As opposed to Vinyasa or Bikram yoga, this class focused on breathing, meditation, and awareness. We “set” ourselves in each pose, mindful of each breath, concentrating on sending oxygen to every part of our body.
In the throes of fitness, it’s easy to get caught up in working towards our next goal, whether it is training for a race or finally nailing that scorpion pose. But equally important is the cultivation of our minds and self-awareness, which is what makes yoga so unique. Not solely a physical endeavor, yoga exercises our mind as much as our body.
At the end of the class, during shavasana, our teacher spoke to us about the importance of carrying over our session into the "real world". "Basketball players practice basketball for the game," he said. "A violinist practices his violin for the concert. And we practice yoga to translate it into our lives."
His words resonated with me, especially since I work in an industry so contingent on deadlines. It is so easy to lose oneself in the stresses and trials of daily life. But during our yoga practice, we find balance, awareness, and inner peace.
Namaste.
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