Class Theme Week 2 Feb 2015- Moving Meditation

I attended Ian Davis’s class last week when he was working with the theme of adjusting our yoga practice to emphasise the feel of it being a moving meditation.  I so enjoyed it, I wanted to bring it into my classes this week.

The emphasis in our vinyasas is on the transition from one pose to the next, never completely stopping the movement.  We aim to keep the movement synchronised with and captured by the length of the breath.  So no rushing to “get there” into the pose- think tortoise, not hare!  It is amazing how much time there is for this transition and to bring a more mindful quality to each movement.

In our asana poses with holds of several breaths, there is still movement, just smaller.  Whenever we are breathing, there is movement happening.  Here, the focus is taking time with the breath to scan through your grounding, your alignment, to explore opportunities to connect more fully with the essence of the pose, in whatever expression works best for you at the time.  This could be increasing or decreasing the intensity depending on your breath and your ability to manage any tensions that may be creeping into the body. 

The students are creating a wonderful calm and meditative atmosphere in the practices this week.  So a big thank you to my students for their dedication to their yoga.  It is a privilege to witness.