An Ancient Practice in the Modern World.

School was not an easy place for me to be. At an early age I was bullied. I never felt comfortable there. I never felt like I could be myself. I did however enjoy learning, so I immersed myself into my lessons often spending break times in the class room, finishing off projects as I didn’t know how to fit in on the playground. I have a quiet, shy nature and I am a natural worrier. We are who we are and deep down that never changes, but we can find tools to help us manage the more uncomfortable parts of ourselves and that is what Yoga offers me.

I was 17 and worry had started to take over, affecting my diet and how I felt and behaved. My Mum suggested I try a local Yoga class and at this point I didn’t have a clue about Yoga, but thought anything was worth a try so I went along. I could barely touch my toes and keep my balance and my breathing was all over the place but I’m not one for giving up, so I went again the next week. Gradually, after months of going along to class, I began to get better at the postures, I managed to feel more comfortable with my breath and I started to feel a change in the way I thought too. At the time I didn’t realise, but Yoga was starting to make its way off the mat and into my day to day life. I found myself doing the breathing practices we had covered in class when I felt worry and fear beginning to stir in my belly. When my mind started to whirl out of control, I found myself bringing in the visualisations I had experienced during the relaxation. When I felt excess energy and rage at being held back by my own fears, I would use the postures and exercise to bring me back to a place of balance.

For the first time, I felt things began to make sense. The little drops of spirituality that were scattered through the class, felt right for me. Things slotted into place about ethics, beliefs and my lifestyle and I was shown how to look at things from a different perspective. Finally, I had some practical skills that could help me manage how I was feeling and this was the game changer. For years, I had felt like I had no control over worry and fear and no one could help. This was my nature and I was going to have to live with it controlling me.

The beauty of Yoga is that you step into a class, probably not aware about how Yoga will change you. The changes are gradual, so you may not even realise they are happening or even connected to Yoga. It is often seen as an exercise class, but is so much more. It understands that to feel true well-being you need to attend to not only the physical body, but the mental, emotional and spiritual bodies too. The translation of Yoga is ‘to yoke’ or ‘unite.’ To unite our heart and our head, to unite our body, mind and soul and to understand that we are all connected.

We are at a point in time where disconnection is rife. Feelings of isolation, distrust of the body and intuition and not having a belief system to which we can anchor to is common. In my eyes, the need for practices such as Yoga is of absolute importance if we are to see changes in the World that many of us crave.

Yoga has been practiced in the Eastern cultures for thousands of years. Over time, it has inevitably changed as different types of Yoga have evolved and different schools have been founded. However, at the core, sits the same principles. These are known as the 8 limbs of Yoga and are just as relevant in our modern World, if we are looking to move towards a greater sense of well-being and harmony.

1.       Yama

Ethical codes of conduct based on “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Right conduct towards others.

2.       Niyama

Right conduct towards yourself, which includes cleanliness, contentment and study.

3.       Asana

Physical postures that care for and strengthen our body, which is seen as the temple of the spirit.

4.       Pranayama

Breath extension which leads us to recognising the connection between the breath, mind and emotions and providing us with tools that help us to control the unruly mind.

5.       Pratyahara

Withdrawing our attention from the outer world to the inner world. Detaching from our senses and taking a step back from ourselves to become the observer.

6.       Dharana

Holding our attention on a point, developing our concentration, so we can move onto the next limb of meditation.

7.    Dhyana

Diving into the subconscious, so we may listen to our inner wisdom, intuition and heart. Allowing us to make choices from a place of wholeness and seeing the true reality of life.

8.       Samadhi

An interconnectedness with all living things, reaching the meaning of Yoga as unity.

Yes, we can use Yoga as just another form of exercise, but if we do we are missing out on so much more. At its core sits a whole philosophy and map for us to follow. It is not strict or regimented. It does not try and make us feel bad about ourselves and it recognises that we are human and make mistakes. It asks us to look at the whole and decide what sits right for us, giving us the freedom to make up our own mind and take from it what works for us. It has helped me to reconnect with my body and learn how to listen and trust it again and feel comfortable in it. It helps me to feel empowered, giving me a whole range of tools to use when life throws its worst at me. It reminds me that we are all connected and that there is more to life than just the physical and what can be seen.

This is why I offer Yoga. It has been my saviour. Without it I would more than likely be still battling with anxiety, still feeling out of control and having to accept that that was just how life was going to be for me. Yes, there are still days where I can easily sink back into those old ways of being, but now I recognise the signs, now I know what tools to bring forward so I can centre myself and find my steady ground once more.

If you have found Yoga helpful in managing your modern day life, then please do share below.  

Love & Light,

Natalie.