also AWARENESS.
Awareness of the body, mind and breath as you move into or hold a pose.
Awareness of the feelings you feel – both physical and mental or emotional.
Awareness of tension in your body.
Awareness of the breath moving in and out of your body throughout the day.
Awareness of the environment around you.

Through this awareness, we are able to live more fully in the present moment. We are able to notice the sounds around us and the feeling of an object against our hand. We are able to recognize when we are relaxed and when we are tight, as well as to learn how to soften the areas of tightness and let go of anything that no longer serves us.

Perhaps you’re just beginning to notice, and your awareness is new-found. Maybe you’re “not there yet”. Or, maybe you’ve been practicing for a while and enjoy the reminder. Wherever you are on the journey, do not fret. This level of awareness does not occur overnight. That is why yoga is called a practice. A practice of learning how to move and breathe in an aware way – both on the mat and in the world. Sometimes our practice looks like a challenging posture flow and sometimes our practice is using a simple breath or mindfulness technique to find calm in a stressful situation. Our practice can and should change to adjust and fit our unique and ever-changing needs. Sometimes yoga practice is challenging and deep. Sometimes it is slow and sweet. And, sometimes it’s somewhere in the middle.

What does your practice look like right now? Is it serving you and meeting your needs? Or, is it draining you and needing some adjustment? Wherever you are on your journey of practice and awareness, I invite you to be where you are today. No matter what that looks like, as long as it is serving you.

And, if you need help with the journey reach out to us for support! The Yoga Nut team is here for YOU.

Namasté!

Lindsay Coward, MPH
Founder of Yoga Nut