Sthira sukham asanam – this aphorism, which can be found in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, tells us that a yoga posture is intended to be an expression of the balance between effort and ease. In fact, some translations of this sutra state that unless this balance exists in the posture, it isn’t yoga.

Sthira means stable, strong and resolute. Working with this quality hones our ability to be present – to be attentive to our physical, mental and emotional experience of each asana. The stability this creates in the mind and the body brings a sense of confidence.

Sukham refers to a feeling of ease or comfort, which can be experienced as spaciousness on a mental or physical level. In fact the last part of the word sukham (kham) means space. Su-kham means more space. The opposite of sukham is dukham, which means a lack of space, and is often described as difficulty, or suffering. As we work with the quality of ease, we encourage self-acceptance and non-violence.

Asana means seat, posture, or situation. It is sometimes used to describe a series of postures that prepare us for seated meditation. It is said that the root of the word asana (as) means being present in one’s body – existing, inhabiting and living fully in it.

The principals of Sthira Sukham Asanam can be taken off the mat as well. The Yoga Sutra defines asanam to also mean ‘situation’- how we relate to our surroundings. Sthira-sukham offers ideas for how to be attentive in all situations. Sthira helps steady and clear the mind giving us the courage to face people we need to confront, stay true to ourselves even when our beliefs are not the popular opinion or when experiencing new things. Sukham allows us to go with the flow, have an open mind and remain calm in uncomfortable moments. When we allow ourselves to soften we release the ego and exaggerated feelings of self-importance. Sukham grants us an open heart to release control when appropriate and ultimately, to be compassionate. ~ Yoga teacher Carrie Godesky.

So how do we begin to apply this wisdom in practice? In reflecting on the evolution of my own yoga practice over the past 17 years, it has become clear to me that the application of this wisdom looks very different according to where we are in any given moment. In his book The Heart of Yoga, T.K.V. Desikachar says that it is only possible to find the qualities that are essential to asana if we recognise our own starting point and learn to accept it. This means starting each practice by checking in, really listening to ourselves, and being very honest about what we find.

When I first began to practice yoga on a regular basis, my practice had a strong physical focus. I was a thirty-one year old mother with two small children, and I was recovering from knee surgery. There was much to do in the way of strengthening my body, and the discipline to commit to a regular asana practice also took some time to develop. The emphasis on sthira was therefore justified, and the confidence I gained from practicing strong physical postures, such as deep backbends and exhilarating arm balances, stood me in good stead in all aspects of my life.

More recently I have found myself gravitating towards a practice that emphasises sukham. This makes perfect sense too, since I am at a very different stage in my life. I am now forty-eight years old. Some days my body requires a less challenging practice. Earlier this year, both of my children left home. Adapting to their absence has been emotionally and energetically challenging. As I look to my practice to nourish and support me, I find balance in other ways. That doesn’t mean that I no longer have a strong asana practice. In fact, some days I find that arm balances and backbends are exactly what I need. But there are also days on which I find meditation and pranayama are enough. The key to sthira sukham asanam is to be attentive to the way things change from day to day.

What about applying this wisdom in a yoga class, when someone else decides what happens? If you attend classes regularly, you will know that sometimes the focus of the class will be exactly what you need at the time. It is as if the teacher read your mind, and your body, and designed the class just for you. But what if the opposite is true? How do you find balance in a class when you feel the tempo is too fast, or the practice is heating when you think you need to chill? You can still explore the concept of sthira sukham asanam, and benefit from attending the session by honouring your needs.

Interestingly, in a group situation it can require sthira to practice sukham, because choosing to pause when the rest of the class is moving requires a different kind of strength. On the other hand, you might discover that a strong physical practice can actually help you burn away the lethargy that is clouding your mind. So by going with the flow of the class you might find energy and inspiration that would not otherwise have been available to you. Again, the key is to be attentive to the way you are responding from moment to moment. Your breath is your greatest ally in this process, because it will show you if the practice is serving you. The breath, like the posture, should be steady and comfortable.

