Mindful Yoga
The world of the twenty-first century is one of stress; the tensions and demands of everyday life along with major ones that compromise our health, happiness and well-being. The demands of modern living can create physical and mental imbalances. Yoga can help to redress this.
Yoga is a wonderful way to waken the body and calm the mind. It consists of gentle stretches, breathing practices and progressive relaxation which allows the body to rejuvenate. Practicing hatha yoga on a regular basis promotes balance, stability, flexibility and strength in the body and calms the mind.
By placing the body in various asanas, (poses) the body and the mind learn to accept the challenges of the positions without forcing or pushing the muscles and joints. Over time the poses are adjusted again and again so that the body learns to be at rest in a pose and the mind can experience release. Yoga is meditation in action for it requires a steady awareness on the placement of the body as it moves from one pose to another. This helps the body and the mind to prepare for longer periods of sitting meditation.
In working with the whole body and mind in this way, we learn through first hand experience how the body and the mind influence each other. They do not work in isolation. In my Mindful yoga classes we place an emphasis on working with the breath in order to refine sensitivity to the body and to cultivate a deep understanding of the mind. As well as formal yoga practice, time is set aside for mindfulness meditation. In this way, body and mind are encouraged to work seamlessly.
Mindful Yoga and Insight Meditation
Mindful Yoga and Insight Meditation Classes at Silver Birch Counseling and Psychotherapy
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