Graceful Existence Yoga in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Health & wellness website

Graceful Existence Yoga

Locality: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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21.01.2022 PRATYAHARA / WITHDRAWAL Pratyahara means to "draw back" or "retreat". By extension, the word Ahara means nourishment. So to translate this fully, it is "to withdraw oneself from that which nourishes the senses." So what does this mean? Basically it encourages us to withdraw our senses from external distractions and bring our focus within ourselves. The benefit of doing this, is that we are no longer distracted by outside events, thoughts or stimulus, enabling us to calm an...d find inner peace. This is especially useful when we consider that much of our stress in life is created by outside events and sensations. If we can learn to detach from this, we will use less mental and physical energy on these stressors. Stressors that if left unattended, can often lead to illness. This can be practiced both on and off the mat. It is to be noted, to make it easier to come back to this state off the mat, it takes practice on the mat. One way to practice this, is before you start your practice, sit quietly and go within. Check in with how you are feeling and the energy in your body. Do this again when you have completed your Pranayama and before you start Dharana and Dhyana. Drop from your head, down into your body and bring your attention to a point, such as your heart space. Is there a difference from the beginning? What has changed and what is the same? As an aside, when you are completing Dhyana (Meditation), you come into a state of Pratyahara almost automatically. This is another way to practice this limb of yoga. Again a brief overview, so post any questions you have below. Do you find it easy to sit within yourself and detach from your senses?

20.01.2022 QUOTE Yoga science is not just a scholarly pursuit. It is a moment by moment and thought by thoughts practical guide for living. ~ Leonard Perlmutter... Image Credit: Rachel Claire via Pexels Posted using @plannthat

10.01.2022 PRANAYAMA / BREATH Pranayama is a fundamental part of the yoga practice and can be done both on and off the mat. This loosely translates to mean "breath (energy) control" and is obviously the control of one's breath. By controlling the breath, this can assist in restoring balance within the body. When this is combined with Asana's, it is considered to be the most advantageous to the body and mind respectively.... Next time you are in a yoga class, where you complete Asana's and Pranayama, notice how you feel both before and after. When done correctly, you should find your mind I calmer and that the energy in your body has settled. This is especially beneficial after a busy or stressful day. You will most likely have seen this in your life, if you have not experienced yourself. The breath has a powerful way off pulling you back into your body and out of your mind. It's why (normally I see it in movies or TV shows), when a person is having an anxiety attack, someone always tells the person to breath. Anxiety and stress is triggered in the mind, but your breath is the antidote. Now, as noted, this can be done on and off the mat. It is perfect after Asana's, to help assist your mind to calm and ready yourself for the meditation phase. Off the mat, if you are particularly stressed, if your mind is racing, you can use your breath to help settle you. Either listen to someone guiding you or you can do a count yourself. One example is breathing in for 4 counts, hold your breath for 5 counts, breath out for 4 counts and repeat for 10. You can alter the numbers according to your capacity. Again, a brief overview of an important process. Have you ever used your breath to calm yourself?

07.01.2022 QUOTE Just for now, without asking how, let yourself sink into stillness. Just for now, lay down the weight you so patiently bear upon your shoulders. Feel the earth receive you, and the infinite expanse of the sky grow even wider as your awareness reaches up to meet it. ... Just for now, allow a wave of breath to enliven your experience. Breathe out whatever blocks you from the truth. Just for now, be boundless, free, with awakened energy tingling in your hands and feet. Drink in the possibility of being who and what you really are so fully alive that the world looks different, newly born and vibrant, just for now. ~ Eckhart Tolle Image Credit: Engin_Akyurt via Pixabay Posted using @plannthat

04.01.2022 QUOTE Just for now,without asking how, let yourself sink into stillness. Just for now, lay down the weight you so patiently bear upon your shoulders. Feel the earth receive you, and the infinite expanse of the sky grow even wider as your awareness reaches up to meet it. ... Just for now, allow a wave of breath to enliven your experience. Breathe out whatever blocks you from the truth. Just for now, be boundless, free, with awakened energy tingling in your hands and feet. Drink in the possibility of being who and what you really are so fully alive that the world looks different, newly born and vibrant, just for now. ~ Eckhart Tolle Image Credit: Engin_Akyurt via Pixabay Posted using @plannthat

03.01.2022 DHARANA / CONCENTRATION Dharana is the next limb of yoga, and comes after the Pratyahara phase. A rough translation of Dharana means "immovable concentration of the mind" with the idea being to focus your attention in one direction.... Your entire focus is on one particular thing. This sounds hard, given our current lifestyles, but this is why you first complete the Asana's, Pranayama and Pratyahara. It enables your body to calm enough, so you can get to the point of concentration. By practising this on the mat, it will enable you to be better equipped to focus off the mat. In every day life, with your family and friends, with your work. Like everything, it is about practice. To best practice Dharana, you can take a simple concentration exercise. This may be to visualise a dog, running along a beach. The dog keeps running, and the beach never ends. When your concentration lapses (and it will, especially in the beginning), just note the thought, thank it and realise it. Then come back to the image of the dog running. Continue this for at least a few minutes. Again, a brief overview. Have you tried a concentration technique before?