Yoga meets us where we are. If we understand that the point of the practice is not to achieve certain postures, but to allow the postures to help us find our wisdom, then it can truly help us create steadiness and ease, no matter what life (or the yoga teacher) throws at us.

Namaste.

Article by Lynda Miers-Henneveld.

Fire is an amazing thing. We human beings are fascinated by its beauty and energy. When a fire is burning well, we can contentedly stare into the flames for hours on end. More often than not though, a fire needs constant tending to keep it from dying out or raging out of control. Our personal internal fire is no different.

Manipura chakra is the energy centre that governs the manifestation of our personal power. It is located at the level of the solar plexus, between the navel and the sternum and is thought to rule our will and autonomy, as well as our metabolism. The element associated with this chakra is fire and many of the practices we do to boost the energy at this centre are heating. Conversely, when our internal fires are a little too hot and this energy centre needs pacification, cooling practices are more appropriate.

As Anodea Judith states:

“When healthy, [Manipura] chakra brings us energy, effectiveness, spontaneity, and non-dominating power”.

When it’s excessive, we can become overbearing and aggressive. When this chakra is deficient, we can lack confidence. Maintaining a steady flame requires consistent care and attention. It is well worth the effort though, because a fully functional Manipura Chakra is a useful thing to have at your disposal when you’re pursuing a goal and trying to maintain good, solid relationships at the same time!

As an ambitious, driven sort of individual, I’ve never suffered from deficient energy at Manipura Chakra for any length of time. Oh sure, every now and then I fizzle out and need a confidence boost but generally speaking, my Manipura chakra blazes with all of the fire it’s meant to. And yes, sometimes the fire burns hotter than is sustainable…my apologies to anyone whose eyebrows have been singed.

Given that my predisposition is towards fire, I’ve spent a lifetime either consciously or unconsciously cultivating tools for maintaining some sort of equilibrium at Manipura chakra. I’m an expert at “Fire Practices” and can help anyone fan a lacklustre Manipura into a blazing flame. Many yoga practices that are encountered in every class are excellent ways to build strength and energy at this centre.

Unfortunately, I’m also pretty good at literally “burning myself out”. For a long time pacifying Manipura had been a huge challenge for me. One key discovery changed all that: the back of the body has a big role to play in maintaining the balance in this chakra.

In tantric philosophy as taught in Anusara yoga, the back body is associated with the Universal while the front body is associated with the individual. So often when we are out of balance at the level of Manipura chakra, our bodies tell the story. If we are excessive and our ego leads the way, our posture can be characterised by a forward thrust of the solar plexus area. Conversely, when we are deficient and lack confidence, we tend to shrink backwards, allowing the spine to round forward in a gesture of self-protection.

Interestingly enough, when we are straining towards a goal and embodying the physical characteristics of an excessive Manipura chakra, we tend to close off the back body and the area around our kidneys and adrenal glands gets squeezed. At a physiological level, we may be stressing ourselves out even more by compressing the area around the adrenal glands which kick out more adrenaline thereby making us feel more internal tension. It can become a vicious circle. On the other hand, if our self confidence is low and we curl forward, we end up stretching that area in an unconscious effort to soothe ourselves and create space around the adrenals.

In a yoga practice, when we over focus on strengthening the front body at the level of Manipura or when we thrust our solar plexus forward, we can be inadvertently saying that we can do it all alone, that we don’t need support or help. Conversely, when we curl into ourselves or resist cultivating strength in the abdominals, we can be unconsciously communicating our desire for support from the rest of the world perhaps because we need a little extra nurturing or because we feel like we lack the ability to support ourselves.

