Mindful approach to asanas – Healing the whole of you

Focusing with intent in an asana is what assists the healing of chakras. You can do so many poses over and over again but when there is focus, a sense of peace and strength can evolve from within.

Upward facing Dog – Urdhava Mukha Svanasana opens the heart center and allows the respiratory and circulatory system to flow in balance. In this pose some of us tend to focus on catching the breath instead of feeling the breath of life flowing into the body, so instead of feeling the calm presence of universal energy we end up feeling like our heart is pumping like crazy and you want the pose to be over and done with. What we should be focusing on is breathing through the nose, into the head and all the way to the tips of your toes – ‘ahhh bliss.’ Learn to engage in asana mindfully and activate all levels of union with the mind and body. You will enjoy this more than partial engagement, you will also sweat more – creating inner heat/ fire. Physically feel the chakra spinning and unblock a load of locked up emotions, as well as activating the whole nervous system. Trust me it works, it may take you several attempts but you will get there in the end.

Wide legged forward bend – Prasarita Padottanassana strengthens the root and foundations of the body. Do it without activating your body starting from the legs and the asana will benefit only partially. Engage the legs, lock the knees and hinge forward from your hips and you will feel strong, allow the foundations or should I say skeletal structure of the body to feel strong from inside and the prana will flow deeply inside your osteons. The reward is always different when you fully engage your mind and body. So you will be opening the root, heart, third eye and crown chakra, as opposed to root and third eye only, which in turn would really mean your mind is engage but the physical body is not.

Try it with all your favourite asanas and feel the difference, when you approach yoga with mindfulness and open out a connection to the entire universe, you ground yourself and engage yourself into the true meaning of mindfulness and yoga. I guarantee you will love it and it will leave you feeling grateful from within.

Let there be love and light in your practice, feel ‘your lightness of being.’

Love and light, 

Dipa

Forget fad diets and detoxes...

January is the month where many of us set ourselves new goals and health and well-being targets. I don't believe in resolutions as such, but I do believe in setting goals for myself. I think it's a good way for me to focus my time, energy and effort in order to enhance my own well-being. As well as exercise, we should be mindful of what we eat, drink and the people we keep close to us. As a more holistic approach to 'cleansing' in January. - why not just eat well, sleep well and maintain regular exercise?

Below you'll find a sequence that will help with your detox this or any month of the year:
Parivrtta Utkatasan
Tri Pada Ardho Mukha Svanasan
Parivrtta Prasarita
Marichyasan
Sirsasan
Shalabhasan
Saravangasan
Halasana
Supta Matysenrasan