The Motivation and inspiration behind our yoga practice

What is yoga? Is it esthetic poses that impress us on Instagram? There are some amazing photos and videos on social media that can be inspiring or bring the opposite, discouraging us, because we cannot identify with these young agile yogis. Either way, without intention behind it, these extreme poses are just circus tricks. This isn’t to say that there isn’t intention behind these advanced athletic yogis, but it is important for the beginner or novice yogi to understand that yoga isn’t about impressive poses, but how we can each practice safely and with intention to make ourselves, not only healthier, fitter, more flexible and stronger, but to have more focus, and more mind-body integrity. In order to do this, we need to stick to what is accessible to ourselves today. Our limits can vary throughout the year and throughout the day depending on our activities whether it be physical or mental. Whatever has motivated us to start a yoga practice, even a photo, can be the initial spark to begin a practice that will evolve and deepen, eventually integrating integrating itself into our daily lives. Personally, I am inspired by people who practice yoga despite physical or mental limits or disabilities . Overcoming obstacles makes these people real warriors in everyday life. We just need to keep the perspective that being flexible, fit , young or slim are not prerequisites to attaining life changing results in our practice. We can’t integrate all of the aspects of yoga immediately or simultaneously. It is a journey of integrating the many aspects of yoga progressively into our daily lives. This journey can be long for some and faster for others depending on the starting point.

As a yoga teacher, I try to guide my students to explore their limits while respecting their personal limits in the present moment . There is no “yoga fits all” sequence. The key to happiness is flexibility, and I’m referring to mental flexibility. We all have physical , mental and emotional limits and set backs which are interrelated. Reality is only in the present moment. If we are in the present moment, we aren’t comparing ourselves to something external or that isn’t reality, like how we may have been in the past when we were younger or how we project ourselves to be in the future or how we perceive someone. else This is why I encourage students to close their eyes in group classes. Newbies tend to look at others a lot, which is normal because their bodies don’t have the physical memory yet, so they check outwards to see if they are doing the poses correctly. Observing someone more flexible or stronger than themselves may give them the impression that they aren’t doing the pose correctly or that they are inadequate. If they are following the teachers guidance, staying with their breath and respecting their personal limits, then they are doing the pose perfectly. Yoga reflects what’s going on psychologically as well and this practice illustrates how we shouldn’t rely on outside factors for validation of ourselves. Yoga isn’t a performance; it is about the benefits that each pose can bring you. It is important being true to yourself, now and accepting of what is. We can be our best for today no matter what our circumstances are. Certainly we want to progress and be more flexible, stronger, healthier, calmer, more focused, but we also strive to be our best for today. Knowing deep down that “I am enough”.

What is the motivation behind my practice? Or why am I not practicing as regularly as I would like? Since the pandemic I have noticed a lack of motivation in yoga students and even some teachers, not only in their yoga practice but in their lives in general. The whole world has been impacted by COCIV-19 and the subsequent sanitary measures. Those who have stuck to a regular yoga practice, either by attending online classes and/or maintaining a personal home practice, seem much more positive and able to manage the situation in a much healthier way. With so much uncertainty in the world today, we need to accept the situation and adapt so we can move forward. Keeping a regular yoga practice helps to stay positive and not get caught up in the negativity we hear around us. Staying connected to others is important as well, but it is important in what we are expressing to others. By expressing positive words to others, we are doing good for everyone. Dwelling on negative thoughts and words just reinforces negativity in our lives and in the world. This is where we need to practice acceptance in our lives instead of resistance to what is.

How can I find my motivation? Gratitude! Even when circumstances can be extremely difficult, we can more easily move forward by focusing on the things in our lives that we are grateful for. If we list 10 things that we are grateful for each morning, we will already be raising our emotional energy to a higher level. On this higher emotional level we are able to attract things on the same energetic level. We can’t attract positive things, if we are focusing on lack or loss. If we dwell on what we lack, whether it be money, love, health or success, we will attract more lack in our lives or things of equivalent low energy levels. Take the time to list all of the things your are grateful for in your life now. A wonderful way to start your day is by making a list if what you are grateful for. Having a a loving family, a car that fonctions, a home, food, good health. Don’t focus on anything negative. You can go on from there to setting a purpose for your day as well, to having a wonderful productive day ahead. In the evening before bed, you can reflect on your day and think of the best moment you had during your day. It could be a walk, a hug with your child or spouse, petting your animal, a conversation you enjoyed, or a delicious healthy meal. Take that moment and savor it for awhile in your mind. Another technique is to choose a small object, like a stone that can fit in your hand . Hold that object in your hand as you reflect on your favorite moment of your day . Keep your stone or object under your pillow or next to your bed while you sleep. By elevating our emotional energy we can go on to attract what we truly desire in our lives. The mind is energy and the mind will manifest what we focus on. So if we truly desire something, we should be focusing our mental energy on these things. It doesn’t need to be all day long. But taking a moment everyday to think about what it is we desire will help it manifest. If you don’t know what you really want, you can set an intension to be inspired by the things you observe during the day .