Balancing an acknowledgement and a trust that the universe has got your back with putting in good honest, personal effort is the ultimate expression of a well functioning Manipura Chakra. One practice that I have found tremendously helpful at cultivating that sense of trust is quite simple. Before beginning any practice or posture, I take a few deeps breaths into the back of my body. By inflating the area around my kidneys and lower back, there is an immediate sense of ease that comes into my body and my mind. As my friend and Anusara teacher Katie Lane encouraged me:

“Remember your connection to something greater, soften your sense of individual/separate self. As you draw the sides of your waistline back and release your front ribs down, invite your back body to shine with the buoyancy of the breath. Breathe here awhile. When you create that fullness in the midback, you’ll tap into a deep feeling of support”

It’s so true! I started consciously encorporating this bit of advice into my practice a couple of months back and the effect has been incredible and immensely healing. By opening into a sense of trust and dispersing my awareness away from my front body to include the back as well, my physical practice has gotten stronger and the level of my everyday sense of tension has eased. My internal fires burn much more steadily now and with far fewer destructive raging bonfires. And by maintaining that steadiness, more power is available to me more consistently.

As all of us know, our personal fire centres need constant tending, just like any other flame. Consider remembering the universal support that is available to help you tend yours. You may discover that you are far stronger and more resilient with less apparent effort than when you try to go it all alone!

~article by Kelly Fisher

Kelly Fisher is offering a workshop for students of all levels. On Sunday, September 12, come along to ask all of the questions you’ve been wondering about certain asanas. Check out the event listing  for more details!

Shankh mudra

Make yourself comfortable in a seated posture. Ensure that your pelvis is level and your spine feels elongated so that your breath can move freely. Rest your hands on your thighs with your palms facing up and take a few deep breaths. Now, wrap the four fingers of your right hand around your left thumb, hiding the thumb inside the curled fingers. Then extend the left fingers and the right thumb upwards, and touch their tips together, closing your hands. Bring your hands in front of your heart, close your eyes, and allow your breath to find a steady rhythm. Stay here for at least 10 breaths, then open your eyes and relax your hands back onto your thighs. Notice how you feel.

You have just practiced Shankh mudra. Shankh means shell, and you may have noticed that the mudra looked somewhat like a conch shell. The word mudra has various meanings. It can refer to a gesture, a symbol, a lock or a seal. There are mudras involving body and/or eye positions, but we often think of mudras as hand gestures, which can be practiced on their own, or in combination with yoga and meditation practices.

Many years ago, I discovered a wonderful book at my local library called ‘Mudras – Yoga in Your Hands’, by Gertud Hirschi. I thought the mudras looked fascinating and decided to experiment with them in my practice. Over time I developed some firm favourites and these have become an important part of my practice. Some mudras can help to focus a wondering mind, others can help to direct and regulate your breathing, and there are those which can strengthen your resolve or bring steadiness when you feel physically or mentally out of balance.

Did you notice when you practiced Shankh mudra that there was a shift in your awareness. Was it a little easier to access your breath and focus on the subtle sensations in your body? In this mudra the left thumb represents your higher self. As you encircle the thumb and place your hands in front of your heart space, you create a gesture of connection, comfort and security. The overall effect can be one of quiet confidence, and a sense of inner peace.

According to kundalini expert Lothar-Rudiger Lutge:

“…Kundalini yoga assumes that every area of the hand forms a reflex zone for an associated part of the body and brain. In this way, we can consider the hands to be a mirror for our body and our mind.”

Reflexology assumes that this is true for the hands as well as the feet, and that pressure points on the hands and feet can be used to great effect in healing all kinds of ailments. Gertud Hirschi adds that flexibility in the hands has a direct relationship to flexibility in the entire body. If we are tense in a certain place in the body, this tension will be expressed at a corresponding area in the hands. In practicing mudras, we use a gentle touch, keeping the pressure of the fingers light and fine, and the hands relaxed, so that energy can flow freely throughout the hands and to the rest of the body.

As another yogic tool for creating awareness and understanding of our human nature, the mudras can also help us to explore the koshas, which define the various aspects of our being from the gross to the subtle. As we bring the hands into the prescribed position we first of all experience the physical sensations of our hands touching in a particular way, and then we may feel the movement of energy within the hands, and the circulation of energy from the hands to the rest of the body. There is often also a perceptible change in the breath. As we take in all of these effects, we expand our awareness and our ability to focus our attention is improved.

