Asana - The Practice of Being Present

This episode focuses on the third limb of the eight limbs of yoga, Asana - The Practice of Being Present. 

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Thank you for joining me here. Lisa x

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:14

Welcome to Canny Stars Yoga. Hi, I'm Lisa, a lifelong student of yoga and Ayurveda, and a lover of travel and discovering the sacred woven through everyday life. Thank you for joining me as we explore yoga philosophy, the eight lens of yoga, the wisdom of Ayurveda, and the many styles of yoga practice that help guide us back home to ourselves. Whether you are new to yoga or have been walking this path for many years, this podcast is here to support our growth gently, practically and stealthily. A gentle note before we begin: this podcast is offered for educational and inspirational purposes only. It is not medical or psychological advice. Please always listen to your body and seek professional care when needed. So take some time for yourself, take a slow, steady breath in, and exhale arriving here with me. Hello and welcome back to the podcast. And welcome back to our journey through the eight limbs of yoga. And over the past few episodes we've explored the yamas and the niyamas, the ethical and personal practices that help us live with greater awareness, kindness, and balance. And today we arrive at the third limb, asana. And if you've ever been to a yoga class, this is probably the part you're most familiar with. When someone says the word yoga, most of us immediately picture movement, stretching, standing postures, perhaps a beautiful balance or a peaceful meditation. But here's something that often surprises people. For thousands of years yoga wasn't primarily about physical exercise. The word asana simply means seat. In the ancient yoga sutras, Patanjali describes asana as a posture that is steady and comfortable. The purpose wasn't to perform impressive poses. It was to prepare the body to sit with ease for meditation. And over time yoga evolved and many different traditions developed around the physical practice. And today we are fortunate to have so many beautiful styles of yoga, each offering something unique. You might enjoy a gentle Hatha class that encourages balance and mindful movement. Or perhaps in yoga where postures are held for longer, allowing us to soften into stillness and gently work with the connective tissues. Restorative yoga offers deep rest for the nervous system using props to fully support the body. Vinyasa creates a flowing practice where movement and breath become one. And Kundalini yoga combines movement, breath work, mantra, and meditation to awaken energy and cultivate awareness. Kundalini is my favorite. Each practice has its own gifts, and none are better than the other. The question is simply, what do I need today? And this is where Ayurveda offers such beautiful guidance. In Ayurveda we recognize that each of us is unique. Our bodies are different, our minds are different. Our energy changes with the seasons of life, the seasons of the year, and even from one day to the next. Some mornings we wake feeling light and creative and energetic. Other days we feel heavy, tired, or overwhelmed. And then rather than forcing ourselves into the same practice every day, Ayurveda encourages us to listen and to ask, what would bring me back into balance today? And if your mind feels busy and scattered, perhaps a slower grounding practice is exactly what's needed. Or if you're feeling sluggish or lacking motivation, perhaps a more energizing sequence, can gently rekindle your inner fire. And if life has been emotionally demanding and draining, perhaps your practice simply becomes just lying in child's pose and taking a few conscious breaths. And that is yoga too. One of the greatest lessons of asana teaches us is how to listen. Not to the person on the mat beside us or what we think our practice should look like, but within our own body. And our bodies are constantly communicating with us through energy, fatigue, ease, and discomfort. And yoga invites us to become fluent in that language. And sometimes the most advanced practice is not the deepest backbend. It's recognizing that your body needs rest. Sometimes it's choosing to come to class even when you don't feel like it. I often say to students, the hardest part is walking through the door. Other times it's recognizing that what you truly need is an early night instead. And that takes wisdom. Because in a culture we're often encouraged to push through, to ignore the body signals and to believe more is always better. Yoga teaches us something very different. Teaches us to cultivate awareness within ourselves and to move with steadiness rather than striving. And breathing rather than bracing. Honoring rather than forcing. And I've always loved that the physical practice becomes a mirror for the rest of life. How do we respond when something feels difficult? Do we force? Do we give up? Or do we breathe and soften and stay present? And every posture offers us that opportunity. Not to perfect the posture, but to understand ourselves a little more deeply. And yoga doesn't ask us to have the perfect body. It just asks us to bring awareness to the one we already have. And to appreciate all that it does for us each day. And care for it with kindness. Move it with gratitude. And that's what asana is truly about. Not about creating the perfect shape, but creating a deeper relationship with ourselves. And so next time you step on your mat, instead of asking, how far can I stretch today? Perhaps ask, how can I listen today? What does my body need today? What would help me feel more balanced? Because every practice will be different. And that's exactly as it should be. And every time you step onto your mat with awareness, curiosity, compassion, we're practicing asana and it's truest sense. And so you might like to consider a practice for the week. And this week, before you begin your yoga practice or even before you head out for a walk, you might like to pause for just a moment and ask yourself, what do I need today? Notice what arises. And allow that answer to guide you. You might be surprised how different your practice feels when you begin by listening instead of striving. Sending you lots of love this week. As we close today's podcast, thank you so much for spending your time with me. If you'd like to stay connected, you can find more yoga, meditation, and Ayurvedic wisdom at countingstars.com.au. And you can also practice with me in studio or online. You can find me on Instagram and Facebook at Counting Stars Yoga and subscribe to the Counting Stars Yoga YouTube channel as we explore sacred places. Until next time, take a breath, move gently through your day, sending you lots of love.