What does yoga mean for you? Is it synonymous with exercise, with meditation, or both? How could yoga be used for healing? What is it that is being healed?

Let’s examine three principles of Yoga Therapy and their benefits to you, and in doing so you may see the answers to those questions.

Principle 1 – Yoga Therapy is the conscious application of the many techniques and concepts of yoga to enhance health and wellness. As we human beings are multidimensional, all our levels are taken into consideration with the philosophy, psychology and techniques: body, mind, and spirit.

Benefit – If you are going through a life change, or a transition, for example, you are probably a bit fearful or anxious. Maybe you are even angry and are resisting the change. As yoga therapy is much more than a prescription for yoga exercises, other techniques are available.

A key theory in yoga is the importance of letting go, to stop the clinging. At a time of major transition understanding how to apply this theory to the best of your ability will make changes easier to handle.

Principle 2 – Yoga Therapy identifies awakening to one’s true self as the key to health and healing. What does that even mean? Yoga philosophy further states that lack of knowledge of the true Self is the source of all dis-ease and illness.

If we identify with our occupation, nationality, or status, for example, things related to our body, if these external factors are threatened, we would fluctuate,  experience imbalance that could lead to disease. When we get a hint or glimpse of our true identity, then even during the most trying of times, we will still maintain an experience of silence within, a balance of body and mind.

Benefit – Whenever there is a feeling of unease, or disquiet in the body and mind, you can see this as a signal that something is off; that there is a disconnect somewhere that needs due attention.

And further, with an understanding that the root cause of an illness or disease may remain even though symptoms have gone or are being alleviated, you know you could always dig deeper for health and healing.

Principle 3 – The uniqueness of each individual is respectfully considered. It really is different strokes for different folks. Yoga techniques of breathing, postures, mudras, etc. must be selected, adapted and modified according to your age, culture, religion, and physical condition.

Benefit – Yoga Therapy is an art as well as science. There are many scientific studies showing the health benefits of yoga exercises, breathing and meditation. If you are suffering with insomnia,for example,  you can experience more peace of mind and improved sleep through the skilful application of yoga techniques. Even if you have never practiced yoga before, the techniques carefully selected for you, will produce beneficial results when practiced with patience and persistence.

Yoga Therapy that includes knowledge of Ayurveda (yoga’s sister science) and kinesiology, offers solutions for functional and structural imbalances,  as well as the proper use of diet, lifestyle, routine, yoga and meditation.

Ayurveda teaches us how to live harmoniously with nature and each other. Understanding Ayurveda, this sister science of yoga, helps us live healthier lives and thrive with more harmonious relationships.  The essence of Ayurveda is understanding your body mind uniqueness.

When Nature is Kind

It was a natural action to sit in the shade on the beach yesterday, feel the warm breeze on our skin, the soft sand underfoot, be lost in the sound of the water, and watch as the waves came closer then move away. It was a feeling of abundance and harmony with Nature and like-minded individuals. Time was no more, even as the sun was going down.

We all knew we would get a good night’s sleep and there was spontaneous smiles at the thought. Nature was our friend.

I’d like to think we naturally gave back friendship with our appreciative hearts, off tune songs and chants, our Salute to the Sun yoga exercise, and tears of love. That in that public space where seven of us came together the harmony we created soothed Nature. Those who liked structure and those who preferred to go with the flow laughing together when the obvious differences surfaced.

Fierce Nature

The Mind thinks in opposites. So now I think of those who are experiencing the hardship of Nature’s fury: water in the wrong places or no water at all. Senses bombarded by unpleasant odors and heart wrenching scenes that seem to be everywhere.

My hope is that from time to time, their minds are able to serve them well. To recall a moment of beauty; to imagine a peaceful sunrise; or a drink of clean water. And that they are able to keep a song in their hearts.

Invitation

I invite you to make sense of your world with Ayurveda and understand your unique body mind.  Ayurveda has a wealth of knowledge that teaches the individual how to enhance the body’s healing process and restore balance. It points the individual to it’s sister science of Yoga to find the healer within through personalized yoga and meditation practices.