Anjali mudra

Come back into your comfortable seat and now bring your hands together in front of your heart. Allow your thumbs to touch your body, to make a connection between your hands and your heart. Apply just enough pressure between your hands to be able to feel not just the touch of your skin, but also the energy flowing beneath the skin. Close your eyes, or relax your gaze at your fingertips. Visualise energy flowing from your hands, through your arms and shoulders, towards your heart. At the same time, begin to gently expand your heart space with your inhalations, inviting healing energy into your heart. Let your shoulders relax with your exhalations, and visualise the release of anything that you’d like to let go of. Continue for at least ten breaths. When you are finished, notice how you feel.

As I leave you with this experience of Anjali mudra, I invite you to explore these lovely gestures in your own practice. There are many resources available to help you find the ones that work for you. Gertud’s book is still available at the library, and since I now own a copy, you are more likely to find it on the shelf! Come into the studio and experience the mudras in asana practice, or check out the articles on the yoga journal website.

Namaste.

Article by Lynda Miers-Henneveld.

We are all born with fantastic intuition. As we grow older and more trained by the world, we become increasingly rational and logical. This transformation from soft, intuitive beings to solid, analytical ones is highly adaptive for the world in which we live. In order to achieve our society’s measure of success, there seems to be a collective agreement that we must deny some aspects of our natural, instinctive selves. Yet when we cultivate only the intellect and repeatedly deny or dishonour our deepest feelings, a sense of low level anxiety and dissatisfaction develops. Something within us knows we have taken a wrong turn.

Luckily, all is not lost. Just as we can strengthen a muscle that has atrophied, it is possible to dust off the cobwebs from our intuitive selves. The practice of yoga is tremendously helpful for reconnecting with the innate wisdom we all possess and also for realising our connection with the collective wisdom that is available just beyond the rational mind. Through the practice of yoga, we learn to go inside, to become sensitive to what our bodies are doing and along the way, we regain a sense of ourselves that is lost when we live largely in our heads. We begin to wake up and start living from a whole new paradigm.

Here’s a caveat though – we can’t “make” this happen. We can’t muscle our way into it, we can’t will it to happen, we can’t buy it. We can however, cultivate the conditions that allow our natural intuition to shine forth. The regular practice of yoga impacts our entire being – from the gross physical body, to our breath and our mind, all the way to the subtlest levels of intuition and spirit. By showing up for ourselves on the mat, by breathing and paying attention to our experience we start to clear the channels of debris that has clouded our ability to receive the messages being given to us by our intuition.

I am extremely fortunate. For the vast majority of my early life, having a finely tuned intuitive awareness was as adaptive for my life situation as having a sharp intellect is for most people. I lived in an environment where there was constant emotional upheaval. Because that was the case from the time I was very young, my innate intuition was still fully functional when I really needed it. Without realising I was doing anything unusual, I learned to read people and situations with exquisite precision in the blink of an eye, quite often with little concrete evidence as to why I knew what I knew. This skill meant I had advance warning for when I needed to find safety from the storm that was brewing…or to ready my defences if I had to.

Once I left home after University, I no longer needed to be as sensitive to my internal cues as I had been throughout my childhood. In addition, I joined the corporate world where sensitivity can be more detrimental than advantageous. Over time, I became indoctrinated into our culture more fully and my intuition took a backseat. As the years went by though, I felt increasingly disillusioned and disconnected. It took getting on a yoga mat to help me find my way back to my natural intuition and to begin to heal my relationship to it.

When I started practicing yoga, gradually, over time, I found I was able to soften and become receptive again. I re-developed the capacity to pick up on increasingly subtle cues from my intuition. As my intuition strengthened, I found it was important to trust it in order for my sensitivity to increase. By honouring my instincts I began to develop a self reliance that allows me to stay soft and receptive to the world, which in turns helps my instincts to remain sharp.

