5 Principles of Modern Yoga
Yoga is not complicated. Yes, there are many aspects to the practice, and it’s so multi-layered, but at Pearls For Life; Family Yoga of Encinitas, we believe modern yoga is based on five basic principles.
1. Proper relaxation
Relaxation. The one thing our society knows very little about. In other cultures, European for example, it is not uncommon for the whole of society to shut down after the lunch hour for a few hours nap. A siesta. Why? We need to unwind and relax.
Yoga is about pausing. Pausing to clear the mind. Pausing to listen to your body, your mind, your heart. Pausing for perspective. Pausing because your body needs to relax.
2. Proper exercise
The body needs to move as much as it needs to rest. In accordance with our achievement-oriented culture, exercise these days is about conquering. Conquering your body, conquering others, conquering goals. We are all about achieving. But is this good for the body? Proper exercise stretches the body, but not beyond healthy limits. The goal of yoga is to unite the body with the mind in perfect balance.
3. Proper breathing
Proper breathing is essential to health. Yes our body is on an automatic timer and breathing isn’t something most of us have to think about. But proper breathing, where your are conscious about where the breath is going, conscious about equal-filling of both lungs, conscious about every organ and extremity receiving ample breath, is an important technique that yoga teaches. Let your body get air, not just to sustain, but to thrive.
4. Proper diet
Do I really need to address this? We eat like everything else in our lives, to get it over with and to get onto the next thing. We don’t eat to nourish, we eat to survive. While yoga may not come with a diet plan, it teaches practitioners to care for the body. If you are listening to your body, wanting to maintain inner and outer balance, then you will want to feed your body what it needs to thrive. You will want to make healthy food choices. You will want to increase your overall health, not sabotage it.
5. Positive thinking and meditation
I used to watch a yoga video when I was first learning the practice and there came a point when our eyes were closed, our minds and bodies rested and the instructor would say, “Use this time to show gratitude for those in your life who encourage your yoga practice.” As I had no one in my life who did, I simply took that moment to be thankful for who and what I had in my life. All it took was a moment to shift my focus and remind myself of the abundant life I was blessed with. If you don’t hold to the eastern ideas behind yoga, don’t fret, use your moments in the practice to embrace what faith you do have. Thank God. Pray for friends and family. Listen to yourself. Engage a higher power. Personalize your yoga practice.
Remember yoga is about flexibility of all your being.
