“The physical body is not only a temple for our soul, but the means by which we embark on the inward journey toward the core.” — BKS Iyengar
We are so much more than our physical body, AND our physical body is so important. When yoga is approached as a spiritual practice and the soul is elevated, it can be tempting to almost vilify the body and mind. But I must clarify that even as we practice with the intention of uncovering and accessing our soul, our truest Self, it is not by way of forsaking either mind or body. On the contrary, our human experience, our path, our yoga is the integration of mind, body, and soul, with the intention of aligning all of them.
The mind, body, and spirit are unified — guiding, inspiring, dancing with one another. The next time you step onto your mat, perhaps you get curious about how you can embody and express your spirit in your physical yoga practice. When the mind, body, and spirit are in alignment, that’s when you are flowing, when you are a clear conduit. The actions you make and words you speak are direct expressions of your Truth, your soul. And your Truth, your soul is one with the universal Truth and Source…which is pure Light and Love. So, I think you being fully realized you is exactly what the worlds needs most.
“Yoga is not a work-out, it is a work-in. And this is the point of spiritual practice: to open up our hearts and focus our awareness so that we can know what we already know and be who we already are.” — Rolf Gates
Here’s a little practice you can try:
Begin seated. Close your eyes. Turn your attention inward, bringing your awareness to your physical body, your thoughts, your breath. In other words, arrive fully, right here and now in your experience of the present moment. Scan through your body, toes to head, and then head to toes. Then sense all of it at once.
“Imagine that you are becoming familiar with your body in the same way that you might come to know the layout of a new house, by walking through the same rooms and hallways over and over again. Keep looking and sensing from as many different perspectives so that gradually a multidimensional picture comes into focus… You will know the process is well underway when you begin to feel ‘at home’ in your body.” — Donna Farhi, The Breathing Book
Breath bridges the spiritual, mental, and physical realms. Notice your breath.
From this place of alignment and connection, begin to move intuitively. Allow your breath to guide your movement. Anything at all is permissible. Without thought or editing, allow an organic, authentic expression of who you are in this moment flow through you — sound, movement, dance, static stretch, song — anything at all.
Krystal Barschig 