By Milda Urban, Summersalt Yoga founder

As many yoga practitioners know – the final gift of one’s yoga and life’s journey is bliss (also known as Samadhi, moksha, enlightenment).

It is important to note that when I say yoga journey I do not mean only the physical asana practice, but the all-encompassing yoga practice.

And this yoga (and life!) journey is not always easy – anyone can attest to that. There are many micro and macro issues coming up, we get distracted, disengaged, demotivated or sometimes might feel as if things are just not moving forward. We find many excuses, distractions, and reasons to pause or stop the journey altogether.

We’re not the only ones and these obstacles have existed since the beginning of the yoga practice altogether. In Yoga Sutras Pantajali has identified 5 main obstacles to yoga (the spiritual journey) that are named Kleshas:

The 5 Kleshas

Avidya – delusion, ignorance

Asmita – ego or the conscious personality

Raga – attachment to pleasurable things

Dvesha – aversion, repulsion to painful things

Abhinivesha – the fear of death

Avidya – it is the inability to see things for what they are which includes not seeing the true self. Not seeing what we are at our core, not noticing the light, awareness, and spirituality in ourselves. This might come because of our upbringing, our “real world” experiences and focus on various things. As a result, we might feel like there’s lack of purpose like we can’t figure out what our values are or what we like/don’t like.

What to do? To overcome this obstacle, we can work on overcoming this by devoting more time spent on own, with our closest friends and family, studying yoga practices and reading more books, disconnecting from the digital world and actively trying to figure out what your values are.

Asmita – EGO is the buzzword of our time and it gets a bad rap as if it’s not necessary. However, it is important for us to function in the world and in society. The issue arises once we become attached to it. We start identifying ourselves only with the ego, with the manufactured personality (this is who I am or this is not who I am), our habits when in reality we are much more than that. Many of those traits we ascribe to ourselves are only a mask and more often than not they are not true anymore or not true at all.

Ego is also the “doer” (we often are human doings and not human beings), so we identify only with the actions, goals, achievements and if those do not work out the way we “want to” we find ourselves in a crisis.

What to do? Practicing stillness. Practicing the not doing, breaking habits and noticing if they are actually that important. If we think people don’t change – take a look at yourself 5 or 10 years ago. Most likely we will see that we’re not the same. It is also important to ask ourselves– do we need more goals and will they bring joy or are we okay by just being as we are?

Raga and Dvesha. These two are connected. We love what makes us feel good and try to avoid what brings us discomfort and pain. We avoid tasks we don’t like, situations that bring us stress (dealing with family or work anyone?). We start identifying with things that bring us pleasure and once we inevitably lose them it brings us discomfort. When experiencing discomfort, we then go and seek other pleasurable distractions. And so goes the cycle.

Life is full of disappointments, irritations, annoyances, but what if we adjust or completely shed expectations? What if we do not focus, attach or overthink “how that does make me feel?” and just accept things as they are? What if we embrace the inevitable discomfort and find growth in it?

Being okay with everything that’s happening is contentment (santosha) and recognizing that “this is too temporary” is a great mantra to follow.

What to do? Trying to be in the moment as much as possible is key. When things go sideways (and they will) – we should recognize and accept them and remember that this is temporary. Let’s fully immerse ourselves in the experiences without having expectations on how they should be.

Abhinivesha – the fear of death is in all of us. Some have more of it, some less, but it exists. It is important to recognize that death is a part of life and to not let that fear cripple us during the time that we have here. Excessively clinging to the youthful appearances, avoiding experiences in order to “stay safe”, obsessing and complaining about the passing years are just hindrance of living fulfilled life.

What to do? It is always great to read philosophical books about life, spirituality, try to find joy in everything we do, contemplate death philosophically and try to identify what is actually that we fear. For many people that’s the disconnection from others and the world.  So let’s make sure we connect now.

Dive deeper into yoga philosophy. This book is a great way to start. 

The post Kleshas – the obstacles to our spiritual journey appeared first on Summersalt Yoga Retreats.

