Becoming Aware

The last years Yoga is getting ever more popular, and these days Yoga comes in many forms and shapes, from gentle stretching to a vigorous workout in a heated room. In my opinion it does not really matter which form you are practicing.

For me the practice of yoga means helping me to feel well and happy, not only during a session, but also afterwards. On the most superficial level it is helping my body, getting more flexible, creating more stamina, building strength, healing my body, understanding my body better, what it can and cannot do. Basically make me feel at ease and comfortable with my body. Also accepting my body in whatever it has to offer me at any moment of time, but at the same time allowing me to change my body. Maybe the right word to use here is increasing my body awareness.

This is very closely linked to awareness and mindfulness. Yoga helps me to train those. Knowing and understanding my body, mind, emotions, breathing and getting more intimately attuned with them is allowing me to be more in tune with the moment. Being more relaxed or at ease in the moment brings me closer to my own nature, which is one of basic goodness, and trusting our nature.

These days more attention is focused on the outside then on the inside. Also in our yoga practice it is some times so easy to get carried away by difficult poses, or gaining flexibility, that we forget to focus inward during the practice and start focus on other (maybe more flexible) people, or start comparing progress with our last session. If our yoga practice is like that our practice becomes a mere physical exercise and we are losing the real sense of practice. This is not only to create a healthier body, but also a happier mind.

Most important in whatever yoga you practice is that it feels good for both body and mind, be compassionate to yourself and that you are having fun while doing it.

Some words of advice

Having practicing Yoga for over 20 years now and teaching yoga in Chiang Mai for 10 years. I know how hard it can be to keep a steady practice. I also had periods that I went astray and did not practice, but I always seem to find my way back. Sometimes it feels so much easier to go for an instant gratification after a long day, turning on the TV, grabbing a chocolate bar and lie on the couch, but there will always be a sense of dissatisfaction in there. Just remember how you feel after a session of Yoga and the long term benefits for both body and mind.

If you have problems doing your own practice, it may be helpful to follow classes on a regular basis and maybe sometimes visit a new Chiang Mai yoga studio or a different teacher. When you are practicing by your self remember that habit is creating a habit. Have a routine, a set time and place and do not make sessions to long, you might feel discouraged when you know that you have to do a long session.

Background of Yoga

Yoga is probably the most ancient form of exercise, tracing back more then 3000 years before the birth of Christ form. Although it is been associate to Hinduism, Yoga is indeed more ancient then Hinduism. The main of goal of Yoga in those days was to prepare the body for austere meditation practice where the yogi need to sit in a meditation pose, silently, focused, sometimes for hours in a row. So doing Yoga postures and pranayamas (breathing exercises) would prepare both the body and mind for this.

Yoga (in India sometimes pronounced as Yog) is word originated from the Sanskrit language, it has different meanings, but the overall consensus is that it means; uniting, merging or joining. The word yoga has its roots in the Sanskrit language and means to merge, join or unite. Yoga is a holistic practice, which helps the yogi by merging the body, breath and mind to achieve its own potential (or its own buddha nature). In yoga the practitioner believes that breath and body closely related with the brain (or mind). So when the Yogi connects to his/her breath and hold their body in an Asana (a steady pose) and at the same time being aware and mindful about the bodily sensations and fluctuation of the mind, the Yogi can create a deeper connection to herself and achieve harmony, peace and bliss within herself. Yoga also can be seen as an inner journey which give a yogi the tools (like awareness, mindfulness, meditation, breath, posture, yoga nidra) to move away from all the outside turmoil and find a quiet peaceful place within

Like mentioned before today we would describe as being holistic. For the ancient yogi it went without saying that a healthy body (through exercise, diet, breathe) could only coexist with a healthy mind and healthy emotions. In this way one can achieve balance and true deeper happiness in every area of our lives