mindfulness and yoga
Mindfulness teaches us to hold solid notions of “self” less tightly, to learn to sit with discomfort, and to cultivate a moment to moment awareness that is free from judgement.
By integrating mindfulness into our yoga practice we explore the energetic and sensational aspects of the body, experiencing the body from the inside out. Through this practice we gain an understanding of the fleeting nature of sensations and the impermanent nature of the body. We come to see the deep patterns of clinging and aversion we often are living in, and we learn to become more free.
Our yoga practice can be a potent tool for creating an inner environment that’s conducive to the practice of mindfulness. It is important, however, to cultivate this intentionally, embracing the postures as process-oriented explorations as opposed to approaching the poses as goals that need achieving.
Once we have an understanding into the ever changing experience of the body, we are ready to forge into the deeper workings of what we call “mind”. Through seated meditation practice we gain a toolset for managing the beautiful yet complicated experience of being human. We learn to work with stress, anxiety, grief and sadness. We gain freedom from maladaptive behaviors that cause harm to others and to us.