Tag: practice

Slow down 

Kathrin2 Comments

I recently read an article about the visit of Sharath Jois in the US and him asking the question in class ‘Why you hurrying?’.

I felt caught red-handed. I hurry. All day long, no matter of being on the mat of off. I’m always in a rush, as if I could gain time this way. I’m restless. Too many tasks, too much to do next to my 100% job. Not complaining, as this is what I want, but dealing with it is just sometimes tough. So I need to remind myself, and feel free to join me, if this affects you too:

Yoga is not just the practice on the mat. Yoga is happening all day, 24h. Same rules. Stop hurrying on the mat, jumping from one asana to the next, driven by ‘what’s next’. Same off the mat, while doing one thing, already thinking about your next task? Keep your focus on what you’re currently doing. It’s about being and staying in the moment. Fully aware. This is the only option to put your full passion into it. And finally yogi, the only way to really enjoy what you’re doing!

Instead of labeling yoga as your physical practice, recognize yoga as your inner experience. Extend your physical practice to work on your willingness to be exactly where you are in this moment. Root yourself, find your balance and connect with yourself before moving on. Practicing Ashtanga, you know what comes next, no worries. You know how long your asana practice will be, so take this time. It’s not a competition, not about, ‘I did it in 80 minutes!’. If you have to skip postures or vinyasas for a certain reason, go for it. Always choose a modification if any possible and do what you do fully. Present. As always, your breath is a good indicator, use it wisely and be guided.

Let’s remind ourselves again and again. It’s worth it!

Relax babe

Kathrin2 Comments

I bet you know this situation: the teacher shows something, it looks easy. You give it a try — impossible. The teacher breaks it down into single steps, explains the technique and it looks, guess what, super easy. You give it another try — impossible. I mean, this kind of never-in-this-life-possible. Everything in your body is asking ‚are you kidding me?‘ Alright, it’s not your body talking to you, but your ego. Telling you, ‚you’ll never be there’, ‚you’re not good/flexible/strong (choose your word) enough‘!

Your ego is quite intelligent, if this strategy is not working, there’s the opposite: ‚go for it, work hard, push yourself, don’t give up before you can do it‘!

Babe, that’s not better at all. Both is not doing anything good to you. Relax. Make it part of your practice to turn that ego talk off. You will immediately be open to feel, trust and be easy to yourself. It allows your body to try. Allows yourself to laugh when falling, to appreciate your practice as it is. It opens you to be grateful for each baby step.

Let me give you an example: jump throughs. These wonderful transitions between asanas. They look so natural. Have you ever tried to lift your feet in a forward fold, in Uttanasana? See. My ego told me, as long as I can’t do this, I won’t be able to jump through. And even more. My ego told me, I’ll never be a proper Ashtangi without being able to jump through. I didn’t stop working on it, but frankly, without much effort, my aim was rather making the transitions more fluent, than to jump.

One day I managed to send my ego back to sleep before practice. It was like a ‚click’ in my mind, all of a sudden I knew I had to position my hands slightly different and I walked through. Ohhhh! I know, that’s not jumping, but my hands stayed flat at the mat. This was showing my body the way. This was the moment I knew, I can do it. I can jump, no need to float before.

It works. In baby steps. Get your mind on track! Relax. Do your practice and let it happen when it’s time. Allow your ego to have a break. Allow your ego to stop texting all day long. Relax, babe.

No time to practice? No worries!

Kathrin1 Comment

Yesterday I was so in a rush and my body told me stop, I need some practice. I knew, my body needed to stretch and sweat, I knew my mind needed some rest.

So babe, first of all, there’s ALWAYS time. It doesn’t has to be a full primary series, it doesn’t have to be a full hour or even more. You don’t have to rush into a studio. Get your home practice started!

This was my quick practice yesterday, and it felt amazing:

  • 5 Sun Salutations A
  • 3 Sun Salutations B
  • 5 Sun Salutations A
  • childspose with open knees (to catch the breath and additional stretch)
  • 3x plank, holding for 10 breaths (for not just my core working, I put a block between my legs, so my thighs had some fun too)
  • 3x planks on elbows (hello core, hello shoulders)
  • 1 side plank each side (hmmmmmm, getting loooong)
  • headstand for 20 breath (to find my center and yes, to turn the world upside down, loooooove it!)
  • Yoga mudra (to turn everything back and rest a moment)

Done!

Even less time? Skip the 2nd round of sun salutation A and go with this first series of plank only.

Easy. Efficient. Fun. No excuses any longer babe.

Coming home

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What’s your approach?

Are there any asanas driving you nuts as they appear unattainable? You’re trying again and again, but still can’t imagine to ever be able doing them? What about this thought:

It’s not the asana being exhausting, but your attitude.

Ups!

What are your expectations? Your objectives? Why is it so important? What’s going on in your head while practicing? Wanna be „perfect“? „Better“? What thoughts are holding you back?

Yep, we all got this from time to time, this feeling to not progress at all, or even worse, to not be good enough. Particularly when we can’t accomplish a posture and so want to.

Darling, be kind to yourself! Challenge yourself, but don’t push hard. Respect your limitations and stop worrying. It might be not the right time. It might require a bit more strength. Maybe it’s not even physically, but your mind, that should simply stop that noise. Be patient. Play. Laugh. Practice with a calm mind, an open heart and let go. Overthinking kills any progress. Yoga isn’t a competition. Yoga is the process of coming home. Home to yourself. 

