YOGA FOR BEGINNERSThis power is also why the poses tend to be the core of
many yoga practices today. Practitioners use the movement
of their bodies to learn the subtle and not-so-subtle lessons
in life. As long as you can move your body in some form or
another, even if it’s just to sit comfortably and breathe, then
you too can learn these. But to really grasp these lessons
from the yoga poses, there are five key things to take note of
as you move on your mat:
BREATH: Are you still breathing? Is it forced, or can you
maintain that smooth, even ujjayi breath?ALIGNMENT: Is your body properly aligned in the pose?
Are your limbs in the right place?
ATTENTION: Where is your attention? Are you thinking
about what you are going to have for dinner? Or, are you
focused on relaxing the parts of your body that need to
relax and engaging those that need to work?
GAZE: Where are you looking? Are you looking at the
clock wondering if it’s over yet, or are you focused on a
singular point that’s appropriate for the pose?
TRANSITIONS: What are you doing to get to the next pose?
Are you moving mindfully with intention, or are you
flopping out of the last pose quickly get to the next?It might seem overwhelming to focus on these five
things as you’re learning the poses. It will get easier with
practice, and soon you will reap the wide range of benefits
that yoga has to offer you.