By Sarah Henderson, Summersalt yoga teacher

Are you thinking about starting a personal meditation practice, but don’t know what’s it’s all about or how to start? If you’ve never been led through meditation as part of a yoga or meditation class, starting your own personal practice may seem daunting. Meditation can take many forms, but all contain conscious practices that train your mind to focus on the present and support your spiritual and emotional well-being and growth.

Meditation may help to:

– Reduce stress and symptoms of stress-related conditions

– Reduce or control anxiety

– Achieve quality sleep

– Improve feelings of well-being and promote emotional health

– Increase productivity

– Increase focus and attention span.

– Improve clarity

– Enhance self-awareness

– Increase feelings of calm

So how do you start and keep a meditation practice?

You may want to consider going to a public meditation class first, or a yoga class that contains a good meditation component to experience guided meditation firsthand. Usually studio and community center online class descriptions will mention meditation if they offer it, otherwise, you could contact the studio and inquire directly. Attending a guided practice first may help you experience the benefits of meditation in a supported setting before taking on your own personal practice. 

1) Find a time and a place that works for you

Try to find a time and place where there are minimal nearby external distractions and noises. It’s hard to find stillness if your TV is blaring in the background, or you have something cooking on the stove. It may help to use noise-canceling headphones if you simply can’t find a quiet place, or if you choose to meditate while seated on the bus on route to work.

You don’t always have to meditate at the same time every day; however, this will help you to develop the practice as a habit.  I like to do it first thing in the morning at home before the day gets busy to help me set the tone for the day. Maybe you prefer to do it at night, or on your lunch break. It doesn’t matter, the point is to try and be consistent if you want to make it a habit. 

2) Get comfortable – use of props

I can’t stress how important this one is to keep up with your practice. If you’re not comfortable, your discomfort is going to be very distracting (if not painful). For some people, a stiff body or injuries may prevent them from sitting with ease, so consider stretching or yoga before you sit to meditate, or find a position that works for you (more on this below). After all, this is why the yogis of old began a physical (asana) practice – to prepare the body for longer periods of seated meditation!

For most adults, sitting cross-legged directly on the floor can be uncomfortable and difficult for longer periods. Sit on a prop that elevates your hips to a height that is above the height of your knees (pictured below). For most people, when they sit cross-legged on the ground their knees float high and are above the height of their hips. Finding something to sit on that elevates your hips above your knees will allow your hip flexors to relax and allow you to sit up tall, supporting your spine and maintaining its natural curvature.

There are numerous meditation props available: cushions, bolsters, blocks (chip-foam, cork), wooden benches, and there are many different manufacturers. The best way to choose a prop that works best with your body would be to test some. If you can find a yoga studio that also sells props, they will allow you to try them, and can probably give you some guidance on how to sit on each prop. If they don’t sell props they can suggest where to purchase some locally.

My favorite meditation props are the cushions made by Halfmoon Yoga (they are handmade in British Columbia, Canada). I like the Round Zafu model because you can use it to sit a few different ways, and it’s soft but firm. Halfmoon also makes amazing bolsters (pictured below), which are versatile props because you can use them as a seated mediation prop, and as support during a Yin or Restorative Yoga practice. If you don’t have access to any of these items, get creative! Use a pillow, couch cushion, sweater, etc. to elevate your hips. Something with firmness will be best to help support you and sit tall through your spine.

3) Get comfortable – sitting or lying down

Find a way to sit that feels good in your body. Be aware of the pain in your knees, or tingling and numbness while sitting in certain positions. You don’t want to cut off circulation or pinch any nerves. Pay attention to and honor your body’s wisdom J

There are a few ways you can sit for meditation practice:

1. a) crossed-legged
2. b) stacking your shins one in front of the other: similar to crossed-legs, but without any crossing. I prefer this option to crossed-legs because my legs will not fall asleep in this position.
3. c) both a or b but with your back against a wall
4. d) a kneeling sit with block(s), bolster, or cushion under your sit bones for support (so that you are not sitting directly on your heels)
5. e) sitting on something more rigid, like a chair (vs. a sofa, which may not promote a nice curvature in your spine). Great if you have knee injuries and deep bends in the knee don’t work for you.
6. e) If sitting doesn’t work for you at all, there is the option to lie down. If you’re new to meditation and don’t have any physical limitations to sitting, I only recommend lying down for meditation practices targeting better sleep and fatigue, because a lot of us tend to fall asleep when relaxed in this position!

