Are there moments in your life when you just want to feel some calm energy? Among today’s busy lives, which can be as hectic as a swirling tornado, we are constantly bombarded with work, home life, social life, Netflix boxsets, and social media.
So where do you find the calm amongst that?
Yoga is a great tool for just that.
We all know yoga as a physical practice, but there is so much more to discover about yoga and it could be the perfect way to calm your body and mind. So let’s dive a little deeper.
Below is a small list of Yoga practices you could use to live a more yoga inspired life and this in turn can help to restore calm in your mind and body when life gets too hectic.
1. Yоgа аѕ Fitnеѕѕ.
The physical practice of yoga focuses on asana (meaning postures). Asana practices come in different styles such as Hatha, Vinyasa, Iyengar, or yin yoga to name a few. Thе mаin focus is рlасеd on performing physical postures and their associated movements in order to give the body more flexibility, better balance, and strength.
Asana practices usually begin with a short breathing exercise to bring awareness to the body, followed by physical practice and ending with Shavasana, the final resting posture. Your body and mind are fully relaxed here as you experience the wonderful benefits of the practice. What’s great is that just a 10–15 minute practice a day can make such a difference. Asana practice provides both physical and mental calmness, which is why so many people love it.
2. Yоgа аѕ Mеditаtiоn.
Yoga is sometimes referred to as a moving meditation and when we look at restorative yoga, yin yoga, or any type of yoga where you move in a slow and gentle way then it almost becomes a meditation.
Instead of focusing on the importance of alignment in postures, the body is used as a tool to access ones own mind to gain more control over it. You focus on your breathing and adapting postures to suit the needs of your body so you can fully relax and unwind.
The focus on breathing or pranayama in this type of yoga allows you to calm and stabilise the mind. I personally love yin yoga for a more meditative practice. In Yin, we hold poses for longer periods of time. This allows the muscles to relax so you can work deeper into the connective tissues but also find space in the mental body.
3. Yоgа to Evolve.
Yoga means union and is a practical philosophical system whose objective is to enable humans to evolve physically, mentally, and spiritually.
The Eight Limbs of Yoga is the essence of yogic philosophy and when studied can give you practical tools to apply these philosophies to your life.
What are the 8 Limbs of Yoga?
1. YAMA — Restraints
2. NIYAMA — Observances
3. ASANA — Posture
4. PRANAYAMA — Breath Control
5. PRATYAHARA — Sense withdrawal
6. DHARANA — Focused Concentration
7. DHYANA — Meditation
8. SAMADHI — Contemplation.
Diving deeper into each of these 8 limbs could help you make a positive change or guide your life in a more fulfilling direction and ultimately help you access the calm energy that you require.
Where to start?
There is no right or wrong place to start with yoga.
If it’s the physical practice you crave then check out classes local to you or if you want to practice at home there are lots of online yoga classes available.
Or maybe you just want to start by immersing yourself into the '8 Limbs' and see where that takes you. It may resonate with you fully or just give you a few takeaways to apply to your life. Even small changes can make a big difference.
Here is my recommended read to get you started.
But whatever you decide, it’s a chance to find calm, grow a little, and learn something new.
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