Living Life Well Issue 2 | Page 21

#4. Observe your breath. - It is a mirror to your effort. - It is a part of the pose. Not separate to it. - In the closed feedback loop that is the body and breath, each affect the other. - Being in that process consciously, is Yoga. #5. Don’t worry what other students are doing. #6. Look within! #7. Be interested! #8. If there is tightness, restriction or a lack of balance, be curious as to why that is the case rather than judging yourself. #9. Trace the line of cause and effect. #10. See if making certain adjustments creates more space, balance and an evenness of sensation. #11. It is the teacher’s role to guide you in this process. #12. Stay neutral, whatever comes. #13. That is just how it is on any particular day you practice. Lastly, you may experience challenging and unusual sensations within your body as you proceed through the class. Once you begin to wind down at the end, however, you will experience a quieting of the mind which is the essence of Yoga. Best wishes and blessings on your Yoga journey! Namaste, Anastasia Anastasia is a certified and experienced Iyengar Yoga teacher and has been teaching in the Illawarra since 1998. She is dedicated to helping others enhance the way they live in their bodies. 21