In yoga, we have asana – the physical practice, pranayama– the breath practice, and meditation– the practice of devotion to the divine and stillness. Interestingly, each practice can be related back to our life – the past, present, and future.

Asana (yoga poses) addresses our past by working within the body. Have you ever heard that the body is a “memory bank” of our experiences? This applies to both short-term and long-term experiences. The stress of something that happened 20 years ago can literally still be in the body. Day-to-day, our bodies are continually affected by our environment as well as what we eat and what we think. A good yoga class can aid the body in releasing accumulated stress, immediately and over time, as a student continues in their practice. Think chiseling away at a beautiful sculpture or removing cobwebs from the eaves. Once the excess is removed, you can see clearly what’s underneath. Our body is the same; asana clears the cobwebs and releases tension so that we can move freely.

Pranayama brings us in the present moment. You can observe your breath in the here and now.  In creating a rhythm with the breath, its unconscious pattern is changed, directly affecting the present moment. You know this when you take intentional deep breaths. They can calm you down, energize you, or create a desired effect. The breath is the first place to go to cultivate present moment awareness.

Finally, meditation addresses the future. Meditation is the place where stillness and oneness with the Divine take place. Over time, this devotion will bring authenticity and freedom to you. This is one of the best places to move forward in life and live fully and freely. The practice of stillness has far-reaching benefits beyond compare.

On those words, dive into yoga! Melt stress away, be in the moment and create a bright future through your yoga practice.

Namaste,
Keely Totten, Yoga & Meditation Teacher, Writer, Mama