Going Beyond Asana

 How can we use asanas to discover what we believe about oneself, find that which is holding us back and become what we are capable of? How can we lift the lid of our own limitations to create greater happiness and freedom? Through movement, we can discover our self! 

Yoga can be amazing for developing a strong core and safe mobility… but if you are prepared to take the journey… you can create more than you may ever have believed possible. If you have practiced yoga for years or even weeks, no doubt you have experienced this already. If you have not yet developed a consistent yoga practice, or perhaps not yet found the teacher or style of yoga that resonates with you, then get excited. Get excited at the potential that yoga holds for you.

As we practice yoga, we practice finding our edge in a safe environment - Playing with what comes up as we near the limits of our comfort circle. Whether that edge be physically (with our flexibility and strength), mentally (with what we believe we can or can’t do) or emotionally (with what we feel, let surface or are ready to accept). While we prop and balance our bodies in a yoga posture, we practice much more than just extending our flexibility. We start noticing what comes up. We notice our strain and effort, we notice our breathe, we notice our emotions as they arise, we start to notice the thoughts that come and go… and we develop the ability to separate ourselves from these thoughts, emotions and effort. We start to drop into a space where things that once worried us, don’t seem so important anymore. Where we are less judgemental, where our intuition speaks to us, where we just be.

As we accept and let go of our self imposed expectations and what we ‘should’ and ‘shouldn’t’ be able to do… we really start to go deeper and find another whole new level to our practice.

Our reasons for doing yoga can totally transcend any idea of what we believed yoga was. As physical strength is intertwined with our mental and emotional body – as we develop one, the other too is lifted. As flexibility is intertwined with stored old emotions, trauma or beliefs, and also with the energy flow through our bodies.  As we free up one, we affect and nourish the other.

As we learn to accept and breathe and work through our asanas with true balance, we dissolve issues from our past that have lodged within and hence cause a greater mobility and freedom. As energy flows better, our muscles work together in synergy creating support and more efficient movements. With this, we develop trust. As we develop and trust our OWN muscular system to support our bones and joints and movements, this on a very basic physiological level, in turn develops flexibility but it also ignites our solar plexus chakra. This chakra burns bright with inner strength and confidence, building self belief, passion and inspiration to follow our heart and develop our intuition, making decisions easier and creating greater freedom both on and off the mat.

If we choose to soften and start to accept the lessons of yoga, we are more likely to experience the blissful state of emotions that a yoga practice offers. This trust within our self extends into the trust in something greater than us – trust in the ancient philosophy of yoga.

In this place we are more likely to face our fears, move through discomfort and truly experience trust. As we find that balance between grace and grit in our postures, we learn what discomfort is and what pain is. We learn to sit with discomfort, to even welcome discomfort, as we start to learn and trust that often with discomfort, whether that be physical, mental or emotional, comes growth. We practice watching thoughts and emotions surface, allowing emotions and even pain to surface, we practice not attaching to these but instead letting them pass. This is where true healing occurs. ‘Healing’ is often a lot less dramatic than we may first think. We can all contribute to our own healing quite easily. We don’t have to feel broken to benefit from this kind of healing.

Through a simple regular practice, we can create massive transformational changes. It’s like what ever you are looking for or open to, will come your way. Whether your goal is strength or flexibility or you have your sights set on attaining oneness, inner peace or samadi (sustained bliss)… physical asanas can be your tool or bridge towards achieving these goals. And with practice our goals organically change and grow. We continue to peel off limiting beliefs – allowing glimpses of greater and more fantastic possibilities.

Yoga can be like taking an adventure of getting to know yourself.  Where transformation and healing can spontaneously happen as a result.  Where stepping on the mat, allows a most beautiful journey to unfold.

Practice to decrease pain – Create inner peace!

Practice for flexibility – Create inspiration!

Practice for core strength – Create dreams!

Practice to escape a busy brain – and find your true self!