So, you think you do yoga? You come to classes once a week. You practice your Ujjayi breath when you feel stressed. Maybe you do a few sun salutations at home, or sit in Pigeon pose in front of the TV. Sorry to break it to ya - but there's a lot more to it than that. Despite focusing predominately on movement in our classes, this is actually just an "Asana" practice, and is only one element of Yoga.
There are 8 elements, or 'limbs' of a holistic yoga practice, each of which can help us to live a more meaningful and authentic life; to connect with your true self — body, mind and spirit... or, if this doesn't resonate with you think of it in reverse. Practices to give yourself space from the crap of modern life (pressures, responsibilities, sedentary behaviours) and restore your mind and movement to a more free, harmonious and natural state.
Be more Octopus!
The 8 limbs of yoga are: Yamas - a set of moral disciplines (eg: truth and kindness) Niyamas - a set of duties or observances (eg: cleanliness and discipline) Asana - movement - the bit we all think of as Yoga! Pranayama - breath techniques Pratyahara - sense withdrawal, or going inwards Dharana - focused concentration Dhyana - meditative absorption Samadhi - bliss, or enlightenment
Some of these elements are clearly more easily attained than others, and most of us may never reach that highest branch of Samadhi (enlightenment) for more than a fleeting moment. But we can certainly work towards it, by incorporating the elements of Yoga we can more easily attain into our lives. Observing the Yamas and Niyamas are an excellent place to start, and you don't even need a yoga mat or a pair of overpriced leggings to do so.
There are 5 Yamas (external moral disciplines) and 5 Niyamas (internal healthy habits) which we can try to live by to boost our sense of wellness. Let's delve into what these are, and how to practice them, in more detail in more blog posts over the coming weeks. But for now, you might think of them kind of like the 10 commandments - guidelines on how to conduct yourself through life in a way that inspires contentment and authenticity.
Stay tuned...
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