These days, I find when my practice is suffering, so too will my intuition. When I don’t take the time to allow the subtle channels of my being to be cleansed and refreshed on the mat, it becomes easier to dishonour my gut feelings. This disregard for my instincts has led me to make some remarkably bad choices. Ironically enough, the outcome of being deadened to my intuition creates situations where I feel the need to create a self-protective shell, which in turn makes it harder to be receptive to my intuition’s subtle whispers. So then I start over again, re-honouring myself by practicing and listening. Lo and behold, my innate abilities re-emerge, grateful for the opportunity to shine forth again.

Yoga helps us reconnect with our innate intuitive abilities by clearing us out energetically and by making us more receptive. In order to keep our intuition running strong though, we must honour it. The next time your intuition speaks softly to you, I encourage you to listen to it. Over time, you will begin to develop a trust in yourself and your intuition will no longer whisper – it will speak very clearly and often. And to keep that skill sharp, get on your mat at home or come to a class with us!

~article by Kelly Fisher

People are drawn to yoga for different reasons. Some of us are motivated by the need to release physical tension, some of us wish to explore the spiritual realm through our practice, while others just need some breathing space, some time out from the demands of everyday life. If you have sustained a practice for any length of time however, you will have discovered that yoga does not discriminate. It will eventually affect every part of your being, because no matter what aspect of your being brought you here, all of you came along! And over time, you discover that your first step onto the mat, was a step towards wholeness.

Pancha kosha - five sheaths

Yoga provides a systematic approach for creating awareness and understanding of our human nature. It allows us to explore the gross and the subtle aspects of our being through asana, pranayama and meditation. The system offers us various models for deepening our understanding of the structure and function of our gross and subtle bodies.

One such model is that of the five koshas, or sheaths, which are said to cover the Self. This model comes from a Tantric yoga text called the Taittiriya Upanishad. The sheaths are said to be like the layers of an onion, with the Self at the centre of the layers. Working with these layers allows us to explore the gross and the subtle aspects of ourselves.

The following brief explanation of these layers has been transcribed from an article by Jennifer Barone on her website www.innerlotus.com
(The accompanying illustration comes from the same source.)

1. Annamayakosha – The Food or Physical sheath. In the beginning of our practice we confront our bodies and the gross form of ourselves through asana in ways we might never have anticipated. Initially we discover obstacles in the form of misalignment, tension, contraction, or we experience joy, freedom of movement and flexibility. A large part of the practice is connecting with, and bringing deep awareness to our bodies. To truly embody our bodies!

2. Pranamayakosha – The Vital Force or Breath sheath. Through our bodies we begin to connect to Prana – our breath, and our vital energy. Whether we choose to relax, to move with mindfulness or to make our practice a moving meditation, the breath is the link from our physical form to the next kosha – our mind.

3. Manomayakosha – The Mind sheath. Our thoughts and mind-states affect Prana (breath), which affects the body. Equally, bringing mindfulness to the body and breath leads to awareness of the mind. Developing “witness consciousness” or awareness of the quality of our thoughts and our belief systems, we begin to bring focus to our mind.

4. Vijnyanamayakosha – The Wisdom sheath. As we develop a clear view of our body, breath & mind, the three previous koshas lead to a deeper knowledge of ourselves. This is true and collective wisdom. In this state we can begin to direct our aims toward self-realisation.

5. Anandamayakosha – The Bliss sheath. This is the level at which spiritual experience and individual consciousness can be explored. When we reach a meditative state we move toward a glimpse of union or oneness. In terms of our practice, it is usually a time when we experience freedom, pleasure and joy in our practice.

It is important to remember that while we can explore these layers separately in theory, in reality we cannot affect one without affecting them all. They are interconnected. You will have experienced the interconnection of these layers either consciously or unconsciously many times. For instance, an intense emotional response to a situation is usually accompanied by physical sensations, as well as a particular breath pattern. Try to recall the last time you were angry with someone. How did your body feel, what physical sensations were present? Did you gasp, or hold your breath? What thoughts were going through your mind?

