1.�Are You Being True to Yourself ?
What is that 1 word�that�pops into your head when you think about �being true to yourself ? Comment !!
For me first & foremost, being true to yourself�means you don’t worry about pleasing any individual or a cult. Not living by someone else’s rules or to compare our accomplishments and progress with others around. Living as your natural�self�with integrity, personal values, honesty, unwavering principles, being complete & authentic. It gives us an opportunity to foster or follow our curiosity. Or else one may find oneself too busy suffocating own mind with fears and varied emotions.
Being true to the truth holds greater weight�and�this power comes through yogic practices & through our genes. Born to a self made, head-strong father named Abhay whose name itself exuded courage, positivity & his Being You attitude has naturally gotten ingrained in me. Youll probably shake things up and disrupt some people but eventually you live with a healthy mind and heart knowing that �This is who I am. This is how I intend to live my life. This is the real me! �Lastly, No one can tell you how to be true to yourself except you. Allow yourself to evolve and let go of what youve outgrown.
Love & Light
#betrue
Ruchie Rajore
2. Watch your company !
Hatha Yog Pradipika mentions
Janasangha Parityaga as one of the factors that support yogic practices ( sadhak tattva )
Janasangha = company
Parityaga = let go
Letting go of the company that will distract you and which does not give you the strength or support to help you be a better you. Here are my learnings
Firstly one must acknowledge�that we have come here for a purpose. As we walk towards our goal, we might be distracted by someones love, anger, politics, greed and so we move away from our goal and get caught up in the periphery. In life our aim is to achieve the highest knowledge but in the process we get stuck with small, insignificant things, things which distract an individual, and these are all aspects of Guru Mandala. On this path of evolution one must assume to have total faith. You cannot increase faith. But to preserve faith one must avoid bad company. No matter what status you are, wrong company will bring you down with them sometimes without YOU even realising it.
Checklist of those few people that you surround yourself with.
- Do they REALLY make you feel positive? OR are they simply massage your ego to give you a high.
- Do they inspire and motivate you to be the best version of yourself? OR in the garb of goodness they puppet you for their own vested interests ?
- Do they support and encourage you to achieve your goals?�OR their encouragement costs someone elses progress ?
- Do they boost wrong judgements about others, and are greed, fame driven ?
- Do they encourage dharma, morality, basic ethics
- Do they support gossip mongers & negative influencers ?
Remember, the people around you have a critical influence on your energy, growth, health and sometimes even probability of success. As a yogi you would always act for the benefit of the whole, not out of self-centered interests. And if the above checklist doesnt draw in your favour, then its time to WATCH YOUR COMPANY !
On a lighter note, I fondly remember a phrase by Williams Wordsworth –
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils
Mother Nature is the best company both externally & internally. While performing our worldly duties we must not ignore to abide in our true nature. Meditate, watch the sun set, step out on gadget free solitude walks & you will be reflecting the unconditional true nature.
- Excerpts by Ruchie Rajore : A Certified��Yoga & Meditation Facilitator from India.
- Find inspiration and interesting stuff on her Instagram, You Tube, Facebook and Twitter social media handles
3. Using Props in Yoga
Whether you are a newbie or a yogi, props have been propagated since long by the yoga legend Shri B.K.S. Iyengar in his teachings, as a gift to the world; as a means to facilitate & extend our practice.
Today props vary from yoga staple aka yoga mats to tools like blocks, belts, straps, chairs, walls, ropes, bolsters, blankets, wheels and non-skid mats. They are used skilfully & creatively to increase flexibility, mobility, create balance, avoid injuries, deepen into poses or simply relax without strain. In restorative & yin yoga it helps to sink & relax deeper into a stretch or even release the tension held in the connective tissue.
Here are the 3 props that I use & guide my students to begin & improvise with.
Yoga Blocks
A prop basic, it can be used for support, steadiness and comfort in a variety of posss like the Pigeon Pose, Equestrian Pose and maintain proper alignment in the Triangle Pose. A simple seated meditative pose can be comfortably attained by placing a block beneath. Yoga blocks can also provide relaxation & support in more restorative yoga poses like bridge pose and the Butterfly Pose.
Yoga Strap
Yoga straps are commonly used to increase flexibility and mobility in seated forward bend pose to Dancing Shiva or a King Pigeon Pose.
As a tip, wrap the strap at the ball of the foot rather than the arch on a Seated Forward Bend. And If you are the one who cannot get their hands to clasp in Gomukhasana, then yoga strap helps bring in a sigh of relief.
I especially love the cotton webbing straps with a adjustable buckle. I got mine along with the yoga mat, which I could use to tie up the mat as well. That was an added Wow !
Alas I would say to all the yogis out there, to explore and invent unique sequences with your yoga strap
Yoga Wall
From simple to complex, from compression to extension, from active & passive movements, the wall is your super versatile companion. Keep your spine young & nervous system relaxed with on the wall standing forward fold or a kneeling back bend. Support yourself in a garland pose or suspend your legs upside down in Viparit Karni.
