Author: Kathrin

Don’t break your body – do yoga 

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There seem to be about 900 asanas… can you imagine?! Darling, honestly, you can only master a certain set of them. So why don’t you take it easy, forget about the rest, forget about just jumping from one level to the next. It bears repeating, IT’S NOT IMPORTANT. You are not in a competition! I already wrote about this and I won’t stop repeating, as the principals of yoga go beyond asanas.

“Yoga is the journey of the self through the self to the self.” (Bhagavad Gita)

Yoga is transformation. You define the purpose. It might be bliss, higher consciousness, find your true self, you name it. For sure the final state isn’t a certain degree of flexibility or mastering super duper advanced postures. But the asana practice is the entry point, this is where we start our transformation.

I like the idea of my asana practice being a moving meditation. I experienced it a couple of times and it felt out of this world. An awesome connection, with me, with everything. It’s an approach about stopping the mind going crazy, it’s about detaching. Yoga isn’t just a fitness tool, yoga is about working on yourself. Yoga is a transformation. Transform your body, transform your mind.

The asana practice is just one of the 8 limbs – read more about it here.

Take care yogi, don’t break your awesome body, do yoga and enjoy life!

 

50+ Yoga

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Yogis! What did you think when reading the headline? 50+ Yoga. I saw this recently as a title of a yoga class. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or get upset… I checked the class description, it was telling me it’s a softer and slower class, also for seniors suffering from rheumatism, arthrosis or hip issues.

Oh. My. God. Seriously? 50?

I’m 51. I’m a yoga teacher, my self practice is Ashtanga, and yes, that’s quite demanding. And that’s nothing special. Welcome to 2017.

Reading this made me feel like 95, excluded from proper practice, pushed into a group that requires special treatment. Well, I know my practice is very advanced to some yogis in their 20th. Same time it’s rather basic for others. Depending on your perception, your point of view, your progress in your practice. I’m 50+ and still working on my progress, believe it or not, I’m still improving. Judging people due to their age is nothing but ridiculous.

Am I overreacting? Yes, most definitely. So I decided to better laugh about it. And avoid that studio.

Yogis, never ever let anybody tell you anything about yourself. Never allow anyone to put you into any drawer. You create your life, you create your practice. Yin or Yang, slow or fast, basic or demanding, your choice, each and every day. Nothing right, nothing wrong. Keep yourself away from any judgement. Be yourself, aim true and show yourself as you are.

Play more

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“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”

― Lao Tzu

My practice at the moment is quite difficult. I couldn’t practice for some weeks and before being even back on the mat, I caught a terrible cold. Impossible to breathe properly, not to even think about any physical strain.

I had to step back, once again and restarted my practice with some restorative and yin yoga. Careful and soft, listening to my body even more, only doing what felt good without challenging my sick body. Finding my strength in accepting a different practice, accepting to go slow, accepting to struggle.

I’m not injured, nothing major, but anyhow, sometimes it’s tough to see ourselves rather stepping back than moving forward. Hello ego!

It’s time to cultivate the courage to enjoy who I am. Each moment. With all the limitations, all the highs. It’s time to enjoy. I turned different music on for my practice. I start playing, just moving with the music, without thinking. Feeling, listening, playing, celebrating the slowness, getting soft. Interestingly, by playing, you’ll remember what’s important. It’s not about permanent progress, not about always getting better. It’s about doing good for your body and mind. Learning who you are. Stop holding, learn to let go. In my case, particularly let go of expectations. That’s it, that simple. Do good to yourself. You’ll improve anyhow, maybe much more as you can imagine…

Learnings from the mat

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Let Go

What happens on the mat stays on the mat? Nope. We practice asanas, but we also practice acceptance, we practice letting go. We practice with our body, but we also practice to go internal. As body and mind work together, all physical work has a mental effect too. Like this moment, when all of a sudden or mind gets empty, we’re getting soft while keeping full stability within an asana and with this, all tension releases. It’s working the same way off the mat.

Love

When you practice yoga, it’s about you. There’s no competition. Is your neighbors’ acrobatics and surreal flexibility sparkling onto your mat? Well, that’s not about you. Look at it if you can’t resist, be happy about the show and go back to yourself. It doesn’t say anything about you. Avoid mirrors. Go internal and feel your body. Let yourself be guided by the voice of the teacher and by the aligning hands. Go internal and learn. It’s about you. It’s about accepting yourself with all your strengths, with all your limitations that moment. It’s called love.

Independence off the mat

On the mat you learn to be yourself. Off the mat it’s about integrating these learnings. Do you know this feeling of happiness compared with a huge uncertainness, when you’ve got something new? New within, new outside, it doesn’t matter. Instead of wearing it with a proud smile, all of a sudden we turn into a shy something. The self confident woman ask herself, did I do this right? But what the hell is right? Who is judging? Whatever is new that moment belongs to you. Is part of you, mirrors what that moment is inside of you. No matter if we’re talking about a blood-red lipstick or a new haircut. No matter if it’s about a new pair of fancy leggings or a new tattoo. Even changes that are internal count. They make us strong and same time sometimes uncertain and vulnerable when we show them first time.

Love and let go

Remember what you’re learning on the mat. It’s about you. Free yourself from dependency. Why is it so important what others think? Of course you’re flattered when your surrounding is sending kudos. Wow, you’re looking amazing! You look so happy! Awesome how you’re shining! We don’t want to hear things like, oh, that’s flashy… can you remove that?

Love and let go

Why so thin-skinned? Yeah, it’s all about harmony, isn’t it? It’s so much easier to go with the flow. Inconspicuous. Accepted. Belong to a group. This is where you feed your self confidence from. Get rid of it! It’s a false conclusion, as it only shows how your vis-à-vis operates. It’s not about you!

