Yoga is not about the poses, and even less so about complex pretzel twists or crazy circus-like antics. That said, I´m a sucker for an arm balance. You see, every time I pull off one of these, I feel like a freaking goddess. I really do. I feel strong, and powerful, and happy, and joyful, and free! Because, heck, why shouldn’t I? It took me a lifetime to get to this point of self-love and empowerment inside and out, and I´m sure as hell going to enjoy it.
At nearly 56, I finally and fully realize that THIS in and of itself, and as much as I enjoy it, is not yoga. This is an asana posture,ardhachandrasanachapasana. The real yoga is actually a way of life and happens mostly off the mat.
Ways I practice yoga daily:
¿Estás estresado pero no crees ser capaz de meditar? ¡Yo pensaba lo mismo! Siempre he sido una persona muy activa. Corredora, bailarina, nadadora. Me encantaba estar EN MOVIMIENTO todo el tiempo. También me encantaba dormir la siesta… ¡y aún lo hago! ¡Shhh!
Pero antes, simplemente NO podía quedarme sentada y meditar.
The first time I saw photos of people doing restorative yoga on bolsters I thought, “what a waste of time.” I was sooo wrong. Now that I’ve experienced the benefits for almost four years and am certified to teach restorative, I’m a big fan.
Do you use mudras during your yoga or meditation practice or even when you’re going about your day? Mudras are hand gestures or hand positions that have the purpose of channeling the body’s energy flow in a certain way.
This particular mudra – Gyan mudra – is one of the most widely used. The thumb and the index finger are touching lightly, making a circle, and the other fingers are straight.
Did you know that “asana” as described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali literally means “seat”? So asana, in the early days, was the part of yoga practice (see my previous post on the eight limbs of yoga) which basically involved sitting to meditate, often for hours.
Asana yoga poses as we know them now evolved as a way to make the body limber enough and the mind focused enough to – once again – be able to sit in a crossed-legged position (easy pose, half lotus or lotus) to meditate for extended periods of time without feeling aches and pains or restlessness.
Of the 8 limbs of yoga outlined in Patanjali´s Yoga Sutras, the first two attract me the most. These are the Yamas and Niyamas, which I read about over and over and try to embody. It´s not easy, but it´s not impossible. It takes practice though.
The Yamas and Niyamas are the foundation for a way of life that enables us to assume responsibility for our lives, all of our lives, past, present and future.
I admit I get a tiny bit tired of older women telling me all my life that I’m fit because I’m young. At 55, soon 56, I still have to hear that BS.
To prove that challenging oneself has nothing to do with a certain age, I´m sharing a photo I took a few months ago, of a yogini I admire tremendously, and a photo of myself doing the same asana, triangle pose.
Meet the fabulous yogini, Pauline Dimitry, who is 81 years old and has beaten cancer 4 times. At one point she was told by a surgeon she would not be able to practice asana yoga again, and she is certainly proving him wrong.
I was always one of those type-A, go-go-go people. I enjoyed only the most powerful and challenging yoga flows. Otherwise, you´d find me weightlifting, running or swimming laps until my muscles couldn´t take it any longer. This meant that I sustained many injuries throughout my life. It also meant that I missed out on the benefits of slowing down.
A friend recently asked me whether I had considered quitting my meds for anxiety and depression, now that I’m so deep into yoga and meditation. My answer was no. I’ve been on the same combo and dose for 15 years now, and it took me a lifetime to hit on the right cocktail for me. This doesn’t mean I will never quit the meds; maybe I will, maybe I won’t.