Give yourself permission to dream beyond our wildest imaginations
Turn your world upside down
Allow yourself to remove all boundaries
Stop limiting yourself
Trust, everything is possible
Let your mind be beautiful
Create space
Forgive
Let go
Be bold
Be awesome
Be love
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.
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!
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.
Recognize
the moment, when you get off your clothes
and jump into your yoga pants.
Let the transformation start.
Recognize
how your mind releases immediately,
the skin in your face get smooth,
your jaw relaxes.
Recognize
your body waking up,
your muscles silently vibrating.
Recognize
your breath and deepen it,
become mindful.
Feel your happiness,
on your way to the mat.
Stop showing up. I appreciate simple poses that make us feel great, not just the glorified yoga porn that’s all over social media. It’s not about jumping into the next posture. Huh, what’s my next challenge?
Don’t get me wrong, I like watching yogis that are practicing pretty advanced asanas and flows. I’m also working on certain postures. But I’m fed up with all this showing up. Couldn’t be more opposite to what yoga is.
Listen to yourself, stay with your practice, progress will come. Sometimes just in baby steps. You also might never be able to do certain poses. So what? It’s not about that. Go back to your pure self and listen. Start your practice and focus on basic postures. Have you ever really appreciated the benefits of ‚legs on the wall’? It’s nourishing, calming for the nervous system and grounding. Hanging out with your legs up the wall is one of the best ways to help drain tension from the legs and feet.
Work on things that are internal, things you feel. Such as Samasthiti. Breath. Bandhas. If you worked a lot on a certain posture and one day, you made it, yes, share it! Share your happiness, share your progress. I just ask you to stop showing up and making yoga just a competition of flexibility and/or strength.
Do YOGA. Not just asanas.
This is how I get started
I used to go into a yoga studio, when one day I recognized, that I left the studio not that positively energized as I used to. There were a couple of changes, that haven’t been good for me. Instead of hopping through various studios, I gave home practice a try and was surprised how easy it was to keep track. All my former teachers were still in my ears and I could hear them adjusting me. Which helps a lot! I didn’t pushed myself too hard and also found excellent video courses online. I skipped these courses since I jumped into the Ashtanga world, however, once in a while I’m still looking for an interesting class, take a one2one class or attend a workshop. Great opportunities to get inspired, to learn and also get adjusted.
Not to underestimate the amazing energy of practicing in a large group, particularly in an Ashtanga led class, when everybody breathe the same rhythm. Very touching! Love to have this from time to time, as a kind of add on.
Even if I prefer practicing at home for my daily routine, see why:
Give it a try! When you’re a beginner, get started in class. It’s key to get a feeling for the postures, get used to breathing techniques and understand basic alignment.
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!
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.
Om
Vande Gurunam Charanaravinde
Sandarshita Svatma Sukava Bodhe
Nih Sreyase Jangalikayamane
Samsara Halahala Mohashantyai
Abahu Purushakaram
Shankhacakrsi Dharinam
Sahasra Sirasam Svetam
Pranamami Patanjalim
Om
TUNEin:YOGA 