Tag: yoga

Do we need a mat to practice?

Kathrin1 Comment

No, we don’t. And sometimes I even prefer to practice without. So is it just good Marketing that we’re purchasing them and even need more than one? Nope, a mat has a lot of benefits (please do yourself a favor an get a proper one – yes they are expensive but worth it, depending on your requirements).

The most important reason is to protect us from injury. Wow, a mat ca do this? Absolutely, let me give you an example: I’ve got slightly sweaty hands and those who share this with me know what I’m talking about. Slipping on a mat can be quite dangerous, plus it keeps my mind busy to take care about a proper and safe stand instead of releasing in a posture.

Of course it’s also a welcome support for the knees and all those parts touching the ground. Honestly I also don’t want to know what’s going on there on the floor, such things as when it has been cleaned last time…. Just get my mat down and everything is fine. Well, don’t forget to clean your mat regularly!

There’s another aspect not to be underestimated: ‘my mat is my home’. A symbolical representation of the place, which makes your mind, body, heart and soul healthy and also in union. Where ever you place your mat, you’re home. It’s your safe place. A synonym for your practice. Untouchable for others, disrespectful to walk on a mat that is not yours. Even when I teach, I try to not touch the mats of my students, which is unfortunately not always possible when doing adjustments, however, I respect this as a very personal place.

Regardless of all the pros using a mat, go without from time to time. We should not be attached to it, as attachment is rather about holding and clinging, while we try to practice the art of letting go in yoga. It’s all a matter of a healthy balance – appreciate your mat, without becoming hooked on it.

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

Kathrin2 Comments

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.

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)

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

Stay true in your practice

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Step back

From time to time I believe it’s a good approach to step back. Step back in my own practice, as well as in class with my students. Back to basics. All class focusing on correct alignment. Taking time to look at the details. Slow down. Practice to feel the postures. Also experience the difference when the alignment is not fully correct. Sometimes back to modifications and simple, basic postures. It works like readjusting the body and setting new anchors.

No rush

Stepping back is quite challenging for our minds. Particularly for those who claim themselves to be ‘advanced’. Let me give you an example of just one pose: after a very stressful day, go into Vrikshasana, tree pose. The graceful, steady stance of a tree. While maintaining your body balance, feel your roots, feel how they reach out through your mat, the floor, into the ground, guided by your breath. This is a huge opportunity to understand what’s going on with you. Are you able to properly connect? How about your balance that day? Are your thoughts wandering?

It might sound boring, but yogis, practice is not about more more more. It’s not about the ability to do the most complex or advanced poses. Practice is about your connection to yourself. It’s about withdrawing your senses, going internal. A meeting with yourself, a meditative state. Bring your attention to whatever pops up in your mind. What are your thoughts telling you? What do you feel?

The Ashtanga approach

Practicing Ashtanga means a commitment to practice 6 days a week, except moon days. A strong commitment. A useful one, no doubt, as it also strengthens our willpower and discipline. But. Yes, there’s a but. Yoga also teaches me to listen to my body. So what if my body says clearly, no? What if my body threaten to injure itself if I keep on pushing? I keep my commitment to practice 6 days a week, but adjusted the content into ‘yoga’. I’m on my mat each day, Ashtanga on the schedule, but if anything shouts out a clear ‘no’ (laziness doesn’t count!), I allow my body to get into the driver seat: a nice yin practice, a music driven flow, just a bunch of sun salutations, maybe a pranayama session or a meditation. Sometimes my body surprises me and I find myself doing the primary series, although my body told me a different story before 🙂 However, on my mat every day, that’s it.

Stop the competition approach. You are on a journey to yourself! Make your practice mindful and take care. Allow any progress to happen naturally, no matter if on a physical or mental level. Step back from time to time, take your time yogi and enjoy the ride!

NEW classes from January – join me! 

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Happy to announce my new classes @ ATHAYOGA! Join my classes and feel welcome in the beautiful studios in Zollikon and Zürich. I love the atmosphere in both studios, very warm, open and inviting. While the studio in Zollikon is large and open with a stunning view onto the lake, the one in Zürichs’ old town is smaller, cozy and feels like practicing in a living room, which leverage beautifully the feeling of being family.

Yogis, join my classes, spread the word, bring friends! We will start with the new year in January 2017, so bring your New Year’s resolution to life!

From January, 10th 2017: 

Tuesday 14-15:30, Ashtanga led class, half Primary (for Ashtanga newbies) @ ATHAYOGA Zollikon

We practice a modified and shortened version of the Ashtanga primary series. This class is accessible for all levels, but we focus on Ashtanga beginners, meaning there will be modifications for the more difficult postures as well as transitions. We look at all details and adjust the speed so it fits everybody. The specific sequences of asanas are linked by vinyasa and your deep and steady Ujjay breath will bring you further into each posture and sustain you to Savasana.

Ashtanga is the Sanskrit term for “eight limbs” and the 3rd limb is the asana practice. The primary series (there are 6 series in total) is called Yoga Chikitsa, or yoga therapy, as it detoxifies and realigns the body.

From January, 18th 2017: 

Wednesday 18-19:30, Vinyasa Flow class @ ATHAYOGA Zürich

In this class we practice different variations of Vinyasa Flow. Vinyasa means coordinating breath with movement to flow from one posture to the next. This style allows some variety, as there’s no predefined sequence. Each class will have a leading subject, focusing on a certain section of the body, a muscle group or following a particular intention, either fast or slow.

Enough said, move your ass to class yogis!

Here you go: ATHAYOGA

Photo Credit: Roland Fischer, ATHAYOGA Zürich