8 Limbs Yoga & Oils: Asana
Guys, we're ready for the limb we're most familiar with, the one we tend to call Yoga itself. When we say we are going to a yoga class or that we do/teach yoga, we most often really mean the physical Asana practice. Did you find it surprising that it's not the first of the limbs of yoga philosophy? I know I was! For a long time, yoga as I knew it was all about this physical practice on the mat, about bending your body into amazing postures, and smiling the whole time too.
Asana, the physical forms of yoga, is actually the third limb, AFTER all the yamas and niyamas. For all the beautiful pictures and poses out there, all Asana has one purpose: to create comfort and ease in our physical body for meditation. If we are uncomfortable in our bodies, we will have a hard time sitting for any length of time. If our body is not healthy and strong, it can steal our focus and our mind is not balanced. Similarly, if our mind is filled with negativity and unhealthy thoughts, our body cannot shine. Creating presence, stability , strength physically, emotionally and mentally during an Asana practice on the mat enables us to find the same presence, stability and strength off the mat when life throws us surprises. It teaches us to explore effort and surrender, challenge and relaxation, as well as all the yamas and niyamas we've explored thus far, providing fertile ground for observation and reflection.
On the mat we can:
Off the mat we can:
On the mat we can:
- explore different varieties of yoga. Perhaps you've stuck to one style for long time. Shake it up and check out a new class.
- trust our body. Yoga teachers can give us all the cues in the world, but they can't be in our skin. Close your eyes, make modifications that allow the pose to fit your body, move through your practice as your body needs
- make up your own pose or sequence. Get creative and find what feels good to you, working with repetition of movement and holding of poses
Off the mat we can:
- watch for resistance. Notice when you hold your body in life situations. Perhaps you clench your jaw in anger, cross your arms when nervous, or hold your breath in self-doubt. Observe these physical reactions in your body and the emotion that comes with them. Make shifts to find comfort and ease in the moment instead.
- sit or stand tall. Good alignment should happen off the mat! It helps us feel solid, supported and confident.
Today's yoga & oils challenge invites you to get creative in your physical practice with:
Oil: Patchouli
Mudra: Ushas mudra
Pose: You create it!
Sequence: Go with your own flow
Intention: I listen to my body and move to find comfort and ease
Oil: Patchouli
Mudra: Ushas mudra
Pose: You create it!
Sequence: Go with your own flow
Intention: I listen to my body and move to find comfort and ease
Patchouli is the oil of Physicality. It supports us in becoming fully present in our bodies, connecting the mind and the body. Patchouli aids us in feeling more grounded and fluid in our movements, allowing us to truly embody our body. It builds an appreciation of our physical form, inviting us to release emotional judgments and body image distortions. Instead, Patchouli fosters feelings of confidence and peace our bodies.
Try Patchouli in your diffuser, on your palms, mat or infused washcloth. It blends really well with citrus oils!
Try Patchouli in your diffuser, on your palms, mat or infused washcloth. It blends really well with citrus oils!
Ushas mudra is all about flow and creativity. When you’re stuck in a place of trying to force, push, and control where you aren’t allowing yourself to open, receive, and follow your inner guidance, use this mudra to get back into flow, connect with your feminine energy, and awaken your sacral chakra, your center of creativity and passion. It also promotes clarity and mental alertness and can help harmonize the hormones.
- clasp your hands together, interlacing your fingers with your left thumb resting on top
I picked a headstand variation for this limb challenge. I want you to pick something that feels good to your body! Inversions (headstand, handstand, etc) can bring up a lot of fear, and require upper body and core strength. They are not poses you want to jump into, rather poses you want to work up to, whether within a class or over a series of classes as you get stronger and more confident. Below is a short video on how I get into headstand, as well as some variations you can try with it.
Did you try Patchouli today? What pose, variation or new pose did you create today? Comment below, share on IG (tag me @alifethatglows and use #EightLimbsChallenge) and let us know!