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The Yogic moral Aparigraha can be translated as meaning non-grasping, non-possesiveness and non-hoarding. Clearing our homes, bodies, minds and lives of things we don't need can help us to 'let go' and make space in our lives. One way to practice aparigraha is to let go of some of our physical possessions.  Did you ever ask yourself what you really use or what items you really love? Is your home full of clothes, things, gadgets, lotions, potions and paperwork that you don't use? I’m pretty sure most of us have extra stuff that we don’t really need. Maybe you live in small flat or apartment and even have to pay to keep stuff in storage. Yes, decluttering can make you richer! ;) “Letting go isn’t the end of the world; it’s the beginning of a new life.” - Unknown On an extreme level you could even be physically bound by your things. We have one friend that wants to move across the country but can't get rid of any of her things. Its easy to look in from the outside and see how this is sabotaging her dreams but harder when you are inside it. By being aware of our attachments to our possessions and recognizing the mental bonds we have created to ‘things’ we are on the path to self awareness. Once we do this we can then take small steps to change and free ourselves from some of these mental bonds that keep us stuck. “But when we really delve into the reasons for why we can’t let something go, there are only two: an attachment to the past or a fear for the future.” Releasing and letting go of things from your physical environment can also feel amazing. We love it! It can help you feel lighter and literally give you more space. In feng shui, clutter is often said to be stagnant energy and clutter clearing can help positive energy(chi) flow just how a physical Yoga asana practice can help the energy (prana) flow through the body.
So my loves final thoughts of the day.....Let it go and let it f low! Need help with where to start? Check out Marie Kondos’ book ‘the life-changing magic of tidying up’ I read it last year and it really is a game changer.
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Balancing poses have many wonderful benefits. Balancing postures require concentration which can simply and effectively reduce brain chatter almost instantly! Your to do list, what to eat for dinner, your life crisis or worries can almost vanish as you focus your mind on the posture. This concentration brings you into the present moment as you centre yourself and regain your sense of calm.  Here are some top tips to try during balancing postures.
Until next time. Happy Balancing.
1. Renew your passion and get specific Yoga workshops are a fantastic way to renew your passion or get really specific about certain elements of your Yoga practice. Regular drop in classes are usually open level and work to give a general all round practice, rather than focusing on a particular theme or posture. If there is certain element of your practice, pose or area of the body you want to work on, a Yoga workshop could be ideal. Getting specific and taking a workshop on something you are interested in or might need some help with could open the doors to new solutions and insights. Yoga philosophy, anatomy, specific asanas, backbending, inversions, hamstrings, partner workshops, detoxing, the options are endless! If you have an idea yourself or have a few friends or Yoga buddies that would like to work on a specific thing, why not ask your teacher or studio if they could set up a workshop?  2. Practice in a safe environment Workshops are normally longer than regular classes, lasting around 2-4 hours long. This ensures that everyone has the space, equipment and support to try out new things without the possibility of crashing down to earth and the Yogi next to you in a packed out group class! There is more time to set up, learn how to use props to help improve the poses for your body. You can recreate and reuse the ideas at home or in your regular class without fiddling around for ages. Wondering what on earth to do with that strange foam block in your Yoga kit? Well now you know! 3. Question time Yes, you have a chance to ask questions. I cannot guarantee enlightenment from the answer, however when a workshop takes place, the teacher has a real experience of the subject matter. They may have struggled with what they are now teaching. As they say 'every master was once a disaster' 'Every master, was once a disaster' This is my all time favourite quote and I struggled and still struggle in many things. This lead me to search and find extra tips, tricks and explanations on how to do and teach things better. Often the teacher has accumulated mountains of tips and tricks to achieve a posture over their lifetime and this has been condensed for you into a fabulous workshop of a few hours. You can always ask google a Yoga question and it will throw out a zillion answers, some very helpful some not so. The benefits of being at a workshop environment and asking questions is, you actually get to try things out then and there. People can demonstrate, assist, ask a follow up question or two or three. Every body is different, so being able to get tips for your body's needs is just fab! 4. Community, friendship and fun Oh my, it all sounds so serious but it's not at all! Yoga workshops can be so much fun. You get to be around other fabulous people. You can share your knowledge and experiences. Maybe you get to do some partner yoga or some assisted poses. Having a giggle with someone as you get stuck going into a side bow can be a great way to make new friends. Maybe you actually get to say more than hi to people you see every week at your regular Yoga class. Maybe you discover they are neighbour you can enjoy a cup of tea with, make a new best friend or maybe they even hook you with up your dream job! Who knows, the possibilities are endless at a Yoga Workshop!  5. Keep an open mind
One very wonderful experience which I had as a participant. An older man in our group effortlessly got into a headstand. I think he really surprised himself and said out loud "I can't believe I'm doing this, I can't believe I'm actually doing this!" It was so great. I was smiling on the inside. It was like a magical moment for me even though it was this guys moment. Sometimes we put limits on ourselves and make ourselves believe we can't or won't be able to do certain things. Be it Yoga poses, triple pirouettes, running a marathon or even just allowing ourselves to be happy! Well this moment for me was a little reminder to keep an open mind not just in Yoga but in life. A lot of things may seem impossible. For this guy, standing on his head did, yet with some tips, support and practice it was more than possible. He inspired us all, and being there to share this moment was great. Keep the faith! So stay open, believe in yourself, enjoy life and go to a Yoga Workshop! Namaste gorgeous people xx |
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