How long advanced yoga

You need to let go of the idea of attaining some perfect posture. Second, you need to learn to distinguish between tension and compression in your practice so you know when you hit the mechanical end range of movement within your body. Third, you need to learn how to become aware of not just muscular tension but also mental and emotional tension.

With that understanding, you can actively continue to practice towards the limits of flexibility within your body. Remember though, that these limits are always changing too. As we age, we do lose some range of movement. He was once a professional rugby player and lived in New Zealand for eight years - An American making a living as a rugby player. He was in…. Kara-Leah is an internationally-renowned writer, teacher and retreat leader.

Millions of people have been impacted by the articles, books and videos she has published over the last ten years. Her passion is liberation in this lifetime through an every day path of dissolving layers of tension into greater and greater freedom and joy. You can find out more about her, including when her next retreats are, on her website. Kara-Leah is the visionary and creator of The Yoga Lunchbox. Excellent article!

This article has got me thinking about possible unconscious tension I could be holding onto. Relaxed the shoulders made a huge difference! Great article Kara. Ive re started yoga and being regular for about a year as I was improving I made the great mistake of overdoing it ending up with heaematuria for a week for bruising the capsule of my kidney doing side stretches in a yin class.

This has been a wakeup call and your article has helped me re focus on what yoga is as you say flexibility is a by product. Being old3er has the benefits of the spirtual side and knowledge already being gleaned from experiences. There is a real danger in the Novice period of overdoing it as the initial benefits come quickly.

I guess listening to the instructor and not thinking you know as much as the instructor as youve read a few books and seen a few you tube classes. Again Yoga is about you your limits , your aspirations your journey. At 52 my aims are to try and halt decrepitivity and get a good core strength.

Practice being good and humble and be more spiritual. Yoga has helped me yolk these aspects together but Im still a Novice it takes a life time or several to get it right. It never occurred to me one could bruise an organ from yoga! Yes, moving slowly and with gentle ease can often yield better results, for sure. Enjoy your journey into yoga. This is exactly what he was teaching us — learn to differentiate tension from compression and consider mental and emotional tension as part of the equation and of course Bernie and Paul go back a long way!

Fabulous workshop and such common sense. I loved it! Hello kara…thx for the article…i also had a long journey. I have learned to be patient when it comes to opening of body nd mind with yoga…jus wanted to understand if i was on right track as i m too taking long time with my practise. Can you please explain if there is a way to make understand how is the feeling of compression ie.

Bone touching bone and realizing that you body has reached its limit…so that we understand and can also explain it to our students…thx! You can both see and feel your leg working and shaking. If you have a greater range of motion in your body commonly referred to as flexibility then you are going to need different posture options to come to a place that is interesting.

A paradox in yoga is the inverse relationship between complicated postures and feeling. But as we are able to make deeper and richer connections internally we begin to access a huge amount of sensation through progressively simpler postures.

A posture like tadasana that, at first look, seemed benign is suddenly offering you a tidal wave of feeling. Her focus, however, is quite different—feeling the overall sense of balance, relaxation and breath. She is able to appreciate the subtlety and is conscious of where her energy is being channeled. This is predictable when you learn that all complicated postures are a series of simple postures strung together.

If you want to do the complicated posture well do the simple beautifully. When I was in my twenties I loved going to clubs to dance. And when I reflect back on why I realize I wanted to move, be seen and make a connection with others. I wanted to have fun. It was a lot of effort—getting ready, coordinating schedules—and a lot of intensity—sound, lights, smoke, people.

Sometimes it worked and sometimes it felt cold and lonely, even in a crowd. Now I still dance, though primarily in my kitchen.

I have a great time. I share deep connection over cups of tea and bowls of cereal with the people I love. And I am able to see myself through my practice. You are more relaxed and loving. It takes trust, patience, vulnerability and a willingness to let go to find a soft touch.

Yet, this is exactly why a relaxed manner matters because it asks you to develop these qualities. I understand less is more. You have to have the power or reserve inside. I find now that by relaxing and enjoying this present moment in my life I find that things are getting easier…being open so that the power can flow through you. May you embrace the ups, the downs, and every breath of this path, and do your practice! Get ready to change everything with this free day program.

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