I always encourage my clients to use the wall in both yoga classes as well as yogic detox programs says India based Ruchie Rajore, a Certified Yoga Teacher from Ministry of Ayush, Govt. of India.
4. OBJECTIVE OF ASANA
We are nothing but a product of infinity. This state of expansion already exists, we only need to realize that
Prayatnashaithilyanantasamapattibhym (II Sktra 47) – Patanjali Yog Sutras
The word prayatna means effort . The word shaithilya means letting go of . Ananta is infinity. Samapattibhyaam is the uniting with this unchanging reality. As we give our best efforts in the moment, let go & dissolve in infinity. It is to rest, relax, soften, widen, deepen gently and comfortably into the pose. This is the Art of Effortless Effort. This is our direct communion with the ever present consciousness . says Ruchie Rajore, Certified Yoga Teacher, serving the Global Wellness Community for 13+ years through her fun-filled Yoga & Meditation programs.
Unfortunately in modern era asana is projected as a physical or mental gymnastic. Whereas doing the asana meditatively is the whole essence of letting go. It acts as a catalyst to abide in our true nature, which is what Yoga is.
In day to day life, giving our best efforts towards something that is evolutionary & healthy & then surrendering to the divine will ensures greater joy & steadiness.
Striking this balance between effort and ease is yoga.
5. Focus Tips During Your Yoga Practice
New poses, breathing patterns, setup & equipment, and the awkward feeling of standing on one leg can easily distract you during a yoga class. Here are some tips on how to stay focussed, positive and grounded every yoga class.
Be true to the truth :
Dont Worry about What Others Think or compare yourself with others.. If you look wobbly & stupideveryone must be laughing at me. No Dear they arent ! They are in the same boat and striving towards their goal. Rather than letting your thoughts wander toward what others are thinking, smile through the messiness, stay focused on yourself and the task at hand.
Lengthen your breath :
This is what distinguishes yoga from zumba , gym & other physical form of exercise. Deep breaths not only help you focus, but also relax both body and mind in the moment.
Flow Vs fear :
Intimidating poses may seem downright impossible when you first see them, but dont be afraid, make consecutive attempts to stay connected with flow. Yoga encourages you to go beyond your capacity & capability.
Focus on hugging the muscles in balance-centric poses :
In any given pose some muscles are hugging, or squeezing, in, while others are being lengthened or relaxed. Hugging the muscles in toward the bone causes them to contract, which is vital in poses that require strength, balance, and stability.
Pull in opposite direction :
Feel your weight pulling through the floor wherever you make contact with it and the same time feel the upper most part of your body pulling you all the way up through the ceiling. The opposition between grounding and growing will create a beautiful length throughout your entire body & keep you centered.
Fix your gaze :
Dont be afraid to experiment with eyes open or close. Focus on a steady point on the wall, or get your awareness at the tip of your nose or maybe over the horizon. Fixing your gaze in yoga will not only help you balance, but will also allow you to reach a more beneficial physical and emotional state of being. Gaze or no gaze see what works for you at a particular pose.
Feel your energy :
If youre in warrior pose, feel the energising back leg & imagine force coming out of your finger tips; in bridge pose, imagine glutes holding you up, in a natraj asana imagine each vertebra spouting energy. Identify energy points for each pose, brushing it up with awareness & breath. This will not only bring your focus into play, but will also create energetic and active muscles in each pose & enhance healing through practice.
Master your foundation :
A strong foundation will stabilise in a pose & practice for a longer duration & will help you master your asanas. And you may just develop a greater ability to still your mind and focus on & off the mat !
Views by :
Ruchie Rajore
Certified Yoga Teacher by the Ministry of Ayush Govt of India & Sri Sri School of Yoga. With over 10+ years of teaching experience & 1000+ hours of training.
Curated work : https://linktr.ee/ruchierajore
6. Samatvam Yoga Uchyate is ?
In Bhagwad Gita Lord Krishna tells Arjuna (Chapter 2, verse 48) yogasthah kuru karmaani sangam tyaktvaa dhananjaya siddhyasiddhyoh samo bhuutvaa samatvam yoga uchyate
Yogastaha kuru Karmani. means, Do all work in Yoga. Let us live in Yoga.
Samatva means a balanced state, Uchyate means said to be. Yoga is a balanced approach to life, both material and Spiritual.
Life is full of opposites, success & failure, sometimes desires are fulfilled and sometimes not. These are called dwandhas. A yogi lives above these dualities by not getting attached to the result of the action. A karma yogi understands that the results of your actions are not in their control and it responses to result with sameness. Such a person will have balanced view and will not be carried away by the extremes of emotions, attachments, ego etc. And will act for the benefit of the whole, not out of self-centered interests of me & mine. This evenness of mind is called yoga.
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