Tag: release

Listen

KathrinLeave a comment

„It’s not about forcing or willing your body, it’s actually so much more about listening.“ Kino McGregor

I love this. It’s all about tuning in, listen and allow things to happen. Yoga is a process and to force yourself into a posture will nothing but harm your body. Well honestly, your mind too, as you might get frustrated. Do good for yourself and stop getting attached to the perfect posture.

My students know quite well how much I repeat and remind them to focus on their breath, to follow it trough their bodies and to let the breath work for them. Through your breath you can lengthen, release, you can even go much deeper into a pose. But you must go internal. This might be difficult at the beginning, particularly when in class. Give it a try anyhow.

A good preparation is to meditate. Sit quiet and bring your full attention to your breath, nothing else. Feel your breath, watch it flowing through your body, maybe you can even hear it. Sharpen all your senses focussing on your breath.

In your next class, just do the same. Listen to your teacher, let the voice be your guide through the flow of poses, while you are on your journey inwards, with your breath as your beautiful travel companion.

Be patient and allow your practice step by step to become a moving meditation.

Be happy

KathrinLeave a comment

Every time your feet touch the mat is the moment you meet yourself. Your practice is special, it’s not about doing quickly some exercise. It’s your time to go internal, to flow, to move, to be with yourself. Challenge yourself and release, find your individual moment of steadiness and ease in each posture.

Make a decision to be happy, each time you step on your mat. No matter what mood you’re in, no matter the circumstances. Let happiness flow through you, let it fill you. This kind of happiness that arises within, independent of the situation or people. Your practice is the time you spend with yourself. Be gentle, treat yourself good, accept where you are that day and keep your face relaxed. Make your practice a beautiful moving meditation, make it count.

The moment you feel your mat underneath, allow your lips to smile. Take a deep long breath in and slowly let it go. Allow your body to release. Nothing that happened before has any meaning, it’s past. Whatever might happen after your practice has no meaning either, it’s future, not yet there. All you have it just this moment. There’s no time, but this moment.

Meet yourself in each precious moment on your mat and be happy, aim true, be you.

Power and silence

KathrinLeave a comment

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!

Listen to your body

KathrinLeave a comment

This morning, after 5 sun salutations, my body said clearly NO to my usual Ashtanga practice. As I’m currently quite susceptible to injuries, I didn’t question anything but switched to a soft Yin practice. I thought, I might turn some soothing music on to support going internal and release. Guess what, it made me nervous.

I changed the music. Rhythmic, fast, loud. That was it. My body started swinging, vibrating. I joined singing and my mind was quite. I moved into postures without thinking, my body guided me. I even forgot the time in some asanas. It all felt so right and my closing headstand was kind of purifying. No pressure at all, it felt so effortless.

Listen to your body, what fits one day doesn’t work the other. What’s good for others might not be good for you. Listen, your body will tell you what to do.

After practicing I walked my dog and my hips complained a lot. I started swinging even more. Asking them to release all the stored shit. To let go. To be easy and relax. I sent my smile to them carried by my breath. Arriving home, we were in peace.

It’s all about that, isn’t it. Listen to your body, work together, finding a way to take it easy, what ever is happening around you. Forgive yourself, forgive others. Release.