Now that you’re comfortable, what do you do?

4) Prepare your body to relax

Close your eyes, or keep your eyes open if you’re more comfortable that way, but soften your gaze. This will help you to remove external distractions, focus inward on your breath, and tune in to what you’re feeling and experiencing in your body, breath, mind, and heart. Sit tall through your spine, as though the crown of your head is reaching towards the sky. Keep your core engaged to support your lower back. Relax your shoulders away from your ears, widen your collarbones, and bring your shoulder blades down your back. Notice if you’re holding any tension in your jaw or facial muscles – gently yawn to relax your jaw and bring the tip of your tongue to touch the back of your front teeth (this will keep your teeth slightly parted, and stop you from clenching your jaw).

Let your hands rest gently in your lap, or bring them to your thighs palms facing up, or palms facing down. What’s the difference? Palms facing up is a gesture that signifies giving and receiving of energy. Palms facing down is a grounding gesture, which may calm you or bring your energy inward. Take a deep inhale in through your nose, open your mouth and exhale fully and audibly, releasing some tension. Do this a few more times. 

5) Choose a meditation

There are a great many meditation practices you can try, but below are a few great beginner meditations that involve prānāyāma and stillness. Prānāyāma? – a Sanskrit word that translates approximately to “extension or control of breath or vital life force”. “Prānā” = breath, life force, energy; āyāma = control, extension. These are simple breath observation or breathing techniques that help trigger deep breathing, mind-body-breath awareness, and focus.

a) Witnessing your breath, body, heart, and mind:

The first is to simply focus on and observe your breath and body: Inhale deeply through your nose, feel your lungs and belly expand as you take in your breath, and then exhale out fully through the nose, focusing on releasing all the stale air from the lungs so that you can fully inhale again.

Notice the responses in your body as you inhale: collarbones widening, rib cage expanding, belly expanding, you naturally sit a bit taller.  Notice the responses in your body as you exhale: collarbones soften, posture softens, belly contracts, ribs float back. Feel the air as it passes through your nostrils, down your throat and back.

Continue to observe your body respond to your breath, and if you notice your mind has wandered, just bring your attention back to your breath and the sensations you’re feeling in your body.

b) Breath counting:

There are a few different counts you can do to stay focused on the present:

i) Inhale for 4… 3… 2… 1…. Exhale for 4… 3… 2… 1…. Repeat. Do this till you’ve established a gentle and natural rhythm, then add:

ii) A pause at the end of your exhale, on empty lungs, for one full count; and a pause at the top of your inhale with lungs full for one count: Inhale for 4… 3… 2… 1…. pause and hold for one count; Exhale for 4… 3… 2… 1…. pause and find stillness for one count. Work to keep your breath smooth, steady and even. If you’re feeling any anxiety, panic or stress, do not practice this version of breath counting with the hold.

iii) You can also start to lengthen your exhales, making them slightly longer than your inhales. For example: inhale for 4; exhale for 6.

iv) In your mind, inhale and exhale as you count from 1 to 10. For example: inhale 1, exhale 2, inhale 3, exhale 4, inhale 5…, and so on. If you lose track of the count, just start again at 1 J When you get to 10, also start again at 1.

c) Any of the above with light sounds, white noise, or light music.

Experiment with gentle sounds of nature as background noise during your meditation. I love the ocean, and the sound of ocean waves is very calming for me, so I put on the sound of waves while I sit to meditate. Some people like the sound of rain, birds, wind in the trees, etc. This is something you can experiment with and observe how you feel with different sounds. Find a sound that elicits a calm and relaxation response from you. If you are experimenting with light music, I suggest something instrumental (lyrics can be distracting).

d) Use an App!

There are so many guided meditation apps to choose from. My personal favourite is Insight Timer. But there are many options (Calm, Headspace, Oak, etc). Within these apps you will find different lengths, styles, and teachers of meditation. This is a great option if you’d like to try some guided meditations before launching into your own practice, and can’t get into a live studio session.

6) What length of time?

