4 WAYS TO REFRESH YOUR YOGA PRACTICE THIS AUTUMN
September always brings that “back to school” feeling as the season begins to change and new beginnings are often ignited. If your yoga practice has taken a back seat this summer or as autumn draws closer it is your intention to start, here are four ways to refresh and revive your yoga practice:
1. Go back to basics
One way to give your practice a refresh is to head back to basics. Re-discover the foundations of yoga asana (physical practice) by intentionally checking in with the technique and your own body. Wherever you are with your yoga it is always a good idea to revisit the basics. If you are reading this starting out with yoga attending a beginner’s class or foundations class is a great way to give you confidence to go to any class. It also means you’ll be able to drop into the meditative and relaxing effects of yoga without getting yourself in a tangle with all the new postures! That being said, every yoga class should be suitable for beginners so don’t panic if you haven’t found a specific beginner’s class.
If you have a consistent practice and do re-visit the foundations pay attention to what you find as it normally is indicative of your posture in daily life. Taking myself as an example, I tend to round my shoulders forward (too much time spent on my phone & laptop I would imagine…) and so often this is reflected in my postures. In halfway lift, for example I must really remind myself to draw the shoulders back with ultimately should help my posture day to day.
I recommend checking out Episode 1 and Episode 2 of my Yoga Refresh series that I filmed with the help of Evelyn, breaking down some of the yoga foundations like sun salutations, balances and the one breath one movement flow.
2. Engage the breath
When I feel stagnant, frustrated, or stuck pranayama or breathwork is my first point of call. Manipulating the breath can help reset and refresh your yoga practice. Maybe you’ve been moving through the physical sequence mindlessly and not paying much attention to the breath. The breath not only brings another level of intention to a physical movement, but it is the number one stress reliever.
So how does it work?
The breath, in particular the exhale, stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system telling the body it is time to relax. Subsequently the body produces less cortisol (the stress hormone) and we feel calmer almost instantaneously (The Breathing Class). There are a number of pranayama practices that you can use. Simply taking a releasing breath in through the nose and out through the mouth is wonderful during a sequence or just at your desk. Other methods include, alternative nostril breathing (Nadi Shodhana) and humming bee breath (Brahmari). For breathwork tutorials, check out Jenny’s series on the on-demand platform (check out Episode 1 HERE).
3. Change it up with a new teacher or style
If you have been practicing with the same teachers for a while, see if you can try a new teacher or a new style that your teacher offers. This is not to say abandon your regular teacher, but the instruction of yoga is fascinating as two teachers cueing the exact same sequence can create a completely different feel. Perhaps a cue in a habitual posture, like half-way lift for example, may make you experience the asana in a slightly different way enabling you to connect deeper into your own physical body. I had an experience where one of my teachers cued me to imagine my fingertips were gently drawing down into the floor and towards my body in half-lift and it really opened an extra level of subtle activation. On the Online Studio for example, you can choose from four different yoga teachers and styles of yoga from power, vinyasa, yin, and yoga nidra.
The same can be said for mixing styles. If you normally practice a fast paced, dynamic vinyasa flow that adopts a “yang” style energy maybe it is time to drop into a steady yin practice. The theory surrounding yang/yin energy is rooted in Ancient Chinese Medicinal techniques that suggest every living being is made up of this dualism. The “yang” energy being action based and the “yin” a passive state. To reach a balanced existence and flow of “Qi”, or “prana” as we refer to it in a yogic practice, it is important to balance the two. So, notice, does your lifestyle contain a busy job, a busy family life, and a dynamic yoga practice?
The Science of Yoga
Switching up your teacher or style is also fantastic for the brain. The neural connections you must make as you experience a new asana, transition, or state of being increases neuroplasticity and thickens the layer of the cerebral cortex associated with higher learning. This means that we become more adapted to new information and a change in circumstance. A yoga practice, and, in particular the stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system (the one telling us there are no predators and we can chill) slows the natural decline of grey matter in the regions of the brain associated with happiness and joy. AKA yoga makes you happier and continues to do so!
4. Take a break it’s still yoga…
Finally, if you find you have drifted away from your physical practice this is not a “bad” thing. Sometimes all we need to do is rest. And yes, you could argue, a yin practice is a form of rest but it is important to note that asana is just one of the eight limbs of yoga. The philosophical teaching of “ahimsa” (or non-harm) encourages us to treat ourselves with kindness and compassion. So, take that break, fill your cup first and practice yoga off the mat.
B&G members check out:
Yoga Refresh with Olivia: This 3-part series is suitable for beginners or for those that feel they could benefit from revisiting the foundations. The aim of the session is to give you the confidence to take part in any class. Olivia will be joined by Evelyn in the studio so she can break down the poses and provide visual modifications.
Need more yin energy in your life?
Wind Down Yoga with Jenny, every Wednesday between 18.00 and 18.45: It’s time to release, let go and relax with this 45 minute yoga class designed to totally chill you out after a hard day. Mixing it up with elements of yin yoga and time to stretch off the tensions of your day.
Need more yang?
Lunchtime Energise Yoga with Olivia, every Thursday between 12.30 and 13.00: A 30-minute class in your lunch break to boost your energy and help avoid that afternoon slump. Perfect for working from home!
