Embodied Mind, Awakened Heart
A journey back to the wisdom of our own bodies.
This month we focus on the intricate ways physically, mentally, and emotionally that we can drop into the wisdom of our bodies, trusting the gentle whisper of the heart that assures us we are walking toward a positive future.
Do you often feel anxiety in a world you struggle to understand?
As a human race, we have drifted far from the wisdom that resides within our bodies. This vital knowledge isn’t something we typically learn in school; and without the education that comes from living in a tight-knit community we find ourselves entrenched in our minds, often starved of true satisfaction and the joy of simply being alive.
Are we searching for a solution in the wrong places?
In our relentless pursuit of happiness, we often find ourselves turning to drugs, alcohol, cosmetic surgery, retail therapy… [insert your vice here!] in the hope of finding fulfillment.
We are conditioned to seek satisfaction externally, whether through material possessions or spiritual enlightenment.
We’re told that what we need to feel fulfilled lies outside of us, waiting for us to be smart enough, beautiful enough, or rich enough.
As we become consumed by data and media, the wellness industry has also embraced this notion, encouraging us to seek alternate states of being through substances like plant medicines alongside traditional methods.
The irony is that the contentment we crave is readily available if we only took the time to stop and witness our bodies, engaging with life in the present moment and reconnecting with the fading ties we have with others.
Are we starving ourselves of joy?
In this pursuit, what we are truly doing is depriving ourselves the opportunity to find genuine satisfaction and the joy of existence. We are missing the opportunity for embodiment – becoming whole, integrating all parts of ourselves.
This essence is what yoga encapsulates, yet the message often gets lost. We hear analogies of “spiritual bubbles” or that everything is “love and light,” but this oversimplifies the rich tapestry of life.
Is love and light enough for growth?
Love and light aren’t what cultivate growth; it’s the dark and gritty moments that compel us to dig deep for greater meaning. Life is an invitation to descend into the earth, to journey painlessly into the very heart of our existence.
This is why you won’t hear me say that yoga is just about love and light. This perspective is merely a fraction of the vast tapestry that encompasses life…”
Are you afraid to face your inner self?
Many people find the descent into their own bodies to be daunting, fearing the unmet emotions and past events tucked away in the dark recesses of their minds. They shy away from confronting what they have carefully, and perhaps unkindly, avoided.
This is why you won’t hear me say that yoga is just about love and light. This perspective is merely a fraction of the vast tapestry that encompasses life and yoga. To me, it is a profound investigation into the depths of our being.
How can we awaken our hearts?
This month, throughout August where energy becomes a little frayed we focus on the intricate ways physically, mentally, and emotionally that we can tune into our bodies.
By awakening our hearts, we can avoid closing off this essential part of ourselves and resist the rampant skepticism that insists life is something to fear. Instead, let’s drop into the wisdom of the body, trusting the gentle whisper of the heart that assures us, “Better things are coming.”
Embrace this journey of embodiment and awaken your heart to the richness of life that awaits you.
Pose of the month
Pose – Garland
Sanskrit – Malasana
Pronounced – mah-LAH-suh-nuh
Type – standing
The translation of malasana was originally excrement as it was considered a pose used for such purposes but was later translated as garland. It is a pose that gets us into our legs, feet, and hips; therefore is stimulative of svadhistana & muladhara chakras, it’s a pose that gets us out of the mind and into the body.
1️⃣ space the feet 2 x hip width apart
2️⃣ if you know you are tight in your ankles/calves you can place blocks or a rolled towel beneath your heels
3️⃣ as you exhale descend the tailbone toward the Earth
4️⃣ If your chest collapses you may find it helpful to use the blocks or towel beneath the heels
5️⃣ Press the heart through the gateway of the arms
6️⃣ Press the palms together in anjali mudra and press the sternum towards the thumbs to continue lengthening the spine.
👉🏼 try this: Hridaya mudra to awaken heart energy
Place the middle finger, ring finger and thumb together & then tuck the forefinger into the base of the thumb, allow the awareness to settle behind Anahata chakra the energy centre at the centre of the chest to Hridayakasha the cave of the heart.
👉🏼 try this: Pranayama
Inhale for 4
Exhale for 4
Retain for 4 (bahir kumbhaka – external retention)
Don’t worry!!
In Jivamukti the class is structured so that the body is prepared; stretched, strengthened and opened by visiting the requisite shape and effort in preparatory postures so that our destination posture each month begins to feel more and more accessible over the 4/5 weeks of practice.
Book your first discounted class now! Use the code AUM
Mantra of the month
Shakti is the dynamic, creative force that brings the universe into being, often contrasted with Shiva, the static, formless consciousness. Shakti is not just external, it resides within each individual, representing our own creative potential and capacity for transformation when we become embodied and listen to that inner wisdom. So our mantra this month is an Invocation of Shakti
Om Haim Hrim Gayatriya Namo Antabhi Dayike Namah
I give praise to she who arises within me as the divine song of my own revelation as the end of my own fear
