How to Yoga Your Life
“I close my eyes in order to see” — Paul Gauguin
My journey began in an airport lounge in transit to Bali for an unplanned vacation. Escaping from work, tired, stressed and needing a break I had a clear choice. Either head for the beaches and bars of Seminyak or choose the more daunting prospect of a yoga retreat — self-isolated in a beautiful location.
I booked the retreat and within days of arrival felt rejuvenated and more connected to myself, my emotions and nature than ever before. Never wanting to leave I wondered how do I keep feeling so cleansed and healthy? How do I bottle this magical recipe up and take it home?
In short How do you Yoga Your Life? Since then that is what I have slowly been doing and I wanted to share my experience and express my gratitude for the perspective I have gained.
When you decide to “Yoga your life” you open yourself to change.
- You have an intention to change something in your life or to learn and grow
- You commit to practice, to make mistakes, to be patient and to treat yourself lovingly
- You learn not to measure yourself against others and against yourself and you simply accept the pleasure of being
- You take time to enjoy the journey of life and not worry about reaching the destination.
How do you start to “Yoga Your Life”?
It all starts when you allow yourself to go beyond your fears and begin practicing yoga. As an ex-rugby player flexibility was not my strong point and this combined with a healthy scepticism towards meditation and chanting mantras made my first class very scary. We all have to start somewhere.
Begin with practice at home following an online class or go to a class at a local studio or gym. Having a teacher in class to modify and correct your postures really helps. Hopefully your teacher will remind you not to compete with the others in the class, do what you can today and be grateful for what you achieve.
Try the various classes available whether it a slower more reflective form such as Yin where you hold poses for a longer period, the moving flowing Vinyasa or the more structured Ashtanga to see which one suits you. The key is getting into some form of routine and committing to regular practice.
Enjoy the physical actions of reaching and holding poses and learn how small changes in feet or shoulder positions can make the impossible possible. Notice how regular practice improves your physical fitness. Maybe you will suddenly be able to touch your toes or twist and bind your arms through your legs or one day hold a tripod headstand for a few minutes.
Incorporate some meditation and pranayama (breathing) exercises to deepen your practice. It took me a long time to chant my first “Ohm” and I am just beginning to chant mantras (quietly). These are all options — do what feels good for you. It’s personal choice but for me any practice that combines breathing, meditation, chanting and physical postures really works to draw myself inward and explore that deep connection between mind and body.
Learn not to be harsh with yourself and observe how the time you are dedicating for yourself bring small changes in your life. Perhaps after a class you are more aware of deeper feelings. As you learn to scan your body for physical signs of your emotions you recognise where in your body you feel anger or sadness. You are better be able to deal with setbacks or you have more confidence in yourself.
With heightened self awareness incremental changes in your diet or routines are likely as you pay more attention to your overall health. Becoming more aware of your anxiety you may use breathing techniques to calm your mind and better handle stressful situations. Accepting and letting go of emotions you have carried through your life will remove obstacles to future changes.
The journey never ends
It is not a straightforward path and as I am learning the road never ends. Who knows what other changes lie ahead and it is not always easy.
There are days when you don’t feel physically flexible or your body is stiff or you are pre-occupied with the stresses of work or family and unable to concentrate. In the midst of a flowing practice as you move through the poses one mistake can make you lose concentration.
Frustration is inevitable when class neighbours easily reach more challenging poses that you cannot. You keep working on a pose but never seem to make any progress and doubt that you will ever be able to reach it.
The challenge is to remain committed and open to change and with time and regular practice you will feel more closely connected to yourself than ever. You will have the freedom to be who you want to be, to overcome your fears and realise more than you ever thought possible. Yoga will be part of your life.
The river needs to take the risk of entering the ocean because only then will fear disappear, because that’s where the river will know it’s not about disappearing into the ocean, but of becoming the ocean. Khalil Gibran. The Fear.
