Living Like A Yogi
I think anyone who has ever taken a yoga class has an idea of the feelings and sensations it can elicit.
For some it may be a sense of being grounded and calm and maybe for others it’s a feeling of being expansive and inspired.
Either way I think everyone can agree that it feels really good.
During yoga practice we physically feel supported by the connection of the physical body to the earth and we tune deeper into this sense of support by placing our attention there.
Practicing for a specified period of time and within the confines of the mat’s surface a safe container is created for us to move freely.
This container allows us to experience periods of activation - like when we move through a strong flow, poses that require more neuromuscular involvement, or an invigorating pranayama, from a place of feeling grounded and safe.
It also allows us to experience periods of deactivation - like in savasana, holding longer restorative poses or during meditation. Instead of this being a shut down or a collapse it’s a restorative rest. These are both a result of the same nervous system pathway except one is rooted in safety and the other is not.
A yoga class moves us through the same highs and lows or activation and deactivation that we experience in our every day lives.
Instead of the periods of activation coming from a challenging posture they are coming from all the big and small challenges we encounter on the daily - negotiating traffic, presenting at work, working towards a deadline, taking care of kids, busy schedules, etc.
And instead of the periods of deactivation coming from a nourishing savasana it may present as a physical and/or emotional shut down because of overwhelm or maybe bypassing uncomfortable emotions with a few glasses of wine or a Netflix binge. The same nervous system response can either be nourishing or depleting depending on where we are rooted - safety and connectedness or fear and overwhelm.
Yoga teaches how to move with ease through these highs and lows and it teaches us how to move through them while being rooted in safety. We first learn how to do this on the mat and then slowly, over time, this transitions to life off the mat.
The physical practice of yoga teaches us that we can find ease and comfort in a pose that’s not easeful or comfortable. We learn to flow in and out of these periods of activation and deactivation all while being deeply rooted in a sense of calm and safety.
With practice, yoga teaches us that the sense of safety and support we feel on the mat is rooted within us and isn’t reliant on an outside source. It also teaches us that we can root into this sense of safety off the mat and be able to move from this space in our daily lives.
Yoga connects the physical body with the mind and the spirit. As we begin to hone this connection and become more and more intimate with it, the thought patterns and behaviors that aren’t supporting us towards our higher good become more and more apparent.
With this awareness we’re able to change outdated beliefs or narratives that are no longer serving us and can shift into creating new thought patterns and behaviors that can lead us to growth and deep inner peace.
Ways to bring all the feel good feelings of yoga off the mat:
Keep practicing
Breathe - when we consciously slow the breath down, breathe diaphragmatically, allow it to be even and without pause, it signals to the nervous system that we are safe.
Reflect - when you react in a way that doesn’t let your best self shine through take some time to reflect on that experience. What were you feeling in your body? Lean into that sensation and trust that your body will tell you why things went sideways.
Compassion - we are human and life can be hairy. When you’re feeling out of sorts, unmotivated, cranky, uninspired, etc. - show yourself some compassion. Ask yourself what it is that you need. Is it movement, a snack, water, connecting with a friend, nature, quiet time? Take a moment to see what it is that you actually need - your body knows, trust that it will show you and honor it.
