Yoga for Stability, not just to be Bendy
With this cold weather, our muscles tend to stay
tight. What better way to loosen them up, than with some yoga!! Or, at least
that is what most people think yoga is for. I’m here to shed a little insight
that it’s more than just about getting flexible and bendy. Yoga is also great for
stability. This cold weather has also brought us a lot of ice and slippery
surfaces. Almost daily, we are reminded of the unstable surface that our feet
have to tread on. People are walking slower, they stick their hands out for
balance, and grip on to objects and other people. But what about when it
warms up? It seems easy to forget the importance of having good stability. Yoga
can assist with that.
What exactly is Yoga anyway? And what style do I teach? Let
me reference a blog that I wrote while in Nicaragua:
“You have probably heard one of the following terms:
Hatha, Vinyasa, Astanga, Bikram, etc. You probably associate Yoga with a series
of postures that force your body to stretch. However, traditional Yoga is a
spiritual practice. It is a means to allow you find your “center” a place of
balance that will allow you to deepen the connection with yourself which will
bring you closer to your higher self, purpose, or God (depending on your own
spiritual practice).
Jungle Yoga is a traditional Tantric style yoga that is a
breath-based practice. The focus is on letting the breath guide your practice,
not your postures guiding you. Instead of just learning every posture and how
to teach them, we incorporate an hour of chanting mantras, multiple meditations
through the day, and Tantric Yoga philosophy classes.
Yoga doesn’t just mean stretching and movement. It
incorporates 5 classical elements:
Jnana Yoga – Knowledge. Such as Reading and
learning, being taught. Learning from teachers.
Hatha Yoga – The physical movement,
Breathing, and cleansing exercise.
Nada Yoga – Sound Vibration – Reciting
Mantras
Bhakti Yoga – Devotion – Committing
yourself to something, like a higher purpose
Karma Yoga – Making every act that your do
be an act of connecting and expression of harmony
These 5 elements combined compromise yoga. You might be
thinking “this sounds more like a spiritual practice that an exercise class.”
Truth is, it is. However, do not fear and think that you must be Hindu or
Buddhist or that your Yoga teacher is going to convert you into believing
something that you don’t want to. Whatever your spiritual faith is, will fit
into each one of these categories. We all learn from someone else and read our
spiritual book. We move daily and we Breathe. We each recite our own type of
Mantra, whether it’s in Sanskrit or in the form of Bible Verses. We also commit
ourselves to a higher purpose in our own personal acts of devotion to the One
that you pray or bow. And you cannot deny Karma Yoga: for every action there
is an equal and opposite reaction. Karma happens. No matter how you look at it.
Just smile at someone. Chances are, they might smile back or their eyes will
light up. That’s instant karma.
And now the word “Tantra.” NO, Tantra does not mean sex.
Tantra means, “to weave.” The goal of Tantra Yoga is to find that intersecting
point between two objects and then find the stillness in that moment. For
example, where exactly does the ocean meet the shore? Where do your arms meet
your shoulders? Tantra seeks to find that middle space and expand it. This is
why Breath is so important. Jungle Yoga is seeing to find that tantric space
where the Breath and the Posture meet and then expand that intersection to
discover the stillness. It’s in the stillness that our muscles and joints and
our mind can begin to relax. Instead of forcing the muscles to relax, we try to
find the stillness and passively allow the muscles to relax with each breath.
If you are seeking a very “Power” type of Yoga, then
looking into Ashtanga, Vinyasya or Bikram might be a good choice for you. If
you are a beginner or someone who desires to cultivate a more breath based
practice that helps your mind to relax and your lungs to expand, then maybe
Jungle yoga is a better option for you. Know that all types of Hatha (movement)
Yoga are good. You just need to find that one that is right for you.”
If you’re new to yoga or haven’t practiced in a while, this
is the class for you. Each class focuses on a different aspect to yoga. Learn
the basics so that you will feel comfortable to attend a large group class.
Monday’s and Tuesday’s 10:00am-11:00am
Dynamic Wellness Semi Private classes only have 4 spaces
available
Mandy Kiley, LMT and E-RYT at Dynamic Wellness
Comments
Post a Comment