Aligning your Body and Life with Yoga - Anatomically, Mentally and Spiritually

Experienced and documented by Natasha O’Neil*

For thousands of years people have been practicing yoga and seeing not only the physical benefits but the mental, and spiritual benefits as well. Yoga can bring alignment to all aspects of life.

We are aware that life can be a beautiful journey and we are also aware that life is accompanied by storms throughout this journey. However did you know that Yoga can help to weather these storms? Yoga prepares the body, mind and spirit to recognize the storms and watch them unfold, similar to watching a movie. We experience the feelings, the emotions, yet we are able to detach and know this experience "too shall pass," even in the midst of grieving. Body Alignment Yoga aids in stimulating, and detoxifying all anatomical systems: Endocrine Respiratory Circulatory Digestive Immune Lymphatic Muscular Reproductive Digestive Skeletal Urinary Nervous

In working through poses (asanas) we learn to strengthen the relationship with our own bodies. What a very important relationship to foster considering that this vessel will take us through life.

Having a body that you can understand, listen to, and love is a proactive measure in your overall health and well being. Not to mention that your balance, flexibility, as well as an abundance of other physical attributes are obtained.

Think for a moment about building, a very complex structure. We would first require a solid foundation to ensure the building could withstand the tall structure.

Simply by standing in Tadasana (Mountain Pose) you can help create this solid foundation.

1. Begin by working at grounding the feet firmly in the earth, spreading the toes and opening the souls of the feet.
2. Then lengthen the spine by pulling up through the crown of the head.
3. Be sure to tuck the chin in slightly to align the spine with the soft curve of the back neck.
4. Breath!

By learning to stand correctly we can increase the muscle memory to unconsciously stack the body in the correct alignment. Proper alignment allows the above systems to function properly.

As a bonus, your mind begins to check in with the body and say "hey am I protruding my chin? Is my weight evenly distributed in my feet? Am I holding tension in my jaw that is not necessary?"

Mental Alignment

Take a slow deep breath through your nose, and now exhale through the nose. Notice how you feel? Breathing and being aware of our breath brings us into the present moment, focusing on what is happening right now.

When we train the mind through yoga, pranyama and meditation to focus on the present unfolding of our lives, we may fully experience that moment. During yoga we practice this by constantly reminding the body to breath, and investigating each pose: firstly at each limb, then groupings of muscles, bones, and so fourth. Breathing has been used and is still used in treating many mental issues, such as depression and panic attacks. It has also been shown to significantly decrease pain in many pain management clinics. Professor Jon Kabat Zinn, from the University of Massachusetts Medical School uses yoga and other mindfulness practices for his patients. Meditation, yoga, and breathing all help to focus the mind and when the mind is focused great things can be experienced.

This is beautifully expressed in a quote by Remez Sasson:

"The mind is your instrument. Learn to be its master not its slave."

Spiritual Alignment

Spiritual alignment simply means you feel a greater connectedness with the God or self in which you believe. The relationship with the self is strengthened through your internal awareness.

Yoga literally means "to join" the body, mind and spirit. When these three aspects work and live in harmony you too can find peace. Since practicing yoga on a regular basis, students may feel a "lightness" about their spirit-a connectedness to the world in which they live in. Hostility and anger seem to lift, and a much deeper self actualization is obtained.

All of this means nothing if the practice of yoga, mediation, mindfulness is not infused into your life. This may mean taking 1 class a week and seeing how you feel.

You can read all the articles you like, but as Sri K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, India says:

"99% practice and 1% theory"

Make some calls to different teachers and talk to them about the style of yoga they teach to see which one is best for you.

Most of all have fun, smile, and practice!!

Namaste.