Or knowing how to get back to basics when needed.
As usual, sometimes letting my mind wander on Instagram, the other day I came across this quote from @yung_pueblo: “One of the essential lessons of this year 2020 is that taking care of ourselves can greatly improve our lives”.
Studies recently carried out by researchers at King's College in the United Kingdom have shown that the longer the period of stress to which we are subjected, the more our mental health is affected, including behaviors such as anger and frustration. The loss of the usual routine and the reduction in social and physical contacts induced by confinement have also created more feelings of isolation and boredom.
In this context, it is therefore not surprising that the practice of yoga is experiencing impressive growth, facilitated by its digitization. We have never needed to take care of ourselves so much, and what could be better than this practice which has positioned itself for years as the best anti-stress remedy 100% natural and accessible to everyone.
By stretching muscles and aligning posture, yoga soothes pain, lowers blood pressure by rebalancing the autonomic nervous system, and reduces inflammation by regulating chronic stress. This allows us to develop a way of being more in harmony with our body and our mind in a global way.
Hence the importance of alignment in yoga, through which we seek Sama, balance or equanimity, both physical and mental.
In a physical way, alignment is built at the level of muscles, joints, bones, for a balanced distribution of body weight, strength and engagement.
At the mental level, it is more associated with our ability to let go, our conscious presence in the moment and in the posture, our attention and our emotions.
These two aspects work well on together to prevent any injury and imbalance, but above all to precisely find this feeling of anchoring and stability, well-being and harmony.
As a training to then be able to do it in all aspects of our life, a door already open to access greater well-being in any situation.
It is also important to note that because yoga does not place importance on performance, there is no one "right" alignment that will fit all.
Our bodies are different, their stories and their possibilities too. As I often repeat to my students "more integrity and less amplitude", this is for me the secret of alignment on all levels, for a search that is not at the expense of our benevolence towards us- even.
So the next time you put on your favorite leggings, unfold your mat and start the video, keep in mind this approach to healing and care that every detail of this infinitely precious practice brings to us.
And if you want to know more about alignment, the postural technique and how to apply it in your practice, I'll give you an appointment via Zoom from November 16 to 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to explore all this together!
By Faustine Cressot
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