March 2020
This Month in Class:
Stretch Into Something New in the New Year
In class, I will add a few new movement patterns to play with that will challenge your mind and body. The movements will be accessible to everyone who attends, yet will give you the opportunity to stretch your body, mind, and coordination abilities which can be exciting and interesting. The intention is to have fun discovering and exploring movement and a deeper awareness of our bodies. Come play, center, and ground yourself and breathe with us!
This Month in Class:
Yoga and the Mind Body Connection
The ancient yogic texts, such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, talk about the mind-body connection and refer to ways of improving the physical state through good mental health. According to these writings, a good mind-body connection leads to strength, clarity and acceptance. Positive qualities, such as happiness, calmness, openness, generosity and so on, relax the mind and that improves the state of the physical body. Yoga practice deals not only with the physical body: its purpose is to work with the mind as well. Some yoga poses both stimulate and still the brain as well as activate and energize the vital organs. It is also known that practicing yoga influences the chemistry in the brain, leading to improved mental health. Yoga also works with awareness. Being aware of the mind and body during the practice helps with the mind and body awareness in everyday life.
This Month in Class:
Mudra and Meditation
This month we will end our classes with meditation and learn a mudra to facilitate that meditation. Mudras are found in all cultures and religions and have specific meanings from their places of origin.
In yoga, mudras are hand gestures or locks which direct the subtle energies of the body to specific internal energy centers. They have gentle effects on the body and more profound effects on the mind and consciousness.
In class, we will focus on mudras for meditation. Practicing these mudras for 3 minutes prior to meditation will bring the body into restful alertness, the mind into one-pointedness, and allow for a deeper meditation period.
This Month in Class:
Cultivating Interoceptive Awareness
Interoception is our ability to sense what is happening inside our body. Studies show that people with good interoceptive skills have a strong sense of self and are more adept at managing stress. Practicing yoga helps strengthen interoception by allowing us to slow down, turn our attention inward and connect to our inner self. By listening to the messages our body sends we become aware of the amazing impact of the mind-body connection.
This Month in Class:
“Peace of Mind”
Exploration of the myths and truths of meditation practice.
In our class, each Saturday this month, along with our yoga postures and meditation practice, we will explore some of the myths surrounding meditation practice: Does the mind become peaceful? Or perhaps it is already at peace? Just what is this power that we call ‘mind’?
Handouts will be given. All are welcome.
The student came to the Bodhiharma, crying, “My mind has no peace! I beg you, master, please pacify my mind!”
“Bring your mind here and I will pacify it for you,” replied Bodhidharma.
“I have searched for my mind, and I cannot take hold of it,” said the student. “Now your mind is pacified,” said Bodhidharma. Zen Story
