Progress in Practice 1

The way that we think and act in our everyday lives is often the mind set that we bring to our yoga practice.

Yoga is however an opportunity to notice our tendencies and become aware of other choices available to us.

It is common to play to our strengths, presenting to people the aspects of ourself that we want them to see. This re affirms our self image and we feel confident as a result. Socially this may work very well however do we ever explore the more tender areas of ourselves. Do we listen to our sadness and how it feels in the body? Or is it supressed along with other emotions that are "inconvenient"?

Our yoga practice is an opportunity to listen and feel. Acknowledging the areas of stiffness or dullness in the bodymind and gently 'opening up, breathing into and extending from.'

It takes courage to do asana without our habitual thoughts getting in the way, and without our strengths dominating. Giving time to explore other aspects of ourselves is a way to open up to the truth. Satya is one of the first principles of yoga. It means truth and light. On the yoga mat we have the opportunity to turn towards our truth, the perhaps uncomfortable truths.

Growth lies in exploring our vulnerability. It might be helpful to notice which parts of the body are being sacrificed in order to do a certain yoga posture. In order to achieve one thing something else often gives. A state of balance arises when we become aware of this interplay between aspects of the bodymind.

Which parts of your body often do the giving? Which parts are often ignored as 'inconvenient' or 'nothing to worry about'? Can they have a voice too?

Which parts of your body are dominant and are often the leader? Which bits do you present to others?

Yoga is turning towards yourself, pointing you to you. This is the light of yoga.