Any amount of time you can give to this practice will be beneficial, but I do suggest trying for at minimum five minutes a day to begin. If you are concerned about time, I suggest setting a timer so you can drop in to your meditation and not worry about checking the clock. We all have busy schedules, so any more time you can put in for yourself above five minutes will really help you start to feel the benefits. Most days all I can squeeze in is 7-10 minutes in the morning and that suffices. When I have the luxury of more time on a slower day I like to sit for at least 15 minutes, and up to 30. Making the time to sit and find stillness for 5-10 minutes in the morning somehow manages to slow down my day.

7) Keep going!!

Whether you’ve decided to start practicing at home or in a studio, do your best to make your meditation practice a habit. Set a goal, carve out some time and space, and do it every day for 40 days. If you miss a day, don’t worry and don’t give up – just keep going. But commit yourself to 40 days to form this habit. You need to devote your time, energy, and consistency to have an embodied experience with meditation, and personally feel the benefits.

As you start to develop your meditation practice, experiment with different guided meditations, which can include chanting (Mantra or Kirtan), the devotion of kind thoughts to yourself or others, or repetitive finger or arm motions (referred to as active meditations) to help focus the thoughts.

Learn more and deepen your meditation practice with these resources:

The post Meditation: Benefits, How to Start & Beginner Practices appeared first on Summersalt Yoga Retreats.

By Sarah Henderson, Summersalt Yoga teacher

Yin yoga is a very slow, passive yoga practice, that increases the range of motion in your joints, and cultivates mindfulness and emotional well-being. Yin poses were designed to prepare the body and mind for deeper and longer periods of seated meditation. If you’ve thought about beginning a meditation practice, Yin is a nice introduction and will give you a taste of the benefits of meditation.

The benefits of practicing Yin yoga can be felt in your body, your mind, and your heart. After practicing Yin you may experience reduced anxiety and stress, greater balance and connection between your mind and body, and increased flexibility and mobility in your joints. Consider Yin yoga as a complement to the “yang” aspects of your life – vigorous exercise, Vinyasa yoga, or a hectic and busy day.

Yin is considered a cooling practice and works to actively stress and strengthen the connective tissues (tendons, ligaments, fascia) in and around your joints. These tissues are known as your “Yin” tissues.

Why would you want to stress your Yin tissues?

The fibres that make up your ligaments, tendons, and fascia in and around your joints can become “wrinkled” over time, leading to decreased mobility and range of motion in your joints. We want to smooth out these tissues, ironing out the “wrinkles”, making them thicker and stronger. Yin tissues are not elastic like your muscles; they are plastic, and can only safely stretch 4-11% of their length. We need a slow, deliberate, supported physical practice to safely stress and strengthen the fibres making up the Yin tissues. Yin yoga poses provide safe, effective, and gentle pressures to the plastic tissues of your body.

So how do we “stress” these tissues?

We physically access the Yin tissues by supporting the skeletal body with props, which keeps your muscles inactive. Every time you move, your muscles contract or lengthen. You need to keep your body supported so your muscles are not active during a pose, so your Yin tissues can absorb the “stress” of the pose.

What should you expect during a Yin yoga practice?

Yin poses are and held for significantly longer than in other forms of yoga – typically 1-5 minutes, with some poses being held up to 15 minutes.

• You will first move into a pose, finding your first edge – an appropriate point of resistance in your body. How will you know where that is? Listen to your body and your breath – they will let you know. Your breath should stay smooth, natural and even. If it becomes short, forced or unnatural, you are too deep in the pose.
• Check in with yourself – are you feeling anything resembling pain, electrical feelings, numbness, or tingling? If you are, back out of the pose immediately. You can expect to feel discomfort while holding a pose, but should never feel any resemblance of pain, or continue to stay in a pose while feeling pain.
• Support your body with props. You want to make sure that your muscles aren’t engaged for a long period of time in an effort to support your skeleton. As you can imagine, if you tried holding a pose for 10 minutes without anything to rest on, your muscles would be burning!
• Resist the urge to fidget. Once you’ve found an appropriate depth in your body, allow your muscles to become inactive. Remember that to access and stress the yin tissues you need to keep your muscles still. Relax and let your body sink deeply into your props and your mat.
• While holding the pose you may feel all sorts of sensations: impatience, boredom, calm, or contentment, to name a few. Don’t judge your feelings – simply be aware of them. Stay present during your practice, and mindful of what you’re feeling for the duration of each pose.
• If your mind is wandering, bring your attention to your breathing. As your body becomes still, so will your breath, and as your breath becomes still and quiet, so will your mind.

