ClassTheme- Week 2 Jan 2016- Close Your Eyes and Start to See

Our Chakra energy continues to rise with our sixth centre, Ajna- to perceive, to command.  Element light, we seek illumination as opposed to illusion.  We express our right to clarity: to see clearly, with truth.  Located at our eyebrow centre, this space is often referred to in yoga as the Third Eye.  It is one of our gaze points, or drishti.  As we soften our gaze or close our eyes, our third eye can become clearer: we can better connect to our in-sight when there is less distraction.

Balanced energy at the sixth chakra brings characteristics of perception, trust in our own intuition, ability to think symbolically and recognise patterns, and to visualise.  These attributes assist enormously in distinguishing illusion from reality, and along with other chakra energies, give us the courage and strength to see what is, as opposed to what we wish or want.

We all carry with us patterns of behaviour both mental and physical that are shaped by our upbringing, friends, occupations, environment, health, etc.  We carry with us our self image, which is multi-faceted; spouse, parent, child, friend, skilled professional, etc.  The behaviours we adopt for these roles can become habit.  Without insight, we enter the illusion that these roles are who we are.  We’ve grasped onto the illusion, invested in it and have become bound up by it.  Our yoga helps us to see these patterns.  With awareness, comes choice. 

In our practices this week, we use Nadi Shodhana to help balance prana energy.  We focus on the pattern within simple vinyasa sequences, perhaps experience some apprehension as external prompting fades away and we become our own guide.  We make decisions for ourselves: choice of asana, how to work within poses, when to rest, where to take it.  We learn to listen to our inner voice, trust in our own wisdom, challenge patterns in our practice. 

So empower yourself to make positive changes, to loosen binds, and to experience a sense of freedom. Create space and light for your true self to shine through.