If you have to wait for the results of a medical test or for an operation, time can drag by. The long days can drag you through life. And life itself can become heavy.

If you wait by focusing only on that one moment in time in the future, you miss out on our life. You basically choose to abandon participating in your life in the present moment. Your whole world becomes the impending results, and your imagination will probably be quite overactive.

Yoga tools are actually quite simple, and can help you live your life with more pleasant moments. You can exercise your right to choose how you will be present with your life in any given moment.

Here are some suggestions on ways to use yoga tools:

Body Awareness – Listen as calmly as you can to the messages of the body by feeling the sensations: tingling, temperature, pressure, discomfort, etc.

Breath Awareness – Focus on the movement of the breath from neck to abdomen. Or listen to the sound of the breath.

Breathing Pattern – Become aware of the pause at the end of the exhalation, and comfortably extend it by a seconds or two.

Self Study – Journal on an experience. Choose a positive or negative experience.

Relationships - Ask a trusted friend to spend some time with you, and share your feelings with honesty.

I hope you capture many peaceful and pleasant moments. Do let me know how you fare.

Heather Greaves, Student of Yoga – heather@yogatogo.com

Ever catch the Mind lying helpless in a dark tunnel when life is pressing in on you? Just when you need a courageous ally, the mind has become disabled, a runaway soldier. If you can witness the disabled mind, there is a good chance you will want to have a serious talk with it.

Besides a good talking to, what are the techniques that have worked for you when the cowardly companion of the mind must be made into a helpful ally? Here are few I have tried. I call them the beg, borrow, or steal trio. They can give the mood a boost. One technique might work one day, and another day another one might just do the trick.

Technique 1 – Beg

This works well when there is a feeling of helplessness. You do not know where to turn. Every idea has met a dead end. You feel exhausted and defeated. This is time to pray. To feel fully the desires of your soul. To know within your heart, what you really, really want. These heart felt desires are prayers. The feelings can happen spontaneously, and you can also stop, search your heart, and elicit the feelings intentionally. I call it begging.

Technique 2 – Borrow

Borrowing works when within there is a little determination within. It is possible to recall the significant victories in the past, and just how uncertain those times were.  There is a chance you will find that magic ingredient that worked previously and is missing right now. Maybe it was faith that gave stability. Identify it, borrow it from yourself, and use it again.

Technique 3 – Steal

I find this technique works when I know and feel there is an answer somewhere.  The mind can become an ally by thinking about people that have been in a similar challenging situation. For example, it could be my ancestors, a distant acquaintance, or a religious figure. These individuals remained courageous and showed strength of character. Simply by thinking of their virtue, I feel more virtuous. It is like taking from them without asking their permission. Just think of their courage, and there it is – a courageous feeling.  Is it somewhat like stealing?

Remember the trio:  beg, borrow or steal to make Mind an ally.

Amazing how all cells of the heart beat in synchronicity. When removed from the heart, heart cells continue to beat individually. When they touch however, they will beat in unison. The wonder of Nature. I find this fascinating.

How do we care for this heart that is always on?

Here’s quick advice for a healthier diet from the mayo clinic website: Eat grass-fed beef, limit unhealthy fats, choose low fat protein sources, use omega-3 fatty acids, enjoy walnuts and almonds, savor healthy chocolate in moderation, eat more vegetables and fruits, select whole grains, reduce salt in food, practice moderation.

If exercise is bad word for you, think of staying active instead. Staying active will help to keep the heart healthy. Keep moving: walk, swim, dance, take the stairs. Do what you love doing, what gives you pleasure. This way you can keep that activity up easily. Other steps for a healthy heart: quit smoking, meditate, let go of revenge and greed, bring more love in your life.

You will relax more, breathe better, think more clearly, be more energized, and need less sleep. And you will need less pharmaceutical drugs.

The heart is quite central to yoga. Yoga means union, to bind, to yoke. The foundations of yoga are the Yamas and Niyamas. These two limbs of yoga, suggest that we relate to others in a non-violent way, and to ourselves with truth. When we do so, another amazing thing happens.  We begin to open the heart and release the pain held there.

May we experience deeper and fuller breaths as we  accept ourselves, and love life more and more.