Shifting Seasons
This current theme of the 6 week block is Grounding. For those of you that are newer here, I like to write up what we’ve been exploring and why as this part of the yoga isn’t something we can get too much into the why’s within class… I think I talk enough 😆 But I intend for this to bind everything together.
Grounding - The shift in seasons can feel turbulent and sometime s this may be reflective of what some of us may be experiencing in our smaller worlds. Grounding and encouraging our senses to feelings of stability can help in creating something to return ourselves to in any situation. Rooting; taking from nature the fact that the tree roots remain steady even thought the leaves all and the branches may become weathered, the roots remain stable.
Visualisation - Using the physical awareness of our bodies in contact with something stable, feeling the earth beneath us. From this place allowing the breath to merge us, the visualising the breath rooting into the ground and watching the breath rise up through our bodies. The visualisation always brings in our practice of Dharana (to focus consciousness of a single object, idea or place) by giving you something else internally to direct your awareness to when you notice it’s wandered.
The foundations of my practice and teachings are rooted in philosophy, the cultivation of Grounding ourselves has come from the concept of the Gunas (Rajas, Tamas & Sattva) which are three essential aspects of nature that are constantly changing. Summer is generally a rajastic (busy) time of year and it may be that we carry that energy into the change to autumn. But along with nature as it starts to change in our outer environment, we need to acknowledge our smaller more personal environment and bring more of the tamas (heaviness/ rest) to ground and balance ourselves from our rajastic tendencies.
Physically, we have started each class in various ways, standing, seated in a chair, and lying down. As we experience the colder temperatures this may begin to change our posture so there’s also been more of a focus around the neck and shoulders. It’s important to acknowledge the change in seasons by allowing ourselves more stillness and a restful practice but to ensure we don’t bring a feeling of heaviness, to still balance it with practices to energise gently & leave with a feeling of restoration.
You can join me for weekly in-person classes in Comberbach and Hartford, and also from your home with my Gentle Mat & Chair live online classes.
1-to-1 and Corporate classes are also available.