Nourish Grow Blossom
Change & Balance in Yoga
21/10/08 Filed in: Philosophy
As the
Seasons change we sense and observe the natural
changes that occur in our environment with the
transition of the Seasons. Much like the transitions
of the Seasons, we all experience transitions and
changes in our personal lives. At times these changes
may be hard to acknowledge or accept. At other times
we may feel we desperately need a change and some
times we don’t even realize a change is happening.
Those of you who practice Yoga will agree that Yoga creates many physical changes. What about changes in the quality of your mind, personality, relationships or emotions? A fundamental concept to the philosophy of Yoga is called “Parinama Vada” which translates to “everything changes”. Our bodies get stronger and flexible, weaker and stiff, and injured and healed. We have children, get married, break-up, get divorced, we get busy, we get bored, our relationships and jobs are fulfilling, feel empty and much more. As you face the natural transitions and changes of life, a regular Yoga practice can help bring balance to your system, meaning your body, breath, mind, personality and emotions and help support you through wanted or unwanted change.
Through Yoga you can learn how to bring your body to a more balance place to resist and recoup from injury or dis-ease and to be able discern when your body is unbalanced. You also develop an awareness of how your breath changes when you are straining or stressed and how you can feel more calm or energized by changing the quality of your breath. An important aspect of Yoga is how you learn to focus your mind and calm the chatter of thoughts outside the present. This is done through connecting your mind with a chosen object: your body and your breath while doing postures, your breath when doing a breathing practice, sound when doing mantra or a particular object that creates a sense of balance for the student when doing meditation.
A fundamental aspect of Yoga is self-study and this is done in part by observing your system in your Yoga practice. From doing this, you may notice a pattern in your body, breath, thoughts or emotions when doing certain postures or breathing practices, or with a particular teacher or other students, or when you've had a busy day or a relaxing day before you practice. You may even observe that your mood shifts from doing a particular Yoga practice. By observing your system in your practice you learn how you can affect your system to create a sense of balance and calm to support through change.
Through this self-awareness you will begin to notice what people support you, what food supports your body and generally what helps you feel even and balanced in and out of class. Notice what changes your Yoga practice brings to your system and life. Often, you will first notice the outward changes that happen in your body and breath and in time the more subtle changes and shifts in your system will become more visible. You may feel calmer, less easily agitated, more accepting of your self and others, and particularly grounded as you face changes.
For those times, when change is making you feel unbalanced physically, mentally or emotionally. look to your Yoga practice to see how you can change something in your system to feel more even and balanced. The ability to discern what can and cannot be changed in a particular moment and having the tools to bring yourself calm and balance is invaluable in life. Ultimately, change and transition can make us feel unbalanced and it is through making changes in our system that we can recreate balance.
Those of you who practice Yoga will agree that Yoga creates many physical changes. What about changes in the quality of your mind, personality, relationships or emotions? A fundamental concept to the philosophy of Yoga is called “Parinama Vada” which translates to “everything changes”. Our bodies get stronger and flexible, weaker and stiff, and injured and healed. We have children, get married, break-up, get divorced, we get busy, we get bored, our relationships and jobs are fulfilling, feel empty and much more. As you face the natural transitions and changes of life, a regular Yoga practice can help bring balance to your system, meaning your body, breath, mind, personality and emotions and help support you through wanted or unwanted change.
Through Yoga you can learn how to bring your body to a more balance place to resist and recoup from injury or dis-ease and to be able discern when your body is unbalanced. You also develop an awareness of how your breath changes when you are straining or stressed and how you can feel more calm or energized by changing the quality of your breath. An important aspect of Yoga is how you learn to focus your mind and calm the chatter of thoughts outside the present. This is done through connecting your mind with a chosen object: your body and your breath while doing postures, your breath when doing a breathing practice, sound when doing mantra or a particular object that creates a sense of balance for the student when doing meditation.
A fundamental aspect of Yoga is self-study and this is done in part by observing your system in your Yoga practice. From doing this, you may notice a pattern in your body, breath, thoughts or emotions when doing certain postures or breathing practices, or with a particular teacher or other students, or when you've had a busy day or a relaxing day before you practice. You may even observe that your mood shifts from doing a particular Yoga practice. By observing your system in your practice you learn how you can affect your system to create a sense of balance and calm to support through change.
Through this self-awareness you will begin to notice what people support you, what food supports your body and generally what helps you feel even and balanced in and out of class. Notice what changes your Yoga practice brings to your system and life. Often, you will first notice the outward changes that happen in your body and breath and in time the more subtle changes and shifts in your system will become more visible. You may feel calmer, less easily agitated, more accepting of your self and others, and particularly grounded as you face changes.
For those times, when change is making you feel unbalanced physically, mentally or emotionally. look to your Yoga practice to see how you can change something in your system to feel more even and balanced. The ability to discern what can and cannot be changed in a particular moment and having the tools to bring yourself calm and balance is invaluable in life. Ultimately, change and transition can make us feel unbalanced and it is through making changes in our system that we can recreate balance.