Parvati Magazine December 2014/January 2015: Consequence/Beginnings | Page 13

YOGA
Life is not so much about
beginnings and endings
as it is about going on
and on and on.
It is about muddling
through the middle.
- Anna Quindlen

to engage and think
about it will lose its meaning and benefit, and become merely exercise.

eginning a yoga practice is exciting, and
every class brings something new to our awareness. As we progress in
our practice, the excitement of newness can
fade and be replaced
with boredom or a sense
of ‘checking out’. Flows
become habitual and
alignment becomes automatic, so we may disconnect from the present
moment and think about
our never-ending To-Do
list even as we breathe
and move in rhythm.

Instead, how can we
bring that sense of reverence that is present when
we begin something
new to every moment of
our practice? This is the
real work of yoga: being
present allows us to see
sparkle in every repetition
of familiar movement,
and constant exploration
gives us the opportunity
to find something new in
every moment. Our body
is not the same from moment to moment or day
to day, and tuning in
to whatever is currently
happening in our body
can allow us to become
present in every breath.

A yoga practice is a
quest for balance, and
the building of a habit of
practice is the same. Creating a habit of everyday
practice has remarkable
benefits for our mental
and physical health, but
having a yoga practice
that becomes so habitual
that we no longer need

What feels open and
relaxed? What is your
emotional state? Is your
mind racing in circles or is
it focused?

Try this exercise: next time
you come to your mat,
start with a body scan.
Instead of changing anything about your body
intentionally, just notice
where you are in the
moment. Where are you
holding onto tension?
Where do you feel movement from your breath?

B

In yoga class we often
focus on intention and
change, but we skip
the step of beginning
where we are. Without
this awareness, we are
holding a map and deciding on a destination
without knowing where
we stand in relation to it.
Understanding where we
are emotionally, mentally
and physically allows us
to establish a starting
place that will be different every day. This makes
our practice forever new,
and we begin again
every time we step on
our mat.

EllaIn her 13isa humanitarian and certified passion for community and
Isakov an early 30s Yoga gal with a of teaching, Lisa the Toronto
Crystal Ellisis years of practice and 5 years yoga instructor inKitteringham has
area. She teaches Vinyasa flow, Restorative, and kidsflowing meditationin a
continuous learning. She can always be foundcreate yoga classes. She is
integrated her love of dance and yoga to with her head in a book,
a leader in the that allow each student to increaseblog or Twitter. With a fiery
silly sequences Toronto yoga community and on the committee of “Yoga and
yoga pose, or sharing her musings over on her their body awareness
Unite,” a yoga initiative thata steady rhythm of breath.see their awareness
personality theirconstantly strives to motivate others to She is inspired every
ground she practice in holds fundraising events to create greatness,
for diverse non-profit organizations at the Toronto area thaton herher students
while always making sure to laugh in in the minds and bodies of journey at
day by the moments of discovery herself. Follow along are creating
change. Ella is also a Phoenix Risingshe experiences writes articles for several
yogicrystal.wordpress.com stillness yoga therapist, in her own practice.
and by the moments of or on Twitter at @YogiCrystal.
magazines, is a certified raw food chef, and leads holistic yoga retreats
several times a year.
For more information about Lisa, please visit www.groundedyogini.com
For more information on Ella, please visit yoginipath.com and
stellarkidsyoga.com.