“The body benefits from movement, and the mind benefits from stillness.” -Sakyong Mipham
Yoga is the perfect synergy between asana (posture), pranayama (breathwork), and meditation. When you develop a consistent yoga practice, you create a strong body and a centered calm mind. One effective approach to stepping into your personal power is to emphasize building physical strength through your yoga practice. These classes will help you strengthen bones and joints, increase endurance and stamina, and boost your mood with endorphins.
When you focus on building physical strength, you’re not just becoming more muscularly toned, you’re ensuring the health of your spine, your cardiovascular and nervous systems, and more. We’ve only got this one body and yoga asana is an excellent way to maintain fitness for your entire life. Like Joseph Pilates’ said, “Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness.” Think of your yoga practice as a vehicle to allow you to stay active and vibrant as long as possible.
Yoga asana originated to allow the yogi to be able to sit still and meditate for long periods of time. If you aren’t strong or flexible enough to sit comfortably, you’ll be challenged to quiet your mind and find Santosha (contentment). When you focus on challenging your body’s limits, you tap into your inner resolve and filter out distractions, which reduces stress and encourages more balanced emotions. You simply can’t separate the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of yoga. Even if all you care about is mastering Mayurasana (Peacock) or Sirsasana (Headstand), you will still find more clarity, calm, and joy within yourself.
Whether you’re accustomed to emphasizing the physical, mental, or spiritual aspects in your own practice, all approaches lead to the same place––learning to live in the present moment. In this space, we can release self-doubt and unleash our inner warrior, becoming the most powerful version of ourselves. Whether you’re accustomed to a slow-paced Iyengar class a fast Power Yoga flow, or a quieter practice like Yin or Restorative, you’re building strength, balance, flexibility, and equanimity.
Join us this week for some fun classes that will not only challenge you physically but will empower you to be your strongest self––outside and in.
