At the end of final relaxation in a yoga class, when everyone is lying in Savasana, I often say: “Notice how your body feels in this moment. If you scan your body, maybe noticing a positive change as a result of your practice”. There are so many layers in yoga. I believe it is important to become aware of what the practice does for you, and notice how it slowly but surely changes the way you experience yourself, your body, your breathing, your surroundings, your life.
People come to yoga for a variety of reasons. Whatever these may be, I think they are all RIGHT, as they brought you to yoga! At the start of your “yoga life” you might focus mostly on the physical aspects of the practice. Based on what I have noticed for myself, you will get stronger and more flexible attending my classes. And with this, another layer appears. The strength and flexibility you gain will affect how you feel in everyday life. Maybe you start walking in a more fluid way, feeling more grounded and at ease in your body. Perhaps you become more confident. Perhaps you start seeing life in a lighter way. Maybe the practice leads to more awareness of how strong you are internally, how resilient you are, and how amazing you are just as you are. Perhaps you notice how it is okay to be fully you. Maybe the practice helps you realise that you are and will be fine, whatever the difficult situations or unexpected changes that might appear in your life. You know you are here, standing tall, anyway.
There are so many reasons for practising and I hope you have experienced and continue to experience many of them. Here I have only mentioned a few that have come up for me! By the way, whoever practises yoga always remains a student of yoga. There is always more to learn and experience.
Isn’t it just totally amazing and wonderful that such a practice exists?
