Yoga, start where you are!

Aug 10

Now that we are in the 4th phase of this pandemic, we all share a common need for “sustainable and effective self-care for mind-body vibrancy and resilience.” Acknowledging that this self-care is needed is paramount to our resilience. For instance, in the yogic text, the yoga sutra, the great sage Patanjali writes in the sutra 1.1 – atha yogānuśāsanam. In other words, “Now is the time for Yoga to Begin. The time for yoga is Now“.

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” — Arthur Ashe

A great yoga teacher can modify any yoga pose and make it just right for you.

So why should you practice yoga? According to the National Institute of Health, scientific evidence shows that yoga supports stress management, mental health, mindfulness, healthy eating, weight loss, and quality of sleep.

Here are some poses that offer self-care support:

Tree Pose – Vrikshasana – For Balance and Strength
Cat/Cow – Marjaryasana/Bitilasana -To Strengthen and Mobilize the Spine
Extended Triangle Pose – Utthita Trikonasana – To Gently Open and Strengthen Heart

Warrior 3 -Virabhadrasana 3 – Improves Posture and Stability, Strengthens the Heart
Deep Breathing -Pranayama – Practicing Mindfulness by Focusing on your Breathing in the belly or chest
Legs up the Wall – Viparita Karani – Calms/Relaxes the Mind and helps you sleep better
Do Nothing Pose – Savasana – Relaxes/Stills the Body and the Mind

“True yoga is not about the shape of your body, but the shape of your life. Yoga is not to be performed; yoga is to be lived. Yoga doesn’t care about what you have been; yoga cares about the person you are becoming.” – Aadil Palkhivala

However, when you begin to practice yoga, always remember the first Yama or 1st moral teaching of yoga – Ahimsa or non-harming. Practice at your own pace, honoring your body where you are today instead of where you want to be.

“Yoga is not a work-out, it is a work-in. And this is the point of spiritual practice; to make us teachable; to open up our hearts and focus our awareness so that we can know what we already know and be who we already are.” – Rolf Gates

In conclusion, practicing yoga allows your mind to be fully present with your body. An entire yoga class is a mindfulness practice – movement with breath, focusing on alignment and strength. Yogi Bhajan is the teacher who brought Kundalini yoga to the attention of the Western world. He said, “Begin – the rest is easy.”