It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and the seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But, there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power. - Alan Cohen
You’ve probably heard that how we show up on our yoga mats is a reflection of how we show up the other twenty-three hours of our day. This week’s classes will encourage you to check in and evaluate whether it’s time to up level your practice and step out of your comfort zone or if you are right where you are supposed to be today.
Okay yogis, it’s time for a little reflection and self-assessment. Take a few moments to ponder your yoga practice over the last three to six months. Make some allowances for the holiday season, but be honest with yourself. Have you settled into a comfortable routine––too comfortable a routine? When is the last time you had a breakthrough in your yoga or meditation practice? Are you fully present for your practice or have you found yourself in autopilot mode, where you’re simply going through the motions as opposed to continuing to grow?
When you’ve developed a yoga routine that works for your schedule and your lifestyle, sometimes it’s easy to become complacent and that’s when you need to remind yourself that Patanjali wrote in the Yoga Sutras that the path of yoga is simple, but it isn’t easy. We’re not suggesting you need to let go of your favorite classes and teachers, we’re just suggesting you make sure you aren’t growing stagnant. Yoga is a path to find clarity in the mind. Our practice activates and elevates our brain waves and our nervous system. We need to keep growing, inside and out.
Trying a different practice can help you evolve physically, emotionally, and mentally. This week, consider pushing your boundaries and trying something new or different, at least one time. Deepening your practice doesn’t necessarily mean a more advanced physical posture. Just know that striking a pose doesn’t necessarily correlate to a deeper practice. Advancing your practice can mean a more attentive mindset with your pranayama and your intention or pushing yourself a little harder when you’ve been on autopilot.
When we step into an uncomfortable situation and breathe through it, we’re creating change, inside and out. We’re growing each time we try something new. By working toward something outside of your usual patterns, you will create change. Just as in life, it's good to level up sometimes, and soar to new heights. Enjoy!
1. Josey Prior - Flow into Side Crow
2. Claire Petretti Marti - Quick Energy Flow 4
3. Carson Calhoun - Rocket Yoga 3. The Happy Hour
4. Angela Kukhahn - Hop on Up