Wintering
We made it! The 10 darkest weeks of the year. As much as I love the cosiness I am ready for some Spring energy.
So what have we been doing and why? The last block of classes our visualisation has been a candle. Visualisation (dharana) is a tool that we layer into our practice to help with the natural movement of your mind by creating a focus. I chose this candle visualisation so that we could link it to the candle blowing breath and also because I find a comforting image throughout the dark months of winter. It got me thinking about what a candle may symbolise to each of us. With some focus on the warmth, light, shadows, a connection to something greater or simply softening like the wax of a candle. Encouraging us to soften into the depths of winter allowing ourselves to align with the natural seasonal cycle around us; steering away from those New Year, new me pressures and gradually beginning to emerge.
In reference to yoga philosophy, we have been coming back to the practice of:
"Ahimsa" - Non harm
I recently uploaded a short video describing Ahimsa you can find it here:
It is one of the yamas which comes from one of the eight limbs of yoga from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. We have been linking this each week as it can be quite a testing time at the start of the New Year. Directing that focus of non-harm to practice kindness to ourselves; the way that we think and speak to ourselves as well as others.
Classes are designed for bringing balance to the whole of your body physically, we have kept a good focus on the neck, shoulders and thoracic spine still as the cold weather can affect posture with extra tension in the way we hold ourselves, and combined with some extra stresses we may be experiencing at the start of the new year. As there’s some small signs of new life around us, expect our practice to mirror nature and slowly start to emerge into more seated, kneeling and standing postures.
You can join me for weekly in-person classes in Comberbach and Northwich , and also from your home with my Gentle Mat & Chair live online classes.
1-to-1 and Corporate classes are also available.