At the heart of yoga there exists a profound, yet simple concept of movement within the breath. The science of hatha yoga combines the physicality and conscious intention of postures (asana) with breath control (pranayama) for the goal of self-realization toward one-mindedness (samadhi); the centering of consciousness known as enlightenment. We discover the divine within only by going through our deepest self.
One of the first gifts of a daily dedicated yoga practice is the powerful and profound experience of inner tranquility. Every time we practice, we further, refine, and resonate within its beauty and simplicity. When first introduced to yoga, we work with breathing in the big, physical movements or poses. Most Westerners are drawn to the acrobatic style of yoga, and start out with sun salutations, which are difficult and exhausting, until eventually, we develop the necessary physical awakenings to overcome these obstacles. The impossible becomes the possible, which is life-changing. It’s an Olympian game-changer. With this newfound dedication, the practitioner hones these skills to deepen their knowledge and incorporate them into daily life.
In a personal practice, we can discover reactivity within ourselves and what our triggers may be. What shows up on the mat mirrors life. When we have difficulty holding a pose or staying in a long stretch, we might get mad or give up. When our breath is difficult to control, we may back off slightly or go full on. There can arise an old feeling of inadequacy or maybe we just get it over with and done. The task at hand is to maintain focus and intention without pushing too hard.
These are all the things that our practice reveals to us time and time again. How we react or respond becomes apparent, and what better way to discover this than with the breath, considered the sacred life force (prana) that sustains our body. When we observe the breath and pose without objectifying them, our breath becomes steady and nourishes the practice, allowing us to go deeper and remain aware. Yoga teaches us to rein in the power of responding versus reacting. When we first encounter yoga, our practice is reactionary; too much of this and not enough of that, until we discover the suppleness of a newfound balance in strength and flexibility of mind and body. This is accomplished with the breath encompassing every movement.
In yoga, we learn to become the actor and the director of our thoughts and minds while being the objective observer, or audience, of our own actions. Yoga then becomes a safe haven to detach from overachievement, unlearn and relearn, observe our intention and finally, to let it all go. The pursuit of happiness does not exist within a pose, but within the delight of space created for freedom. When we shift our practice from overdrive to the subtler movements, we discover new layers of understanding.
Yoga and movement therapy is acquired from the ground up, and the most efficient way to start is with the mountain pose (tadasana), with both feet rooting and the spine rising in all its majestic alignment. This is a practical stance and one we do in everyday life. Mountain pose teaches us to stand tall in our own truth and the world. It is the original seed movement of every yoga pose and develops a movement pattern that becomes the evolution of our practice from stillness to manifestation.
Newcomers to yoga may experience difficulty in coordinating breath and movement. At first, our movement may be big, sometimes jerky, and accompanied by uneven, ragged breathing. When we learn to serve the breath, we can adapt into the big physical movements with micro-movements for minor adjustments, safety and re-patterning.
As we continue to grow in our practice, we develop and deepen poses that were not before possible. Micro-movements breathe new life into a pose connecting the web of our physical body with entrainment, whether it is an adjustment of a foot, pulling in our lower ribs or moving a toe in a standing posture. We use these micro-movements to get just the right spot to sit, perched on the middle of our sitting bones, for proper alignment of the spine and correct posture in meditation. These micro-movements are the seeds we plant in our practice that build somatic intelligence with kindness and awareness. They are the baby steps of the practice.
In time, we learn to be responsive in situations, just as we do on our mat. Responsiveness resides within the subtle body, connected by our breath. The inhale serves as an energetic breath that allows us to expand and create space. The exhale allows us to surrender, or settle into the new space created by our receptive inhale. Breath-work leads to micro-movements of energy in thought and physically in the body, stretching our physical limits over time without pushing too hard. The accomplished breath strengthens our bodies and opens our minds. To breathe fully aware in both excitement and despair is to “hold space”. We cannot react while holding space.
Our breath is key to discovering harmony and awareness. When we observe the breath, we are capable of entraining our bodies and mind. It is a chance to change the inner dialogue and go beyond the boundaries of reactionary thoughts and patterns. Our micro-movements promote gentle healing; they teach us how to become satisfied and comfortable within ourselves and extend that to our daily lives and how we should move in the world with grace. To move consciously within every moment and movement leads us to just being, ultimately the highest state of transformation and enlightenment.
hrz
Helena Zera, RN is an ERYT Certified Yoga Teacher/Therapist, Polarity Therapist and
Foundress of Vyana Yoga & PolariTea in CNY.
For more information, visit vyanayoga.com
