Slow Yoga: 5 things I’ve learned from my practice
I suffered depression + fatigue after my baby was born. Slow Yoga transformed my body, opened my heart and released blocked grief. And, it’s even more challenging than your usual vinyasa flow.
My yoga journey began in 1999, when I took my first class at Yoga Tree in San Francisco.
Since then, I’ve tried many different styles of yoga including: Hatha, Ashtanga, Bikhram, Rocket, Power. I finally felt the gravitational pull of Anusara, meaning “flowing with grace”, a style of yoga that sang to me for its principles of alignment, foundation and grace.
Over the last few years, I’ve noticed my energy levels dipping and my yoga practice has changed, ALOT! My practice has turned inwards, to slower, more mindful movement with a deep, deep emphasis on the BREATH.
So, what is slow yoga?
Quite simply, Slow Yoga is a low-impact practice focusing on the breath, while mindfully moving through a pose. It is a moving meditation.
Slow Yoga
focuses on proper alignment thereby decreasing injuries and increasing the ability to transform ourselves.
decreases stress by calming the nervous system which encourages deeper relaxation.
improves flexibility, supports muscle development and helps open up areas around the joints that are difficult to access such as the hips and lower back.
may help to release old emotions, past traumas and grief that get stored in the body.
Don’t take my word for it, try it out for yourself!
A little snippet of Slow Yoga
After practicing and teaching Slow Yoga for over a year, here are the 5 things I’ve learned:
1. You’ll be able to practice yoga for the rest of your life. You begin right where you are and do the poses that work for you, even if it’s mindfully breathing. That is yoga.
2. It can prevent injury. By moving more slowly, you create a strong foundation which creates correct alignment.
3. You’ll have the opportunity to deepen your relationship with your Self. The more you practice, the more open you will become, releasing stress, tension, blocked emotions, trauma and grief. Yoga is like peeling an onion. You begin to peel back the layers to reveal your true self.
4. You’ll stop taking the body you have for granted. We only have one body in this life and by nourishing it inwardly and outwardly, you’ll begin to see the profound changes in your physical and mental wellbeing.
5. Your practice will become more mindful, precise & specific. You will begin to move with balance, calm and strength.
Also, since it’s easier to let the mind wander during periods of physical stillness, slow yoga provides an opportunity to practice deep concentration while focusing on inhalations and exhalations.
“Slowness of movement is the key to awareness + awareness is the key to learning. Slower movement leads to more subtle observation... so that more change is possible.”
And most importantly, you start right where you are. Regardless of your practice speed, yoga is about taking time to get in touch with yourself in order to do what is best for your body, mind, and spirit at any given moment.
Where can I practice?
Try a breathing practice right now! Watch my 10-minute Ocean Breathing sequence.
Practice this every day for a week and see the change for yourself.If you live in SE London, then come to one of my classes or workshops.