The beauty of this interconnection is that we can choose our entry point for exploration according to where we find ourselves at any given moment. If we are dealing with a physical challenge, such as an injury, exhaustion, or even a permanent disability, it does not preclude us from being able to affect the physical body through our practice. Similarly, we may be emotionally drained, or not possess the skills required to tackle the emotional or subtle body directly, but we can still affect our emotional and energetic wellbeing in a positive way by working with the breath, or by practicing asana.

With this model as a road map for our journey of self-discovery, we can begin to get a clearer view of our personal landscape. As our practice develops, we gain the ability to see the effects of the practice not only as it pertains to this body, but also as it pertains to our understanding of the human condition. Then we start to see how yoga is about much more than self-improvement. It is about seeing ourselves as we truly are, realising our connection with others, and understanding our true place in the greater scheme of things. When we make these connections we take a bigger step towards wholeness.

~ Article by Lynda Miers-Henneveld.

Yoga is a practice that helps us to reconnect with our true nature, to remember the joy and light and beauty that we all possess. Yes, even YOU. The physical part of the practice uses the body, the breath and movement as a means to help us shift our internal experience of the world and ourselves for the better.

Generally speaking, movement for the sheer joy of it can facilitate our reconnection with abundant inner freedom. Somehow, along life’s journey, we gather “stuff” that clouds our ability to connect with our internal light and liberty.

In his book Yoga and the Quest for the True Self, Stephen Cope says:

In the yogic view, the energy of trauma, of contraction, of resistance to life, of holding on, is understood to penetrate deeper than the neuromuscular systems… it penetrates into the subtle energy body, the pranamayakosha, where it is finally held… These unconsciously held energy knots are called samskara.

We all carry our history with us in our physical bodies, minds and even at the deepest energetic level of our spirits. In order to shift these deep holding patterns, we must move the body and the energy in the body. When we practice yoga asana, some of our samskaras gradually begin to dissolve or transform. The fantastic thing about yoga asana is all we need to do is stay present and breathe. This incredibly sophisticated, yet simple, practice will do the rest.

One thing I’ve noticed however is that sometimes we can make our yoga extremely intellectual in the pursuit of the perfect alignment or technique. I am as guilty as anyone of using my head to try to get to places that only my heart or my spirit can take me. Sometimes it’s just easier to default to thinking hard about the physical practice than to fully go into the primal, revitalising understanding it affords. Freedom can feel like a scary thing if you’ve spent your whole life bound by your ideas and holding patterns. But a whole new level of the utter richness of yoga can be found past the ideas about it. The richness comes from the experience of it. And sometimes, you have to get out of your head to appreciate yoga fully.

I spent years working in the corporate world, spending all day using my head and then “unwinding” in the evening by doing a very intelligent workout at the gym. By Friday, I was invariably stiff, sore and cranky. Friday night was always dancing night though and by Saturday morning, my body felt pain free and my spirit felt cleansed. I hadn’t thought at all about how I should dance or what the benefits were, I simply moved the way that my body wanted to move in response to the music. It was utterly healing and rejuvenating!

When I started the practice of yoga, after relaxation pose, I would end up feeling a similar way – comfortable in my body and free in my mind. Putting myself into healing postures and relishing the joy of it had profoundly healing and transformative effects on my entire being. Somewhere along the way though, I got caught up in gathering knowledge about the practice and for a little while, I ended up overriding my enjoyment of it. Surprise, surprise, I ended up injured and practice began to feel like a chore, rather than like a gift.

It wasn’t until I rediscovered the sheer joy of moving my body the way it loves to be moved that I began to feel free again. These days, when I start to feel sore or like I’m heading towards injury, it’s a sure sign to me that I’ve gone too far into my head and I’m missing out on all of the best bits of yoga. At those times, I put on some music and flow through a practice, honouring how my body feels and not thinking about how I “should” perform the postures. Invariably, I am fortunate enough to have a life-affirming intuitive remembrance of why it’s great to be me, in this body, at this time and away from all my ideas about myself or the world. I simply feel good because I’ve shifted something at a deep energetic level using tools I can only access if I allow myself to be unbound by my mind.

