simplicity

SIMPLICITY
The theme for my power yoga classes for JULY 2024 is SIMPLICITY. Check out my local and online offerings here.

Simplicity in a yoga practice is sometimes one of the hardest things to achieve. We live in a society that consistently makes us feel like we always need more. One of my favorite things about yoga is that you only really need a mat to do it, but even if you don’t have a mat, you can do asana anytime, anywhere.

Yoga at its heart is about refinement. The yogic path is a renunciate path, asking you to give up the illusions of the ego.

WHAT DOES SIMPLICITY LOOK LIKE IN AN ASANA PRACTICE?

PRANA.
Begin by noticing your breath and feeling gratitude for the autonomic function of your breath. Send this gratitude to all the cells in your body. Allow this energy or prana to carry you throughout your practice.

When your mind begins to drift into trying to fix things outside of your control, come back to the breath. When you go into over-functioning, come back to the breath. When you look over to the comparisons off your mat, come back to your breath.

Do not focus on achieving a goal. Even if you are training for mastery of a particular asana, let it go. Let go of the idea of an experience. Constantly thrill seeking throughout practice can set up an expectation of disappointment if by not at the end of the practice, we don’t get that “yoga high” experience.

ASANA.
Foundational asana. Keeping it simple with sequencing. This can look like flowing a repetitive vinyasa that allows us to step out of the mind and into the body, like with SUN A or SUN B.

Focus on the toes/feet and the finger/hands. One way to make any and every pose feel like the first time is to bring your attention to your toes and your feet as well as your fingertips and hands. Your feet are the foundation of your body-temple, and they work to activate all the muscles throughout your legs on up. Same with your fingers. Open your hands. Reach through your fingertips as you expand. These passageways open new lines of energy throughout your body with every practice.

YAMAS AND NIYAMAS

When it comes to which of the yamas and the niyamas best go with the theme of SIMPLICITY, I believe SANTOSHA is the best match.

SANTOSHA is a type of contentment and divine neutrality that allows us to be fully present with what is. SANTOSHA is not contempt or complacent. Nor does SANTOSHA spiritually bypass with fake love and light. SANTOSHA is a type of contentment that is radically present and not attached to any moment of it. SANTOSHA is a type of gratitude for life itself.

REFINE.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, by the extravagance of life, know that you can always refine and keep things simple.

xoxo Tianacat