Maybe your friend is jealous. Maybe simply overstrained. Maybe it’s just not her or his taste. Maybe you developed into a certain direction, which is a different journey. Endless options. And finally the opinion or even judgement about your new whatever, is telling you something about that person, not about you. The more you provoke, the more you learn about that person.

Of course, there are others. Those that are on a similar path. Recently someone told me, your tattoos are so YOU. I loved that. It was not about like or dislike, this person looked at ME, without judging.

My conclusion: do what you want. Be YOU. It’s your story, your journey, your life. If it feels good, it is good. Trust yourself. Aim true. Connect with yourself, connect with your breath, as you do it on the mat. If any uncertainty arises: Love and let go. On the mat, off the mat.

Testimonials – oh là là

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After a very, very sad experience, I’m back in Zurich, trying to prepare myself for my classes next week. I read what my lovely students recently wrote for me and I don’t want to leave it just as it is, but share it with you.

Oh. My. God. After 2 years of teaching, I asked my students if someone would write a short testimonial for my site here. Kind of feedback for me, listening, learning, maybe rethinking, readjusting here and there. Plus, as I just started to teach more, brand new classes, I thought it might be good for my new students, for those who like to know more about the teacher.

Woop woop, I’m totally flashed! I mean, I didn’t expect any really bad comments, but sooooo good? I love my students, so sweat! Thanks a million, this means the world to me! Honestly, I’m deeply touched. Thank YOU :-*

Wanna read it? Here you go.

New recordings!

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Yogis, we’re going multilingual!

I recorded for you

  • a body relaxation – English
  • a guided meditation, a moment of excellence – English
  • a combination, a body relaxation and a guided meditation – German
  • Yoga Nidra, the yogic sleep – German

Enjoy lovelies and relax! Here you go, sit down, lay down and listen.

Let me know if you have any wishes for the next recordings!

 

Find peace within

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There is no bad practice. All practice is perfect. Each asana is perfect.

Do you feel overwhelmed sometimes from all those Facebook and Instagram yoga pics and videos? Honestly, I do sometimes. Don’t get me wrong, I love to watch yogis in their beautiful practice, but same time I feel kind of sad. We should avoid thinking that this is how a yoga practice should look like.

What we see is a beautiful performance. Is it yoga, because the it’s made of yoga postures? Can be. Perhaps it’s just a show of flexibility and strength. We can’t see what’s happening inside, but for sure it’s not me. It’s not you. It’s not our truth. So it doesn’t tell us how our practice should look like. Just watch and enjoy. End of story.

On your mat, close your eyes. Withdraw your senses and start your practice. Let your aim be finding yourself, your true self. Not your body, not your thoughts, not your limitations. Through asana practice, through meditation, or best case a combination, a moving meditation. Having said that, it is important to do the postures as correct as we can to avoid injuries and to benefit most. However don’t care much about how your practice looks. It’s your practice, just yours. Your practice is not mine. Mine is not yours. Both are perfect. No judgment, no competition.

Allow your mind practicing yoga, not just your body doing asanas. This is what it’s all about, connecting, stillness, peace. Within.

Om shanti shanti shanti.

Image: a card from the beautiful Moon Deck (www.themoondeck.com)

Power and silence

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We are always busy – ticking the items on our to do list on the go. Running. In a rush. When making some time, we usually continue running; into a fitness club, into a yoga studio. What are we doing there? Running. Whatever you want your body to perform, it seems only if we sweat a lot, it’s worth it.

Is it really about that? Stop running through your life and slow down your speed here and there. Whatever you do, be aware of what you’re doing and also what happens within. Start listening to your body and understand what’s good for you in that moment. On the mat, recognize your limitations that day, that moment. What’s your body asking for? A deep stretch to release your fascia? Some twists to wring your inner organs? Vinyasas to warm up? Planks to strengthen your muscles? Inversions to turn the world upside down? Listen to your body! Create your practice flexible and don’t underestimate the power of releasing, opening and surrendering.

What about silence? There are lots of different kinds. Eliminate any noise, no music while practicing. Just you and your breath. You might want to go for restorative or yin yoga. Slow down. Into yourself. Maybe your practice is for once not about asanas, but meditation. I already wrote about meditation and the difficulties I had to meditate. I found my way and strongly believe with just changing the name, or what a name might implicate, could already open a door. Call it whatever is right for you. Meditation, relaxation, stillness, quiet, silence, connection, just to name a few. It doesn’t matter. Meanwhile I found my way into Japa meditation, which is about reciting a mantra to quieten the mind. I do it with a mala to count, so I repeat my mantra 108 times each round and there’s no need to keep track of the time.

Whatever works for you, just go for it! Give yourself silence to nourish your soul, quieten your mind and get a rest of this busy running through life. It’s a pause, which doesn’t mean nothing happens – there’s still a lot going on, but fully aware and most important: deeply rooted and connected with yourself.

I’m currently producing some guided meditations for you and just published a body relaxation as the first one of this series. Use it for your shavasanna or meditation, I hope you like it and it will support you in your practice – stay tuned!

Recordings for you!

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Yogis! I’m so bloody excited!!!

Got something new for you! I just published a recording of a body relaxation, and some guided meditations to follow soon 🙂

I know, couple of mistakes in – I did it free flow, no script – but I want to get it out to you! So please don’t hold it against me, I’m just a little too excited! Got plenty of room for improvement and if you want to help me, please leave a comment. All those technology stuff is new to me, I hope you can access it, if not, please let me know.

Here you go, enjoy: BODY SCAN