Meaning Behind The Yoga Class

After taking this class for a whole year I have really begun to understand the deeper meanings behind what yoga really is. As I’m sure I have mentioned before I used to view yoga as just another type of workout. Though, through my experiences I have gained in this class, I now see yoga as a workout for the mind, body, and way to learn so much more about yourself.

Incorporating the breath into the physical yoga practice is what helps make my practice so mental. As soon as I get into my ujjayi breathing I feel a sense of relief. At first I found it hard to try and focus on my breath and movements, but now that I have stuck with it for the whole year it comes pretty natural. Using my breath while practice supports me because it has made my movements

I have become much more flexible over the last year. Before this year I could not touch my toes unless I had stretched for at least five minutes before. Now I can bend over and touch my toes whenever I want. The yoga practice has also helped with my workouts. I found it very beneficial to workout after yoga class because I feel so loose an energized.

I found the gratitude project very eye-opening. We often live our life’s wanting more and not appreciating the thing we already have and what is actually important. My biggest take away from this project was it brought to my attention what really matters in life, friends, family, relationships, and the time. I feel so lucky when I really sit down and look at what I have.

Meditation has done a lot for me and I believe it has made me a better person. Through meditation I began to reflect on my emotions and how I let them get in the way of my relationships with people and how I live my life. I found that often times when I was upset or in a bad mood I felt like the whole world owed a service to me. Through meditation I began to realize that rather then blaming my negative emotions on something or someone, I need to take responsibility for the way I feel and not put that burden on

My favorite slow practice that we did was slo-ga days. I find my body to always be very tight and lying in the odd positions for long duration help open up my body and I always feel so refreshed and loose after those practices. Ever sense you have taught us the legs up the wall position, I have used it whenever my legs are exhausted, whether it be from working out or a long day on my feet. Something about the blood flowing down my legs helps them to feel very refreshed. Savasana also has had a great impact on my mind. I look forward to savasana every class because I feel like it’s the only time during the week that I can actually completely clear my mind. Something about being in the environment of that room and your voice makes it so easy for me to forget about everything. I feel very similar about yoga nidra, in that, it is mind-numbing experiences were I am able to feel at peace with everything. After both of these types of practices, savasana and yoga nidria, I always feel mentally refreshed, more positive, and I feel that getting work done its much easier because I am so mentally