Hello and thanks again for checking out Beechworth Yoga. I know my posts have been a bit erratic but felt it best to write only when I had something that I thought was really important to say.
I have been contemplating the question of what has now been coined as slow yoga. What is slow yoga you say ? Well from my understanding it is a desire to get back to the basics of yoga to develop a practice that allows for reflection. Postures are held with an emphasis on the breath and allowing yourself to explore the sensations within the body and the fluctuations of mind. Perhaps it has been a reaction to the westernization of yoga to be another form of exercise to tone and shape albeit with a focus on breath.
We live in a fast paced world where there is pressure to achieve, attain and move on with little opportunity for savouring the experience and yoga is an experience. It is not something that you do as you would a bike ride or a cross fit class. It is much more about the way in which something is done and making it a way of living.
To experience yoga in the true sense is to live yoga. How do you live yoga? To live yoga you must be prepared to live consciously. To be aware of the effects of your actions, your thoughts both upon yourself, others and your environment. You need to discipline yourself to slow down, to find balance in all things. To become aware of the effects of all things on your body and mind, from what you eat to what you read. If this sounds familiar that is because it illuminates Patanjali’s 8 limbs of yoga ..the yamas the nyamas, ( your ethical practices and and self discipline) asana, ( your movement of the body to enhance it) pranayama, (your control over breath ) pratyahara, (your ability to withdraw the senses) dharana, ( your concentration) dhyana ( meditation) and finally samadhi. (the state of bliss ..transcendence).
Winter is a great time to reflect on these things..to find the still in your life for yoga is not about the shape of your body but the shape of your life.
Beechworth Yoga 