LIGHT

Intention: LIGHT

When it’s the darkest and coldest time of year, it’s more important than ever to generate and radiate your own light. Lightness can be thought of in many ways; visible light, lightness in body, enlightenment in mind.

During this class, consider the many ways to lighten and brighten your practice.

--- PRACTICE LIGHT ---

At various times during your practice, face visible light, feel the warmth on your skin, hold a pose and absorb the light vibrations.

At other times, face away from light, close your eyes. Imagine that your body and mind are the only sources of light in the universe.

“Everything changes when you start to emit your own frequency rather than absorbing the frequencies around you, when you start imprinting your intent on the universe rather than receiving an imprint from existence.”

CHILD POSE: It’s hard to see the light when you’re looking down. Maybe, instead of looking for the light, you can become the light.

HIGH CRESCENT LUNGE: Imagine you have headlights on your hips. Track both headlights so they shine directly ahead of you to square your hips and keep them closed in this posture.

RUNNER’S LUNGE: “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” –Dumbledore

BALANCING: “There are two ways of spreading light; be the candle or be the mirror that reflects it.” – Edith Wharton

CROW POSE: “As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same” – Nelson Mandela

HALF PIGEON: “I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.” – Og Mandino

RECLINED BOUND ANGLE: “Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.” – Maya Angelou

WIDE-LEGGED FORWARD FOLD: Consider lightness in your body. Where are you more light in this posture, and where are you more heavy? Allow your head to hang heavy and your hands to feel light. Shift the heaviest weight in your body to your toes and adjust as needed.

CAMEL POSE: “A light heart lives long.” – William Shakespeare

SUPINE TWIST: “There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” – Leonard Cohen

OUT OF SVASANA: “Sometimes when you’re in a dark place, you think you’ve been buried, but actually, you’ve been planted.” – Christine Caine

I hope you are inspired to take your intentions off your mat and back out into the world.

Namaste.

--- PERSONAL INSPIRATION ---

Why LIGHT?

I struggle most during the winter months, when it’s coldest and darkest outside, but also when I lose sight of the light within me, when I rely too heavily on people around me, and when I think to critically rather than opening my mind.

Light soothes my body and mind, helps me heal, and strengthens my being.

Through extensive self-study I know the importance of light in my life but I often forget to prioritize light in my every day actions. I’m talking about more than just choosing the window seat on an airplane. What will I eat for lunch? In an hour will I feel light or weighed down? Who will I choose to spend time with? Will they bring laugher and lightness to my life or stress and darkness? Why does my right shoulder feel heavier than my left? What’s in my bag or purse that serves no purpose and is weighing me down?

“The only reason you feel pain is because you’re so busy looking at yourself instead of looking at the wonderful patterns of light. If you become absorbed in the wonderful patterns of light, then there’s no pain.” – Frederick Lenz

And when I think about the above quote I remember that part of generating my own light is to detach from the critical thinking in the first place. Just be. Rather than looking too closely at my actions, I can take some time out of each day to exist just for the sake of existing and return to critical thinking once I’ve balanced the weight of that type of brainwork with the lightness of being.

My hope for each of my students is that their practice is lightened and brightened when they roll their mat out with me. I hope not only to be a person who brings light to their world, but also to ignite the light that shines within.

Thanks for reading.

I hope you are inspired to live your life to the fullest.

Namaste.

#yoga #light #pose #depression #winter #life #seasonaldepression #lightness #bodyandmind