Mindfully physical

Asana is the practice of the yoga postures.

Pantajali taught the physical practice of yoga as movements that are meant to be done with ease and joy. He taught that it was important to take your time with each pose and move from posture to posture fully present by focusing the mind with breath. Modern day yoga and especially in our culture, modern climate and pace has bent the practice to workout status which can be harmful if students push past their limitations leading them to injury. The yoga sutras tell us that yoga is meant to be done in a relaxed state that aims to connect one with their body, not to combat duality of mind and body.

I come from a very strong fitness background and lifestyle. I know how to force mind over body and push my limits. I also know injury, and actually didn't for a very long time. I was lucky and younger. There will always be lessons to learn. Yoga can be a practice we enjoy for our whole lives. The older I get, the more I recognize the privilege to move these bones, engage their surrounding muscles, feel strong and good in my skin. The older I get, the more I come to terms with what will benefit me for the long game I truly want to enjoy in my body. I'll be the first to admit, 🙋🏻‍♀️ sometimes very painful lessons. Ow.

Speaking of, there is a fine line between discomfort and pain; queue reading glasses. Our bodies change. Our awareness to that truth is our choice. Discomfort is where we grow, where we gain strength, where we invite edge and competency. Discomfort can be an opportunity to connect body, mind, breath. When we experience pain and push through anyway, we disconnect from ourselves and risk injury and setback. Can we possibly know and trust we are worth a work in progress? Can we take time for union so that the long game of living fully in our bodies becomes our very living reality?

Discomfort:
A background annoyance that can fluctuate both increasing and decreasing. Can also be unpleasant feelings and sensations such as anxiety, isolation, thirst and feeling cold. In yoga, we learn how to stay with what may be uncomfortable and allow it to move through and past. It will and does.

Pain:
Acute, sharp, easy to pinpoint its location in the body. Pain gets worst the more you continue to try and push through it. In yoga, we stop when we have pain. Our breath is how we connect feelings to thoughts allowing informed choices in responding to our body sensations. 

Feeling the feels and breathing into what is true,
Jill