Sri K. Patthabi Jois said: „Do your practice and all is coming“. This is the secret. Work WITH your body, not against. Allow your body to develop and progress in your own time. Feel what you’re doing. Listen to your body, connect.

Remind yourself to enjoy the ride, love! It’s your ride home.

Cleansing through asanas

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I felt quite bad today — sad, worrying and a headache was trying to tempt me to just lay down on the sofa. My mat seemed far away, when I told myself, I’ll feel much better after practicing. So I did. Went to my mat, without any expectations.

I turned slow and peaceful music on. Closed my eyes when warming myself up. In samasthiti I started my Ujjayi breath, very intense and I kept this during the full practice. It was loud and deep and felt like a storm going through my body. It even deepened some asanas. And yes, practice felt so good and not just my body said thank you, also my mind is in a much better mood now!

My breath cleaned me. My breath took all that shit out of me, that put me down. My inner smile is back.

This kind of intensifying asana practice also works when being in a happy mood — you can even push more. Stay a bit longer in each asana, close your eyes and go into your feelings. You may enjoy some and others better let go. So a rather aware inner tidying up. Let go of anything that doesn’t serve you any longer and enjoy.

Let your body work and your mind will follow.

Pay off

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Discipline. Persistence. Trust. Faith. Practice. 6 days a week. It works.

Our bodies are very different – what’s easy for you might be impossible for someone else. Or the other way around. Age is another barrier, as it’s much harder to gain strength, overcome stiffness and convince our bodies of new options. Plus all of a sudden, there’s fear. The older we get, the more.

So it’s not just the body. The mind has to support a lot. No room for evil thoughts, but a can do approach. No limits. It just takes its time.

Headstand is quite easy for a lot of people. Some need a bit more practice. It took me about 8 months to be able to do free headstand, without the wall or any other support. Progress in baby steps. And finally, I was there. Tears were running over my face. I did it. It felt so easy…

Never give up. Do what you want to do. Even if it takes ages. It’s so worth it!

Self care

Kathrin2 Comments

Practice steadiness and ease. Inner strength, but also soothing and sweet. How can this work? My view: it’s all about being kind to my body, instead of stressing it. Doing my best, challenging body and mind, by fully respecting my limitations that day, that moment. Listening to my body. Understanding if it’s just laziness, that makes the sofa calling me or my body sending signals on what is good or bad for me in that moment. Also fading out the self talk my mind is confusing me with. Gently. Accepting. Yes, tenderly.

Pushing and pulling seems rather violent and works the opposite direction, it takes us farther from ourselves. It is this deep connection with ourselves, our centre, that cultivates a confidence, which makes our practice and our lives magical and leaves us deeply touched and happy.

Care for yourself.

 

Yoga is about…

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Last weekend I attended a workshop and the key message was: yoga is about alignment with your vital state, the living spirit. The book I’m currently reading says, yoga is about the search for space. I’ve got a lot of yoga books, lots of different words, that explain what yoga is about. On this webpage, you’ll find my thoughts on what yoga is. Who’s right? Everybody. Are we lost in translation? Honestly, don’t let anybody tell you what yoga is. You define it. Put it in words, what yoga means to you. In your own words. We might all think more or less the same, but articulate it differently, using different words. For your understanding your words are key, as the devil is in the detail. Whatever your definition is, just don’t put it in stone, but rethink from time to time.

In todays practice my mind wandered a lot. Millions of thoughts, far away from my mat. I didn’t had any focus and was internally complaining, that all of a sudden I wasn’t able to go deep into certain postures any longer. I heard myself and started laughing. It’s not just about my limitations today, I wasn’t practicing yoga at all. Just doing postures, I wouldn’t even call them asanas.

And this is what makes the difference in my practice: as soon as I’m connected, listening to my Ujjay breath, keeping my bandhas activated, I’ll be in my flow. When my focus goes internal, I follow my rhythm, I’m practicing yoga, I’m practicing a moving meditation. Today was exercise. Which is ok. I’ll be back tomorrow!

Let the dedication remain

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Good and bad – even if I don’t really like the weight and rigidity of these categories, we’re all using them. Particularly when describing our days, they seem to be like this, either good or bad, cross the board.

The so called bad days tend to get much more attention. Whether it’s our mind being in a bad mood, stressed or overwhelmed or our body, that doesn’t want to move or bend as we wish.

I ask you to be aware and fully enjoy (yes!) both of them. Your full being is different each day, flexible and strong one day, stiff and weak the other day. Your body and your mind, each nothing but a marvel and the way they work together makes you simply a masterpiece. Whatever they offer, just accept it. Life is challenging you, giving you lessons to learn and opportunities to grow.

Accept where you are that day, that moment. With all your limitations, all the mud you might feel stuck in. Have a look at your wings and recognize what you’re able to do. It’s you. In exactly that moment. Be aware and conscious.

Keep on returning to your mat and practice. No matter what you’re doing, no matter how long. Just do it. And love it.

Start your practice

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Om

Vande Gurunam Charanaravinde
Sandarshita Svatma Sukava Bodhe
Nih Sreyase Jangalikayamane
Samsara Halahala Mohashantyai

Abahu Purushakaram
Shankhacakrsi Dharinam
Sahasra Sirasam Svetam
Pranamami Patanjalim

Om