Discovering and rediscovering yoga with every practice
When I first started with practicing yoga back in the 2010s, I was really into fitness and found a new way to move. For me, it was a form of exercise I wanted to learn more about and I thought i was taking on the challenge of striving to be as good as I could be at it. Id seen the images of super flexible and toned yogis, balanced in highly skilled headstands and impossibly difficult positions and thought that was the end goal, wasn’t it!? I tried hot yoga and pushed myself through some intense classes, each was a new experience, though not all enjoyable. But the more I tried various practises for myself, the more I came to understand that maybe it’s not about striving for impressive yogi perfection and actually the satisfaction came from the grounding feeling of the class. These days, it’s a part of my week that only gently pushes me, calms my nervous system, and encourages me to move in new ways while trusting my body.
I love that each class is so different depending on the instructor, the setting and the time of day of the practise. Some mornings I wake up wanting strong movement and fast-paced flows that leave me feeling energised for the rest of the day. Other days, especially when life feels busy or overwhelming, I crave slower practices; deep stretches, soothing music, dim lighting and the feeling of completely switching off for an hour. Yin yoga is so perfect for an evening class and I highly recommend finding a class for anyone needs some slow paced, soothing hour.
One aspect of yoga I love is that every instructor brings such a different energy to the practice depending on their own unique vibe. Some classes feel quiet, grounding and reflective, while others feel uplifting and playful. I’ve been surprised by how much the atmosphere, the teachers personality, the setting and even the time of day can completely change the experience.
For a more social class, I’ve joined in with ‘Community yoga’ an outdoor practice under the shade of some tall trees in Victoria park. It’s often a huge gathering of people, sometimes over 200. The instructor always encourages us to smile at each other as we are practicing and tries to break the ice between strangers with hand holding meditation. And after the 90 minute class, we all go for coffee in the parks central cafe and sit on the grass together, feeling the after effects of a great class.
Which ever class I’m attending, I love to have a mat that feels special to place my body on. Recently I’ve been using my new ‘Enchanted Forest’ yoga mat design which features a nighttime woodland scene with flowers, insects and a bright full moon. The soft top is a really lovely smooth surface to practice on and I know it will last for years to come because it’s so well made!
shop the yoga mats here: https://www.aliceacremansilks.com/products/enchanted-forest-yoga-mat