Yoga Philosophy in Action!

September 18, 2019/Jennie Williford CIYT
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I think that most people who practice yoga do know there is a whole philosophy behind the physical postures. Some dismiss it as something separate from the physical practice, but in my experience, there is no way to separate the two. It is so important to delve even a little deeper into the yoga philosophy for the mere fact that the body will not last or be the same forever, but yoga is supposed to be universal and carry us through every stage and age of life. So, the sooner we start to involve the mind and emotions and awareness of what we are doing, the more the practice of yoga will serve us through all the twists and turns of life.

Some folks also dismiss the philosophy of yoga for religion, which is also a falsehood. Again, yoga is a UNIVERSAL practice that can be applied to any and every way of life. Iyengar Yoga in particular is being practiced in (last time I checked) 57 different countries around the world – including strict religious communities ranging from Judaism to Catholicism to Islam.

So, taking away those excuses, how do we start to weave this philosophy into this physical practice we are already familiar with? Well, I am happy to help! I will be offering a workshop on Sunday, September 29th from 1-4 which will give you a jump start on your understanding and practice!

We will touch on the history of yoga and its many transformations. We will cover some of the most tangible pieces of the philosophy, setting a foundation and context for your postural practice. We will practice physical postures and some basic breathing techniques that will start to help you put the philosophy into action! And, you will leave with a wealth of information to hopefully ignite your curiosity to dig deeper into the self-study (svadhyaya) of yoga.

So if you have been curious, or even if you have read the philosophy, but wonder how to make it more practical, come join me for the Putting Philosophy Into Action workshop at The Yoga Place!

Jennie Williford CIYT

Jennie Williford (CIYT Level 3) is a transplant to LaCrosse via Montana, Illinois, and originally Texas. Throughout her life moves and 5 trips to India, Jennie has acquired a well-rounded and multi-faceted approach to Iyengar Yoga since her start in 1998. Jennie loves the experimental and explorative nature of yoga in accessing deeper knowledge of the Self on every level. The practice of yoga can be intense and introspective, however as practitioners we can be light-hearted and open-minded in our discipline. Jennie is intrigued by the philosophy of yoga and hopes to share this depth of subject while teaching the physical and mental benefits that come from the practice of posture.