Practice is called practice for a reason. It is different every day. Over the years, it matures as we watch the consistent ebb and flow of progress and plateau.
Recently, I have noticed that students are trying to do more advanced postures than they’re ready for. It’s great to experiment with new postures, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of your Zen. After all,
As we continue to practice yoga, it becomes more refined and more meaningful for us, both on the mat and off.
Something more subtle is bubbling beneath our surface. We are no longer preoccupied with our ability to move or how we place our arms and legs.
Yoga Practice in Cycles
Donna Fahri believes that the practice cycle is a useful tool that deserves to be heard.
“Throughout our lives, we experience expansions, contractions, and periods of suspension in pause, where we assimilate and integrate what we have experienced. These changes in rhythm are as natural as our breath.
Our breath, as an internal metronome, mirrors the life process of taking and absorbing, letting go, and relinquishing and resting between. If we ignore any of the rhythms of our yoga practice, it will freeze us in place and prevent us from adapting to our needs.
It’s all about the way you practice and how you approach it. It’s not something to strive for but something that comes naturally from the right kind of effort and awareness. If you want to ‘advance your yoga practice’ effortlessly, I suggest you cultivate these characteristics.
Breathe correctly.
Never sacrifice your breath to achieve a certain posture. Slow, deep, and long breaths with focused awareness are best.
Your flow should be effortless.
Keep your light. Find the point of stillness between effort and surrender. Engage and activate your body to be able to settle into a posture of alertness and ease. Cultivate a gentle awareness. Remove the thumping in your jumping. Take away your momentum and let go.
Slow down.
Slowing down our practice is the first step to self-inquiry. Consider slowing down your pace if you are used to moving quickly. This will allow you to tune in and really observe the mechanics of your body.
You can learn more about arm balances by observing how breathing affects your movements. For example, you will be able to see the difference between keeping Dristi and closing your eyes or where your mind goes after you take your second breath.
Acceptance is a skill that you can learn to develop by changing your attitude.
It’s time to make a change if you are still attacking your practice. Switch to a surrendering yoga practice that is more focused on acceptance than achievement.
Commit yourself to a practice.
The self-practice you do will change the way you practice and what’s offered back to you. The rhythm of your body can reveal a lot about you and help you calm down.
Keep your act clean
Take into consideration what you do off the mat. What do you do with your body, what do you eat, and how do you spend your free time? De-clutter and detoxify.
Respect your limits
It would be best if you respected your practice, no matter where you are or how you feel. As you progress, let your practice mature. It’s not about the final destination but the journey that matters most.
Le, journey to the tropics for true transformation.
Yoga has been increasingly Westernized in the last decade. Yoga’s mind-body spiritual integration, its holistic health benefits, and the tranquility it brings to yogis are only the tip of the iceberg.
It’s not hard to find a Zen studio in any major city. But have you thought about taking your practice into the tropics, where the sunnier skies are accompanied by higher humidity? The experience of practicing in paradise is completely different. The magic and beauty of this region will transform your space and your mind, while the local lifestyle will permeate your spirit and mind.
Practice Yoga in the City or the Tropics
It can be a bit of a disappointment when you return to the real world after practice in the city. The office, the assignments, or whatever stress you were seeking to escape will bring you right back to the beginning.
The heat and jungle-like atmosphere of the tropics allows for transformation.
You can immerse yourself in your practice by creating a space of transformation that is free from distractions.
A yogi said that her experience in the city was captivating when she was in the studio. She felt a surge of energy, but the drive home, particularly in winter snow, dimmed her light. She described the collective yogi vibe as fragmented. Students practice with a wide spectrum of attitudes, intentions, and commitments.
Her experience in Costa Rica was very different. All of the people with whom she practiced were in the same mindset – no phones, no egos – just mindfulness on her mat.
The Tropics are a Detox
One student described her tropical experience as “a detox from the inside-out.” The practice is a combination of breathing, hot air, oxygen from trees, salt from the ocean, and sweat from other yoga practitioners.
The connection to nature is cleansing and inspiring. It’s so different than practicing in a mirror studio. It is unique to be able to choose a natural focal, like a tree, for your dristi.
Even a beginner agrees. When practicing in a tropical climate, the boundary between inside and out is blurred. This is something I love.
Practice in the Tropics: Challenges and Opportunities
The physical challenges of practicing in a tropical climate are also rewarding. Yoga practitioners experience greater flexibility and breath capacity despite the heat and humidity.
You will learn a great deal about your ability to adapt to different situations by adjusting to the new culture and practicing in an unfamiliar setting. You will have to learn how to deal with the self-doubt you experience when in an unfamiliar environment. As with any challenge, this will inevitably make you stronger.
A Yin and Vinyasa teacher concludes, “Practicing in tropical climates makes my heart sing.” I am more open and receptive”.
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