Interestingly there are many ways to practice yoga. Yoga has many different practices that are designed to take the practitioner towards a state of inner peace. The aim is with regular practice, this state of peace or calm can be accessed even in the wake of stressful times. Of course our health might be suffering in the way of insomnia or a physical injury so we may come to yoga to address such complaints initially but yoga works on many levels so we get to experience a state of health & wellbeing which goes way beyond just addressing a sore back.
Simply, we are all individuals with different needs so yoga offers many varied & suitable practices for everyone regardless of ability, age, culture or personality.
A sequence of practices are used in my 90 minute yoga classes to offer the student to benefit physically, mentally, emotionally & even spiritually, offering a deep sense of wellbeing possible even after one session .
They may change & not always be integrated to each class but generally are as follows –
Yoga Nidra – (systematic, deep restorative practice)
- deep relaxation of body & mind due to progressive technique of pratyahara (withdrawing the mind & body inwards away from external sensory influences)
- allows mind to go into a hypnogogic state (between conscious & subconscious state where brain alpha brain waves are dominant) This means we are more receptive & less habitual so more able to let go of old unsupportive patterns of behavior.
- Deep relaxation on the physical & mental level is induced but Prana (energy) is also redirected into the body to rejuvenate.
- 30mins of yoga nidra is equal to 2 hrs of deep sleep.
Asanas – (physical postures)
Smooth & repetitive –
- pumps blood flow into area for healthy tissue & aids in healing
- helps to gently increase length of muscles, fascia, tendons making body more flexible & therefore increases ROM reducing tension, pain & making us less prone to injury
- Smooth action helps lubricate joints & cartilage & also when we focus on length it creates space between joints keeping nervous system healthy
Using the breath with the movement –
- Opens up lungs so O2 more easily absorbed into body
- supports body mind connection so to tune in & know how to move with awareness
- creates a soothing meditative effect as mind becomes one pointed & focused
Pranayama – (breathing practices to enhance our life force)
- works on the energetic level so we can vitalise / balance / calm ourselves both in body & mind
Meditation – (one pointed practices to reduce mental activity)
- takes the mind away from worries & distractions into the present moment
- teaches us to explore or tune in to ourselves a ‘witness’. We learn to observe ourselves as we strengthen our ability to notice without getting caught up in all the attachment & aversion of emotions. This helps us ‘act’ from a stable wisdom response rather than ‘re-act’ from an unstable emotional response
Chanting – (repeating Sanskrit mantras / syllables )
- vibration offers another dimension to explore energy (in the form of healing, soothing, vitalizing energy)
- repetition focuses mind as a positive loop is re-inforced
- creates an opportunity for harmonious union within ourselves & each other