♥ Opening Your Heart to Yourself and Those Around You. ♥

The past few weeks I've set my class intention toward opening the heart.  We practiced heart openers such as Camel Pose and Side Angel Pose.  The classes focused on the Prana, the vitality of life and spirit.  We breathed into our heart, creating a little more space in the chest through our movements on the mat.  My students were slowly setting their hearts free.

I witnessed something that truly enveloped me as a teacher; pure, raw truth.  It was a beautiful experience.  Removing our hearts from our protectors, whether it be bars, a box or drape, can be tumultuous, shocking, soothing, and a relief, just to name a few.  Practice on your mat in a safe place, perhaps in your own home or with a teacher you trust. Let It Rip.  Succumb to your heart, let it take up more space in your body by exploring open poses and emotions.  Acknowledge what you feel.  Allow yourself to take your time through transitional poses and breath deep down into the belly, using your exhale as a release of tension, anxiety and judgement.  After several chest openers allowing your emotions to spiral through your body, find yourself on the other end in Svasana with a pillow under your heart.  Perhaps you are little more open to yourself and to others around you.

Rekindle the love you carry for yourself, let it radiate through your organs, and you will no doubt brighten another person's life.

An honest practice of Yoga, of union, for the world.

Transitions

I read an article the other day in Yoga Journal that mentioned using transitions as a focus in our Yoga practice.  I brought the idea into my next few Yoga classes as my intention (which I always tell my students) and noticed what a difference it made for both my students practice and for myself as a teacher.

We have a tendency to forget the small moments that make up our day.  It's a habit in which we lose ourselves on a regular basis.  What color was the sky when you looked out your window this morning?  How did your food sound and smell as you prepared breakfast?  What sorts of noises do you hear and scents so you smell when you leave your house?  I live in one of the most beautiful places on the planet and yet I still am guilty of losing my sense of self and how the world around me makes me feel as I jump in the car and head to my next Yoga class.  I shifted my presence this week.  I recognized the habits I've gotten into, acknowledged my every movement, slowed my thoughts and deepened my breath as I transitioned toward my next goal.  I restored the sense of beauty, calmness and serenity in my day to day life that I'd been missing.

Connecting your breath to as many moments as you can will begin to center you.  Your presence will take hold and move you through your transitions mindfully.  It will not only give you the strength to move forward, but will open your heart to the next pose, plan or event in your life.  Try it.  See what it can bring you.