With continued practice, you can expect to feel positive changes in your body, mind, and heart. Because Yin yoga demands your attention to your breath, emotions, and the sensations you’re feeling in your body, the practice cultivates self-awareness and a strong mind-body-heart connection.

While holding each pose, you will have time to feel all your emotions as they arise, and you’ll learn to sit and breathe through them. The slow, steady, rhythmic breathing activates your parasympathetic nervous system, fostering feelings of peace and calm. You may notice improved sleep quality, reduced stress and anxiety, and increased emotional well-being. Physically, you may begin to notice an improved range of motion in your hips, pelvis, and spine, and overall increased mobility and flexibility within your body.

There are also energetic benefits to practicing Yin yoga – a subject of its own that I will have to detail in another post!

If you’re curious about the physical, emotional, and mental benefits of Yin yoga, or if you’ve been considering starting a meditation practice but don’t know where to start, give yin yoga a try!

Start or deepen your yin yoga practice with these resources:

References:

Clark, Bernie. (2012). The Complete Guide to Yin Yoga – The Philosophy & Practice of Yin Yoga, White Cloud Press, Ashland, OR. 
Yin Yoga 50 Hour Teacher Training & Intensive course notes. Bernie Clark & Diana Batts, Semperviva Yoga, Vancouver, BC.

The post A Beginner’s Guide to Yin Yoga appeared first on Summersalt Yoga Retreats.

By Sarah Henderson, Summersalt yoga teacher

What’s the difference between the active, yang classes and restorative, yin classes practised at the retreats and elsewhere? Let’s take a look!

Yang/Sun sessions: Hatha Flow/Vinyasa:

Greet and salute the sun with movement timed to flow with your breath. Feel the fluidity and connection of moving your body with your breath, and oxygenating your blood with deep breathing.

Find a lighthearted sense of play in your practice, challenge yourself, and find a deeper progression in your practice over the course of the retreat. Tune into the quality of your breathing to find your edge, and cultivate a balance between effort and ease. These classes will challenge, awaken and energize you. Honour yourself, your body, and your energy with choices in your movements, modifications, and options. Strengthen your arms, shoulders, and core by playing with supported balancing poses and inversions. Feel a progressive opening in your hips, hamstrings, and spine as you stretch your muscles daily, and develop a keen sense of body awareness. Find an inner focus in these moving meditation classes themed for introspection, balance, and self-awareness. End each morning session with a well deserved Savasana and Meditation that allows space to feel the effects of your practice. Leave feeling refreshed and ready to meet your day.

Yin/Moon sessions: Yin/Restorative:

These classes are designed for restoration, relaxation, surrender, release, and stillness. Continue to explore your inner landscape with curiosity, vulnerability, and love.

Embrace your moon energy during these classes to balance out the fiery sun energy from our morning class and from your day’s activities. We will work through supported, long-held pose sequences for lower back and spinal tension release, hip opening, and heart and shoulder opening. We will use props so your muscles and body can fully let go and release any tension. These sessions will activate your parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest), with Yin poses that will increase the range of motion in your joints, and Restorative poses that allow you to be as comfortable as possible so you can “restore” your nervous system and prepare for a blissful and restful sleep. We close the day in gratitude and appreciation. There will always be a blissful Savasana to close each evening session. Float away feeling fully renewed and restored.

During the retreat week:

I invite you to let go of expectations for yourself, let go of the stresses of your day to day life – from work or other, be present for yourself, and consider this to be a week of self-care and discovery, and play. I will hold space for you to explore and tap into your own inner wisdom. Find freedom and space each day to explore your truth, honor your body, and live in alignment with your natural rhythms.