So I invite you to go into your next practice or your next class with us with an open heart and mind and allow your body to move in the way that it feels good to move. Injury and pain from a yoga practice only happen when we dishonour our intuitive knowing and when we impose our will onto the body or allow someone else to impose theirs. While it’s wonderful to use your intelligence as you practice yoga, it’s even better to balance the use of that intelligence with a deep connection to the wisdom of your body and your soul. Your entire being will thank you for it!

Check out our timetable and book a class today!

~Kelly Fisher

It's all coming together nicely!

If you’ve picked up a schedule lately or taken a peek at the most recent newsletter then you’re likely to have seen some exciting additions to the Yoga Unlimited timetable. Yoga Sangha has joined our sangha – that is to say, it has joined our community.

Sangha is a Buddhist term that originally referred to a group of monks. We now use this term to describe a community of like minded individuals who support and encourage one another. At Yoga Unlimited it has been our great pleasure to provide the context and the space in which our yoga sangha has been able grow. We also delight in the connections we have forged with the greater Wellington yoga & meditation community.

Marianne Elliot runs Yoga Sangha, which has been operating in Wellington since 2008. Her philosophy is that  “it’s all about the people!”, and therefore she runs her classes on a seva (or pay-what-you-can) basis. Because of this, and because her classes have been held at community centres, she has been able to offer yoga to a group of people who might not otherwise attend yoga classes. Marianne has also been a treasured member of the Yoga Unlimited community, both as a student and more recently as a teacher. She shares our common desire to bring yoga to all those who wish to explore it.

From June 18th, we welcome Yoga Sangha and its students to the Yoga Unlimited studio. We hope to retain the community centre feel of these classes while providing all the comforts of a yoga studio. You too, are welcome to attend these seva classes on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 7:30 to 8:45 and on Friday evenings from 5:30 to 6:45. The only difference between these classes and a typical YU class, is that they will remain ‘pay-what-you-can’ or seva classes. Because of this, only cash will be accepted. Please note that you won’t be able to pay for Yoga Sangha classes by eftpos or Yoga Unlimited class passes.

Community supports us in our practice. To deepen our awareness of mind, body, heart and spirit, and to share that experience with others, is such a joy. Not only can we develop friendships with your fellow yogis, but our combined explorations help us all to develop our collective understanding of the human condition.

In order to make it easier to stay connected, we are also bolstering our online community! YU has a brand new face on Facebook! We hope that next time you log on, you will find your way into our digital sangha and add a comment or two to let us know you’re there.

Consider the value of sangha as you go about your day. Perhaps you’ll find gratitude for the support it provides. Consider also what your contribution to your sangha means to others. As Marianne says: “It’s all about the people.” We look forward to seeing you all at the studio soon.

~ Article by Jessica Burylo and Lynda Miers-Henneveld.

Amy loves having her photo taken!

Thank you all so much for your feedback. We love how open you are with your ideas and suggestions. We are in business, first and foremost, to serve and so when you tell us that you want something we love to be able to accomodate your requests.

One of the messages we’ve been getting loud and clear for a while now is that you want more intermediate classes. Starting next Friday, June 18 at 12:30, your wishes are being fulfilled. Amy will be teaching a Friday Fire lunchtime yoga session that will offer a little more challenge so that you can kick off your weekend on a high note!

For those who can’t make it during the day and who want a little longer session, I will be offering a four week Intermediate Yoga Course on the first four Thursday nights in July from 5:45-7:15pm.

What does it take to be considered an “Intermediate Yogi”? Does it mean you have to be able to put your foot behind your head? Does it mean you can stand on your hands for ten minutes? Does it mean you can stand on your hands with your foot behind your head? Not at all!

