It's April Fool, but let's be honest with our body and strength!
April Fools—a fun special day filled with lies (or truth?). Yes, blowing harmless yet shocking false statements might be fun, but, here’s a daily reminder: fool anyone but yourself! So how can we be honest with ourselves? We believe a mind-body connection with Yoga may help :).
Exploring the mind-body connection with yoga
Yoga enables us to work through the body to strengthen and deepen our mind-body connection. It encourages us to listen to our bodies and to move in ways that align with our own body’s unique needs, rather than rigidly following the thinking of achieving the “ideal” sense.
One fact that you may have already known: practicing self-love is important for developing a healthy sense of self-esteem and self-worth, and ultimately—your relationship with yourself. This self-love is developed and cultivated starting with connecting with your body, this is where yoga shows its strength.
Yoga is not just about shaping our physique, it is a ‘feeling’ practice. Our body is always there to give us feedback, and yoga is there to help us make sure that our bodies are heard.
Such approaches in yoga and movement allow us to release tension to create space, ease, comfort, and freedom in our bodies. As we find freedom in our bodies, we will gradually find freedom and comfort in our lives.
So, what other ‘feeling’ practices can we incorporate into our lives?
Breath awareness
Breath awareness is a fundamental pillar on which the discipline of yoga rests. As yogis, it is important to practice conscious breathing, as it connects us to deeper levels of self-awareness.
A simple, yet profound practice—breath awareness only requires 5 minutes of your day. To engage in this practice, you are embraced to find a space that suits your liking and settle in a posture comfortable for you.
Then, it is time to close your eyes and bring awareness to your breathing. There is no need to change or breathe differently—simply breathe normally.
inhale,
exhale,
Remember, this is a feeling practice—it is a great chance for us to feel the breath moving in your body and give good care to how the body moves in response to the breath.
inhale,
exhale,
And ask yourself:
“How is my breathing today?”
“Am I paying attention to my breath?”
“How does the breath move in my body? Which parts of my body are responding to the breath?”
“Has the breath changed as I observed it? What else am I paying attention to?”
Be mindful of the cues along the way—you and your breathing.
2. Movement practice
Yoga is about the flow of movement. And to immerse yourself in the flow, there must be a harmony between our body and ourselves.
Movement practice focuses on bringing awareness to the body in motion. Through movement practice, you engage with your body by performing some movements that feel comfortable. These movements can be a simple yoga routine, a few stretches, or simply a gentle walk.
When you are ready, you can warm up the muscle and consciousness through slow movements. Once again, bring your awareness to your breath as you move. Pay attention to and be present with the sensations running through your body.
With both practices, attention is key. Be present with your body, motions, and any feelings that arise—be curious, and tune in to the sensation of the body. Your experience with these practices will change gradually as you repeat them—it may be an adaptation, a change in your inner state of self. Welcome and embrace the changes, and observe how the practices and you are developing.
So what do you think? Let’s have April Fools be a good day to remind us of how important it is to stay tuned in and be honest with ourselves ;)
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Exploring the mind body connection with yoga