Hatha Yoga

Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and to endure what can’t be cured – B.K.S. Iyengar

Yoga is an ancient spiritual, mental, and physical practice which emerged from the Indian subcontinent some 5000 years ago.  Originally, it was developed as a way to help alleviate daily suffering, practiced as a life philosophy based on our relationship with the world and finding inner peace. It has subsequently evolved over the centuries, spreading across the globe to encompass a range of styles and methods – some of which compliment, and even (mildly) contradict, each other. 

Hatha Yoga itself can trace its origins back to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, written circa 400 AD These sutras contained reference to the 8 Limbs of Yoga or 8 Limb method: a guideline to living a deeper and more peaceful life. Very briefly, they concern: 

1. Morality
2. Positivity
3. Posture
4. Breathing
5. The Senses
6. Focus
7. Meditation
8. Enlightenment

As one of the most prominent strands of yoga, Hatha used to be considered an umbrella-term for various sub-styles, such as Iyengar, Yin and Ashtanga. Now, however, it often refers to any form consisting of poses. Although this style is often associated with gentle or laid-back practice, it can also be practiced very strongly.  According to one interpretation, ‘hatha‘ actually means ‘exertion' or 'force’ in Sanskrit, referring to the effort required to guide the flow of energy. 

There are many benefits of effective practice: some of the physical ones include increased body awareness; mobility, flexibility, strength, and balance.  Because yoga is so personal and diverse, one can customise their practice to suit their own needs. For example, a muscular bodybuilder may choose to focus more on poses that emphasise flexibility over strength. (If one is flexible in the back and shoulders yet tight in the hips and hamstrings, more personal practice should be dedicated to the latter.)  As well as helping alleviate back and joint issues, yoga can substantially improve our breathing, blood pressure, and sleeping patterns – key components of health that can be neglected.

Good physical health should always be linked to good mental health; a healthy mind and body operate in tandem. Yoga practice can reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus, and encourage a positive mindset. In today’s stressful environment, this is perhaps more important than ever. Group practice has the potential to ignite friendships and communal bonding, which also provides us with that vital social stimulation. Fundamentally, however, yoga is a personal journey that moves at one’s own pace. Each human body is unique: it is up to us to explore, study, and examine our body & mind for greater well-being.

Modern living can be hectic and relentless: a whirlwind of phone calls, emails, texts, and notifications that overpower the senses and deprive us of proper rest. Yoga teaches us to better manage our physical and mental being, to help regain our inner peace and focus. This is a progressive practice for your entire life!

Against the Wall

When we need to remain inside, contained within the walls of our homes, we can use these walls to improve our sense of stability & to add variety to our yoga routine.

In these two stretches we explore stretching with our back against the wall & then facing the wall. When we stand against a wall we can notice, as when we’re lying down, the parts of the body that are touching the wall. 

Encourage the whole body to draw towards the wall, so that the weight settles more into the back body. It does not matter if your head is not touching the wall. Instead focus on moving the top of the head towards the sky. And, while we stay here, allow the body to settle there. Feel the support of the wall and focus on your breath.
Standing still here, for a moment or two, while we maintain our attention just on our body & just on our breath, not letting our mind run away. Body, breath & mind all working together for greater stability, the essence of yoga.

When we stretch the arms up overhead in a higher mountain position we can feel the increased length in the sides of the body and the ribcage moving away from the pelvis, creating space and energy in the body. Breathe more fully to enhance those feelings.

In the second stretch, remember to keep the legs active & the back of the head in-line with the spine. Experiment with the distance between the wall & the feet. If there’s mild discomfort in the lower back it may be helpful to turn the toes in a little bit.

Stay here for a few moments, breathing in & pressing into the hands when you are ready to come out of the pose. Before you continue with your day, pause & notice how you feel now.

Namaste,

Leila

Mood Enhancing Breath

Mood Enhancing Breath

Our health & well-being depend on our breath. Breathing is the first thing we do when we enter the world, it’s even more important than the food we eat. All of us can last days without food, but only minutes without breath. In yoga teachings the breath is considered our first nourishment. During extraordinary times we may find ourselves holding our breath, choked with overwhelming feelings of anxiety or despair. Or, we may feel turbulent emotions trapped inside us. At such times it can be impossible to sit quietly & focus on our breathing. Combining movement with breath gives our busy mind something to do & can alleviate, or at least dampen, our agitation, anxiety, or despair. Here are three practices to try out. These practices are short & simple & can be done at any time. They work particularly well in the morning & I often use them to set myself up for the day. Remember to be patient with yourself - you may not feel the benefits immediately but keep going. Finally, don’t try too hard. If these practices don’t feel right, leave them. There are plenty of others to explore. Namaste, Leila

A Mountain Meditation

We live in extraordinary & uncertain times, with many of us suffering from anxiety and helplessness. Here is a simple meditation to help us manage such feelings.

We are creatures of habit, what we practice, we become. If we practice being calm, we become calm.

You might like to pause for a moment & remind yourself of something you excel at, a skill that is highly developed. Maybe you can drive well, design & knit a jumper or even run a marathon. But how did you achieve this level of ability? Most probably through hours of practice (and overcoming a few set-backs along the way).

So, although acquiring a new skill is not easy, everyone can do it. We can develop the inner skills of stability, calmness & tranquillity. It will require effort & time, but isn't it worth it?

We live with ourselves 24/7, there has never been a better time to befriend our mind. We have little control of the outer world, but we can learn to manage our mind, enhancing our ability to stay grounded no matter what is going on around us.

This meditation is one I have been using for many years. I hope you find it helpful.

Namaste.

Simply Standing

In this short, 5 minute practice, I discuss the fundamental physical & mental benefits of standing well.

It is surprising how even doing something as simple as standing with better posture can help relieve some aches and pains. But also, standing well can help us feel more connected to our surroundings, reduce stress, help us feel more confident and more at peace with ourselves and the world.

Yoga for Extraordinary Situations (YES)

This blog is called “ YES” , yoga for extraordinary situations since for over a decade yoga has helped me manage many extraordinary situations.

My life seemed pleasant, quiet & ordinary but over the last 10 years all hell broke loose. My quiet, stable life disintegrated as one challenging event followed after another.

These extraordinary situations include the car crash that happened on my daughter’s 18th Birthday. She broke her neck. (just in case you’re wondering, she is absolutely fine now - a testament to our NHS & to her strong lovely bones!) Then, there was my Father’s suicide, a week after his wife had died, my Mother’s protracted illness & death, my half-brother’s terminal illness, marital problems, my husband’s bike crash & my son went missing somewhere in Europe for weeks (but has, fortunately, now been located)

These situations have given me too many opportunities to test out the power of yoga. I still marvel at how effective these strategies have been & how, as far as I know, I have not yet lost my mind!

So, over the next few months we will explore how yoga can be used to help manage extraordinary situations. Our tool kit will simply be our body, mind & breath.  And, our yoga mat or space will be our playground or laboratory, where our adventure will take place.