Journey of the Breath

As I prepare the necessary documentation for my yoga sojourn back to India, I realise it's already been 13 months since I had first gotten onto the teacher's mat.

The past year has been one that's been filled with in-depth exploration of my own personal practice... finding my style, flavour and 'voice' as a teacher... learning and cultivating the willingness to be open and to absorb as a student and from my students... turning inward to observe my current state of breath and mind as I get onto my yoga mat... as well as facing the unknown as I slowly step away from my comfort zone and face new challenges in a less goal-oriented way.

And throughout the year, I've discovered that :

• It truly is 1% Theory and 99% Practice - there is no better way to truly understand yoga than to have a regular self practice.
• Going for yoga classes is fun... there's often great group energy and you learn from different yoga styles, but when you cultivate your self practice, THAT'S when the real insights occur, as you learn to move at your own pace, tuning to your limitations, emotions and allowing your personal practice to develop a sense of curiosity rather than self-judgement.
• The best way to teach is to practise what you're teaching.
• While it's a good habit to prepare what to teach in a class, it's an even better habit to tune into the practitioners' needs and allow each moment to be fluid so that the practice becomes a beautiful and meaningful one FOR the practitioners.
• Although I'm a morning person, and the early dawn is the most beautiful time to practice yoga, I don't beat myself up over it, if some days I choose to sleep in, pick up the Yoga Journal, get inspired, meet friends for lunch, and then hop onto my mat later on in the day.
• Detachment makes life simpler, but not with less compassion.
• Yoga is indeed a lifestyle..beyond the mat, beyond 'wow' postures... yoga is anytime, anywhere. 
• Yoga is a journey.... one that is led by a constant companion...the breath.
• Balance in our bodies and in our lives, are connected to the relationship between effort and surrender.

And as I roll out my mat for a gentler evening practice (while avoiding inversions today), I remember a quote from Zen Master, Shunryu Suzuki's "Not Always So"....

"Even though you say your practice is not good enough, there is no other practice for you right now. Good or Bad, it IS your practice". 

Love to all.
xx