Power Up Your Home Practice
We all LOVE our yoga class. Even when it is a lot of work, we know we feel better afterward. It is a time we can get away, have a moment to focus ONLY on our self, and have a chance to connect more deeply with how we move and how we feel. Wouldn’t you also LOVE to have that experience EVERY DAY? Your class is only once or twice a week, and anyway, when you are in class you are subject to the plan and sequence of the teacher. Sometimes that is perfect for YOU, and sometimes not so much.
Iyengar Yoga in particular places a strong emphasis on learning and practice. This is why our classes are full of instruction and adjustment. And, though many of us take our class as part of our “practice”, in reality it is the place we “learn” the information to then apply to a more personalized practice at home and in life. Of course it is important to learn within the context of a class, to develop awareness and alertness of our habits and tendencies, but once we learn Trikonasana, Adho Mukha Svanasana, begin to understand some things we might adjust, etc…then applying this knowledge to a home practice can be a profound and important step. A home practice is truly where a lot of the magic of yoga can be found.
Yoga is meant to decrease the fluctuations and distractions of the mind. In a class we have others around us, a teacher is speaking, we are given a lot of information. All of those, though helpful for the purpose of class, are definitely still distractions away from how you might actually be feeling or experiencing a pose for your self. Yes, we give you reminders of breath and action, but your mind is for you to notice and adjust. When you are at home, in a space you have created for yoga, at a time you have designated for yoga, those outer distractions diminish and the true practice of yoga can begin.
Given the tools for sequencing, understanding how certain poses act on your mind and body, and knowing what props can be useful for YOU, at home you can tailor your yoga experience for what you need in that moment and for that day. You are powered and empowered from class to apply your knowledge on getting to know our self more deeply at home.
So, when The Yoga Place takes a holiday break, though that is a break from class, let it not be a break from your yoga. We will be offering a Home Practice Booster on July 1-3 to provide you with tools and information to better begin a home practice. Three days and three sessions is a small commitment and a small step to take toward creating a stronger relationship with yourself and your yoga.
All levels of student and all traditions of yoga are welcome !! A packet for guidance at home will be given, we will discuss avenues to structure your practice, and in the end you will be developing your skill to develop a practice for yourself.
