It all depends…
Happy full moon, Yoga Mamas! This phase of the moon can be a special time for our lives and yoga practices as we reflect on the cyclical flow of nature. We are part of nature, which means we are just as dynamic as She is. What does this mean for our yoga practice?
When a person starts practicing yoga, there is so much questioning: what’s the alignment of this pose? Am I breathing correctly? How long should I hold this? What should I focus my mind on? The mind fills up with curiosity or doubt.
And the answer to all of these inquiries really depends: are we tired or overstimulated (or maybe even both)? How much time do we have to practice right now? What do our bodies need right now (are we menstruating? going through (peri)menopause? pregnant? postpartum? sick? stressed? feeling balanced for once?). Are the kids with us or do we have the pleasure of practicing solo? What inspires us or connects us to our Truest Self?
Pause and simplify
There is so much to consider, and yet it doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s a video I made from about 3 years ago. It’s a really basic practice to help us embody a sense of fullness at this brightest time of the moon’s phases.
I should add that you can do the type of spinal flexion and extension from the video in various positions: sitting, standing, lying down, or on all fours (a.k.a. cat/cow pose). On the other hand, maybe you don’t feel like moving much at all, or you’re exhausted or menstruating. If that’s the case, check out this post from last October on how you can shift into a more restful mode of practice.
Stay inspired
Most of all, my commitment to you all is to help you stay inspired (I write this all for me, too!). Let’s stay inquisitive and compassionate to ourselves as we practice; challenging ourselves through yoga doesn’t always have to be just a series of push and pull. Sometimes (oftentimes) it is punctuated by several pauses. That pause is a yoga pose, too. In that pause, notice how full you are, brimming with thoughts, emotions, breath, sensations, tension, happiness, or whatever it is that is flowing through you right now. Then let it go with an exhale.
With that in mind (and in heart, and in body:), here’s a nice quote I’d like to share with you on this day of fullness:
“True yoga is not about the shape of your body, but the shape of your life. Yoga is not to be performed; yoga is to be lived. Yoga doesn’t care about what you have been; yoga cares about the person you are becoming. Yoga is designed for a vast and profound purpose, and for it to be truly called yoga, its essence must be embodied.”
— Aadil Palkhivala