We will work on easing the chatter in the mind, cultivating stillness, and fostering self-study through our daily practices. Exploring the spaces in between – the silent moments in between breaths, the breaths where you close your eyes and move deeper into a pose, the incredibly powerful Savasana at the end of each practice. Through our daily meditation, we will centre and ground, learning to witness what we are feeling at that moment, practising acceptance and non-attachment, observing whatever arises without judgment.

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By Brigid Brennan, yoga teacher

If you have ba een to handful of yoga classes, chances are you have heard of the chakra system. According to Indian philosophy, there are seven centers of energy within the body following the spine from the base to the crown. Each of these energy centers- or chakras-  is associated with a different function, region of the body, color, sound, and a myriad of other aspects from essential oils to mudras and yoga poses. It is a worldview which seams together all aspects of our being from the physical to the metaphysical.

Beginning at the base of the spine is the Muladhara Chakra, which literally translates from sanskrit to mean root, base, or foundation. It is associated with the color red and the grounding element of earth. Vetiver essential oil is a very earthy and calming essential oil to use for balancing this chakra. The root chakra represents the structure upon which we are based: our physical structure of skeleton, spine, bones, teeth and blood; our most basic needs such as food, water, shelter; and our emotional foundation of family values and beliefs. This ground level of our being can be compared to the foundation of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Once all our basic needs are met, we are then able to advance to higher realms of living and being through the other chakras.

The second or sacral chakra is also called the Svadhisthana Chakra, situated near the lower abdomen below the navel in the pelvic area. It translates into abode or seat, and is viewed as the dwelling place of the self. Associated with the color orange and the element of water, this chakra symbolizes creativity, passion and pleasure. It represents sensuality and sexuality, governing over the corresponding areas of the body such as the reproductive system, kidney, bladder and genitals. When this chakra is balanced and flowing freely, we experience healthy relationships, confidence in creativity and sexuality, and a release of stored emotions within the body. Orange, ginger and cinnamon essential oils especially activate this chakra.

Moving up the spine to the solar plexus, the Manipura Chakra is the third chakra, the yellow “fire in the belly”. This is our source of personal power and self-worth, self-confidence, and self-esteem. An essential oil which fuels this personal power is bergamot, the oil of self-worth. Because this chakra governs over the stomach, liver, pancreas, and digestive system, it is literally the fire of transformation, converting material into energy. In this way, the manipura chakra actually helps us digest not only food, but also our life experiences. It is important to stay in the flow of life and realize we are in control of our own life experiences.

Meaning “unhurt, unstruck, and unbeaten”, Anahata Chakra refers to the pure quality and vibration of this energy. The fourth chakra is the center of the heart, which allows for the flow of love in giving and receiving. A balanced anahata chakra shows up as generosity, compassion, forgiveness, and trust. The author Kahlil Gibran said that “If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours. If they don’t, they never were.” While all the chakras deal with letting go of the ego, the heart chakra is especially powerful for releasing personal identity and realizing oneness with all things. It is also the appreciation of beauty in all things. Green is the color of anahata chakra, and air is the element. The best essential oils for this chakra relate to opening the airways, so using eucalyptus and cardamom are beneficial, as are tea tree and helichrysum which is excellent for healing past wounds, both physical and emotional.

Located in the center of the throat, Vishuddha Chakra is the fifth chakra. The area governed includes the neck, shoulders, mouth, jaw, tongue and even ears. This is the chakra of crystal clear communication, which is not only speaking true intentions, but also listening deeply to both yourself and to others. Feeling heard is one of the most basic human functions, and allows for transmitting truth and connecting on a deep, personal level. Blue is the color, and the element is obviously sound. Lavender, which is one of the most widely used essential oils, is also the oil of communication, and can be used to facilitate an opening of the throat chakra for clearer speech and understanding.

One of the most well-known chakras is the Ajna Chakra, commonly referred to as the “third-eye”. Physically it is situated in the center of the forehead and is correlated with the pineal gland. This is our source of intuition, insight and imagination, as well as our sense of discernment, ability to make decisions, and our wisdom of past and future. Indigo is the shade between blue and purple, perfectly placed between the throat and crown chakras associated with these colors. Known for its clairvoyant properties, clary sage is an excellent choice of essential oil to tap into the energy of the third eye chakra; especially as the word “sage” also refers to someone with profound wisdom. Because the ajna chakra deals with vision, its element is light.

