Flow Yoga
07/2009
"Life is Dynamic, therefore the asana also should be" ~B.K.S. Iyengar
When we practice yoga, we are more ourselves and also more than ourselves. Vinyasa, or flow yoga, is a fluid, empowering and transformational practice that merges your movement with your breath, your body with your soul, the outer world with your inner self. It is unique in the sense that the transitions into and out of postures are equally as important as the posture itself. Creation & dissolution, the rotation of the Earth, our very existence, is not possible without motion. Flow reminds us of the great connection we have to the motion of life, and reminds us that there are no unimportant moments. It is not only the shape of the pose we are interested in, but the way energy enters the body to inform the 'shape'. It is inevitable that as we cultivate grace, strength and flexibility in our bodies, we cultivate these qualities in all aspects of our lives. This is the beauty of yoga.
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One of the teachings of yoga includes a view called parinamavada, which states that change is the nature of all things in life. Though the Yogic texts tell us we are not our body & we are not out mind, this physical body is the only tool you have for realization of divine consciousness. Striving toward balance is one way to achieve stability of being and inner calm in the midst of these ever-changing times. Yoga emphasizes balance in our bodies, relationships and lives in general.
A common misconception is that balance is static. It is, in fact, constant negotiation; mixing ingredients to the recipe of our lives that will add spice if we need it, cool the untamed fire, and sweeten the bitter. Every single one of our lives has been affected by evolutionary consciousness, and evolution takes time & carries out with great ordeal. As I was taught by my teacher Shiva, Vinyasa means "to place in a special way", or, in her words 'conscious evolution'. Our asana practice helps to strengthen the physical container for psychosomatic & spiritual evolution, and simultaneously helps us become more aware, loving, & graceful within the changes that occur.
