Finding ease in our bodies: what are you noticing?
We come to our yoga mats and notice the pull of the stream of thoughts. Our practice is stepping free from this endless mental chatter. If we are to respond to life, rather than react, we can gradually become aware of how our emotions, feelings and sensations push us into action, often impulsive reaction that is not necessarily serving us well. Our practice is simply repeating this noticing (the body sensations) and practicing the pause before the automatic reaction kicks in.
This may sound complex (and it is) but the key practice is simply the noticing. Each time we tune into a body sensation we refine this skill. The beauty of practicing outdoors is we have new, pleasant, surprising, and interesting sensations to keep us engaged in the practice, plenty of opportunities to notice sensation when we inevitably get pulled by impulsive reactions on the mat. This reaction might be a chain of thoughts you get caught up in (maybe planning) or a physical reaction, maybe stiffening or trying too hard.
As you read this piece can you become aware of the sensations of the contact with the air around you and any bare skin? In outdoor yoga in the mountains the air is inevitably moist and fragrant. Sometimes it's still and warm, like a hug. Sometimes is cool and moving, a welcoming breeze. We learn to respond, to soften the skin, and to practice the noticing and the pausing from a more spacious place, a place that encourages ease in the body.
We come to our yoga mats to feel, not to accomplish. The tension melts away, the reactivity diminishes, an ease comes into the breath, the body and the movements of the body. When we heal the body we heal the mind.
Join us in Mutton Lane Yoga Studio. We currently have spaces in all our upcoming classes. For most of July yoga is on Wednesday and Friday mornings 10am-11am; our next Saturday morning workshop is July 10th. We have a venue with outdoor and indoor options, plenty of secure parking and a spotlessly clean loo!
The sun gradually creeps over the deck as we practice as the days warms up so do we! We have birdsong and bees as background sounds, and the fresh breeze often has a hint of Irish sea in it's fragrance. We have found our place to practice being at ease. You can read more about Mutton Lane Yoga Studio here. As our numbers for outdoor events are very limited all bookings are via Eventbrite.
Please stay in touch with outdoor events through Eventbrite, or our whatsapp groups (text 0876822362). For those of you still enjoying home practice my Daily Collection consists of 5 daily 30 minute yoga practices you can repeat over and over again at home. Zen Collection is a library to choose from depending on your mood, 45 minute flow classes and shorter morning and evening meditations as well as everyone's favourite, Yoga Nidra!
I hope you are all enjoying moments of ease and peace in sunshine and nature; I hope to connect with you on a mat in the soft Irish breeze somewhere this summer!