Arriving at the very top of the head we find the crown or Sahasrara Chakra. Here is the “thousand-petaled lotus” which is our connection to our higher self and our life’s purpose. Sometimes associated with the color purple, the crown chakra can also be seen as the color white which radiates out from the top of head, connecting our personal selves to the universal source of energy. White is a combination of all the colors of the chakras, so to experience a balanced crown chakra, all other energy centers must be balanced. Frankincense is an excellent essential oil to be used to commune with the divine, as are myrrh and sandalwood. Space is the element of this chakra, uniting the space within and between us all.

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By Milda Urban, Summersalt Yoga founder

Yoga, yoga, yoga… These days you can find an array of opinions and ideas about how it benefits you, what it brings to your life and how can you incorporate into your daily habits.

I love yoga. I have started practicing a few years back and continue to this day. However, I do not subscribe to the idea that yoga has to seep into your ever cell or take over your life and your decisions. (It does helps on multiple occasions though!).

I don’t practice yoga everyday, sometimes I take breaks as long as 2-3 months before I get back on the mat. And even though I believe in many truths the yoga philosophy teaches I surely do not follow all of them blindly (hence the glass of wine and sleep-ins).

At first I thought that if I wanted to truly experience yoga’s power I had to go to class at least 4-5 times a week and get new knowledge about it regularly. And I truly enjoyed it. Hey, I’m not joking, I really like yoga – I’m running yoga retreats, man!

Up to a point when I start feeling overwhelmed and that it is getting too much. I felt guilty – how can I cut back something I found to relate so much and now – after I’ve come so far? This questioning took over me for a while.

But after some time of soul searching, I realized that I do not have to be so hard on yourself and go against my nature. It is not for everyone to deeply immerse into the philosophy and it is not a crime to enjoy different types of physical activity or “mortal pleasures” (your mind’s dirty, my friend) too. I have also realized that taking breaks helps me stay fresh, learn more and easier than forcing myself to hit the studio when my intuition suggests the opposite.

I admire my friends who are yoga teachers and to who I can turn to with questions or inspiration. But even they are real-life people, who occasionally (or often) listen to gangsta rap, question whether the skirt makes them look too round in the hip area and read celebrity news.

Chillax (yes, I’m that old), don’t judge yourself and listen to your inner voice – this way you will gain the most benefits from this wonderful yoga practice and enjoy it to the fullest.

And for those who are still not sure what yoga actually gives you, I’ve asked our lovely yoga teachers to share their thoughts on how has yoga influenced their lives. Namaste!

Vanessa

Before I started studying yoga and yogic philosophy, I was much more short tempered and would get caught up in the minutiae of life. With practice, I have been able to integrate the belief that all things pass and are impermanent. It helps tremendously to get me to slow down, evaluate, and not react with such impulse and carelessness, but rather mindfully and with awareness.

Leah

Because of yoga, I have more patience and tolerance in my day-to-day life. Yoga has taught me to accept things as they are, without judgment or agenda and allow the passage of time to either change me (my physical capabilities, my mental blocks, etc.) or to change my attitude and view. I am learning the art of surrender thanks to my forever evolving yoga practice and that inevitably bleeds into every aspect of my life.

Caroline

When I fist started yoga I remember that phrase we hear so often ‘yoga will change your life’ and I just thought this as a rather ‘fluffy’ romantic idea, little did I know the power and enormous influence yoga and learning about yoga has made In my life and those around me. I do not believe it is necessary to change your life completely for yoga to influence you. I eat what I like, I enjoy wine, I have fun. Yoga is not about denying ourselves happiness but finding ways to balance and enrich ourselves so that we can better support those around us and learn the value of kindness to ourselves, our bodies and to others.

There are so many branches of yoga I find that different fields affect me in my day to day life and choices. I am very drawn to anatomy and physiology and therefore to the study of how the body functions and reacts to what we put in our bodies, move our bodies and the value of stillness.

My yoga journey really began in Tulum, Mexico and having lived there for 5 years taught me patience and the value of good friendships. I was lucky enough to live in a community, who supported me as I grew in confidence and experience as a yoga teacher.

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