BEGINNERS YOGA WEEK 1 - BREATH AND AWARENESS

The intention for our first week’s yoga session is to bring awareness to our body and breath. So often in our busy lives we place our attention outside of ourselves. the practice of yoga helps us gain awareness through stillness and focus. With growing awareness of our breath and body we can bring balance back when we notice we are feeling off centre.

Lets begin by lying back on to our mats, closing our eyes and just being aware of the gentle rhythm of our breath. Notice how the chest rises and falls with each inhale and exhale. Taking these first few moments to be become fully present and aware of your body. As we breathe take time to let go of the heels to the ground beneath you, let go of the legs and release any tension in the knees, soften the buttocks and the hips, arms are heavy, neck is heavy, feel the whole body sinking relaxed to the ground beneath. Breath and body, body and breath. Inhale and exhale rise and fall.

try these breathing practices below ……….

diaphragmatic breathing - belly breathing

this is the most important part of breath control. The average person uses his chest muscles rather than his diaphragm which is usually shallow and rapid. The lower lobes of the lungs which receive an abundant supply of blood are not adequately ventilated so the gas exchange which takes place between the lungs and the blood is inadequate.

Diaphragmatic breathing oxygenates the blood improving circulation, organ function and energy levels. This can be done sitting comfortably, on your back with your hand on the belly or on your tummy experiencing the breath as your tummy expands against the ground.

Yoga postures can increase flexibility, strengthen muscles, improve posture and enhance circulation. If the practice of yoga provided only these physical benefits it would fully justify its place in our lives.

However at its core, yoga is much more than a system of physical fitness. It’s a practice of becoming aware . Becoming aware of how we feel, how we breathe, how we think, how we act and how we react. It’s a practice of slowing down the mind chatter to create space in our heads and heart to think and feel clearer. It is a science of balanced living, a path for realising full human potential.

Yoga offers the promise of remaining centred -  an anchor in the midst of turbulence.

The body is always present it is the mind that wanders  through fantasies past and future. By being aware of the body the mind becomes present and cultivates capacity for concentration. As we become more centred we realise that this paying attention is our ongoing task. By maintaining sustained focus on physical sensations we observe the fluctuations of the mind.

Notice how you are feeling as you practice the next video. Scanning the body from the tips of the toes. How do the feet feel, being aware of the legs, the lower back, upper back, shoulders, arms, fingers, neck, face. Where and how do you feel this stretch in the body. Noting when the mind becomes distracted and guide your awareness back to the sensations of the body back to the rhythm of the breath. Inhale 2,3,4 pause exhale 2,3,4 pause.

we may feel a deep stretch when doing these poses. if however your body experiences any sharp pain or unusual discomfort please either adjust the body to a more comfortable position or stop the pose and contact me.

Psychologists have suggested that about 25% of suffering is real  the other 75% is what the mind creates. By training ourselves to drop into stillness more often we can create greater space between each one of our thoughts leading to a life of less suffering…..just breathe