In our books, an “Intermediate Yogi” is someone who has been practicing yoga regularly (minimum two to three times per week) for at least six months and who has developed greater awareness and ability to focus inwardly. Yes, the physical postures in the Intermediate classes will most likely be held a little longer or be a little more challenging than those in the regular classes so a certain level of physical yoga fitness is required. Inflated egos and party tricks are not the point though. More important than the physical prowess, is the ability to tune into your own body, mind and breath and to use wisdom to choose the most appropriate course of action in a given moment throughout the class.

If you come to the intermediate sessions, you should expect to be challenged on many levels. You may encounter new postures or practices and not all of them may come easily to you. The intermediate sessions will offer you the opportunity to mindfully explore your growing edge in a safe, supportive environment. It doesn’t matter to us if you master all the techniques – just that you deepen your own sensitivity and awareness while staying present. We will have fun together and encourage each other to emobdy the highest expression of ourselves.

Om Namah Shivaya! (my favorite translation of this is: I bow to all that I am and have the potential to express.)

~ Kelly Fisher

Those of you who have been keeping an eye on our weekly timetable may have noticed that our Thursday evening General class has disappeared. Starting this month, we have decided to free up this timeslot in order to bring you a range of different courses, taught by a revolving cast of teachers. We are excited to have the opportunity to explore different themes and practices with you in an early evening timeslot that we hope many of you will be able to attend.

To get us underway, I will be presenting a four-week course of restorative yoga postures, entitled ‘Easy Does It’. I am delighted to be able to share my passion for this profoundly healing practice with you once again, as I believe it is a key to realising the balance that a well-rounded yoga practice can bring to your life. Taking time to fully relax can be easier said than done, and yet it is one of the most important factors in healing physical, mental and emotional pain.

In a typical restorative yoga class, I like to begin with some gentle movements, in order to help students to release any physical tension that may prevent them from being able to be still. We then explore a variety of fully supported postures chosen for their nourishing and healing effect. In each class I will combine postures that place the body in supported forward bends, backbends, gentle twists or side-bends, and conclude each session with a variation of Savasana. The combination of the different postures enhances the healing effect of the practice, by stimulating and then soothing vital organs including the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. Gentle compression and stretching of these organs creates a cleansing effect, and allows blood flow through the tissues to be regulated.

Scientific research into restorative yoga has proven that a regular practice of these postures reduces every measurable indicator of stress. Those who have experienced the practice report a greater sense of clarity, peace of mind, improved sleeping patterns, and a general sense of physical and mental wellbeing. Judith Lasater, who is an authority on relaxation, and whose book ‘Relax and Renew’ is one of my favourite references on the subject, says that practicing Savasana for 20 minutes a day will help to address chronic exhaustion. She describes Savasana in three stages, as follows:

‘The first stage is physiological relaxation. This takes fifteen minutes and is scientifically measurable. At the end of stage one, Savasana begins. [In stage two of Savasana] outer sounds do not draw you out. It can be described as ‘going under’, a deep state of moving away. Warmth. Healing begins here. The third state is called Ashunya, which is translated as non-emptyness and non-fullness. A state you only know when you come back from it. There is no Ego attached to the experience of Ashunya. It can only be described by it’s absence, and it requires grace.’

If indeed it takes fifteen minutes to achieve a state of physiological relaxation, and a further five minutes to fully experience the benefits of Savasana, wouldn’t it be wonderful to set aside enough time each week to begin to realise the benefits this healing practice?

There are still a few spaces left on the course beginning this Thursday, so if you would like to join me, please call reception on 384 4329, or email bookings@yogaunlimited.co.nz to book your place. The classes will run from 6:00 till 7:00pm, and the cost of the course is $70.

If there are other themes or topics you would like to us explore and offer as a course, we would love to hear from you. It is our intention to inspire and support you in your personal practice, so please let us know how we can be of service. If you teach yoga, and you have a subject about which you are passionate, we would like to extend an invitation to you to teach a course at YU. Contact us by emailing info@yogaunlimited.co.nz

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

~ Article by Lynda Miers-Henneveld.