Yoga practice isn’t just a physical practice; it is holistic. By linking the body and the mind through the breath we are practicing yoga. Yoga means “ union” in sanskrit. “Yuj” is the root word that means to “yolk”, or to “unite”. This can be interpreted in many ways: union between the body and the mind, union between the individual self and the higher, universal or cosmic self or soul, etc. There are many branches of yoga, all with the same goal of attaining samadhi , enlightenment or ultimate reality/consciousness. Hatha yoga is the physical branch of yoga and it refers to a balance between two complementary energies. One is an energy of strength and effort : ha. The other is recuperation through rest and relaxation: tha. As we practice hatha yoga, we are using the body and breath as a point of concentration, which is a step that precedes the state of mind called “meditation”. Meditation is a branch of yoga called raja yoga or “royal yoga”, but is also part of hatha yoga. Hatha Yoga has been used for thousands of years as a tool, or step, to create a balance in our energy and mind so that we can get to a state of meditation and union more easily. Other practices are included in hatha yoga, like kryas, cleansing of the body, and pranayama, breath work. The point of this mind training that leads to mastering the mind is for it to be carried over into the rest of our daily lives. With regular yoga practice , you may experience moments of mind body integration, or mindfulness, during other daily activities. Hatha yoga can very well be a meditation state in movement. Meditation just isn’t something you do , but it is a mind state that is reached through a certain preparation. Hatha yoga is used as preparation and this state can be achieved at any moment during the day. Usually moments of calm are needed to truly explore this state, so sitting quietly after your hatha practice is the ideal moment to explore this. Hatha practice balances the energy in the body and mind to bring this state of mental clarity more easily. Hatha yoga can raise our energy, if you need to be more alert and it can calm our energy, if our mind is too active or distracted. As soon as you bring you attention to the breath, you are in the now, in reality, and see things more clearly. Usually mediation should be practiced either at the beginning of the day or at the end of the day. It can be difficult to achieve this state just after getting up in the morning while the mind is still lethargic. If I don’t practice hatha yoga first, I just fall back asleep! A brief hatha yoga practice and/or some pranayama ( breath work) can help awaken the mind from its sleepy state and bring the mind to the breath will keep the mind focused. Regularity in your practice: hatha yoga, pranayama or meditation or, ideally, a combination of all three, is essential for results. It is better to practice meditation daily for brief periods than for occasionnel long periods, because it is on a daily basis that you can create habit . You don’t necessarily need a long time to attain a state of mediation, especially if you’ve practiced hatha and/or pranayama prior to your meditation. Even just a moment of clarity can be enough. For the mind to be trained and mastered, we need habit. What may be considered difficult at first will eventually seem easier with practice and you will even eventually start looking forward to these moments of calm. Regular hatha practice is essential as well to keep yourself heathy and energy levels balanced. You can attend yoga classes daily or just weekly, if you also have your own daily home practice. Your practice can be a simple Sun Salutation or a series of asanas, poses, that inspire you and raise your energy if you practice in the morning. If it’s in the evening, it can be some yoga stretching poses or lateral twists to wind down and release tension. But it’s good to have a minimum of classes with a teacher to keep you safe, motivated and creative in your practice. During this pandemic it is important to stay connected with others. We all need each other to inspire and motivate each other to evolve.

To conclude, think of all the things that you are grateful for and that motivate you, that raise your emotional level and keep those part of your daily life. It could be simply looking at a flower, a tree or a photo. Take the time to do this every day and you will find yourself more and more motivated to evolve in your life. List and savor what you are grateful for. Stay connected to others that uplift you . It is important to show up for ourselves everyday, honoring our true inner selves, so that we can be the best version of ourselves now, in this present moment. Yoga is a way to show up for yourself and to connect with yourself. This connection is yoga.

Namaste

Andrea Martin Netteland

aka Andy the Yogini