In today’s practice we talked about a vital aspect: our attitude
It can be tempting to be forceful in our meditations, and to judge ourselves harshly when the mind is busy. Yet, if part of the practice is to resolve inner conflict, then this is counter-productive and only hinders it
Meditation can instead be a sanctuary; a welcome opportunity to tend to our inner landscape with loving awareness. To allow what needs to be heard, seen within to express and be held. To slowly untie the knots in our hearts
✨This subtle shift in attitude is a powerful way to meet ourselves authentically. Over time, this opens doorways to the true goal of Yoga: Freedom ✨
* This session (& many more) is available in the VIDEO LIBRARY, along with our in-depth course ‘Meditation Essentials’
two New Classes in the Video Library
✨ Listening to the Body (Flow & Restore)
…designed to bring you in touch with the innate intelligence of the body. Our bodies are always giving us feedback, but so often we're too busy or distracted to listen. We encourage energy flow, then slow down and tune within to what needs to move, process and breathe
✨ Opening to Inspiration (Flow & Nidra)
…our Summer Solstice special - flow yoga followed by a deep guided relaxation journey around the theme of opening to fresh possibilities as we welcome this next chapter (available as a whole class, and as 30min pure Yoga Nidra)
All video library classes can be booked individually (€3-6) or access everything any time for €24.99 / month
I’m always interested to hear how this works for you!
Love, Anya
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How do we define Yoga? What are we doing?
This is my all-time favourite translation of the definition of Yoga from the opening 'Yoga Sutras' of Patanjali
Is 'Yoga' the practice/s or the state we arrive at? (i.e. the 'stilling' of the mind or the tranquil space itself) Or is it both?
✨ In any case, it's certainly not about physical perfection, but an inner process guiding us to uncover the true nature of our innermost self ✨
So, what does that mean for my own practice? If you're interested to explore this together:
🔸 EMBODIED YOGA PHILOSOPHY
April 11 - May 16
(or self-guided with the recordings)
Any questions? Write to me at: info@yogainenglish.berlin
Meditation focus: EMOTIONS
How do we let emotions be a part of the meditative experience?
The more we try to minimise feelings, the more they become amplified. We feed them with resistance.
A mindful approach means being with an experience without adding layers of storyline onto it. So we practice sitting with emotions and relaxing around them.
Not avoiding, not escaping, not numbing or faking peace or 'spiritually bypassing', but 'turning towards' emotions, holding space for them to be felt, heard and to work themselves out.
To sign up for a meditation course, see: www.yogainenglish.berlin > EVENTS
Students often say this is their most powerful insight from learning meditation…
We tend to take the contents of our minds very seriously, believing it defines who we …We tend to take the contents of our minds very seriously, believing it defines who we are and always will be. Yet, our mind space contains all sorts - changing impressions, other people's words, vague memories, judgements that may or may not be valid...
In meditation we can 'sit back' and watch it all like a film. Then we can make healthy choices - do I need to follow that storyline? Is that even true?
This gives so much lightness and ease. Our reactivity relaxes, we get easier on ourselves, we can become 'loose and natural like hollow bamboo' as Osho beautifully puts it.
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I like to bring meditation teachings into every class so that you're left not just with physical relaxation, but a relief for the mind and emotions that can continue long after the class.
My 'Meditation Essentials' course is returning soon. In the meantime, give yourself a pause for body & mind - online from your home - every Monday & Wednesday.
Register: https://widget.fitogram.pro/yoga-in-english?w=/list-view
Love, Anya
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Vairāgya
Today we explored vairāgya in our morning meditation class. This is usually translated from Sanskrit as: non-attachment / dispassion / objectivity. An interpretation that I love from one of my teachers is 'the absence of longing for things’.
It’s an attitude we can bring into meditation; allowing sounds, sensations and experiences to be as they are, unfolding before us as we let our reactivity relax. We’re invited to take a pause from the constant push and pull of reaching after imagined gain and loss, whether mental or material. To relax into ‘being’ itself.
When we examine the nature of worldly ‘gain’, we find that external objects are finite, so can’t bring lasting happiness. When we really accept that, something magical occurs: vairāgya happens by itself. We no longer need to ‘make’ it happen; attachments naturally start to drop away as we discover inner sources of fulfilment.
What’s more, we become less susceptible to advertising and images of perceived perfection on social media when we remember that we have enough, and we are enough. So, integrating vairāgya into our daily life mindset gives such emotional stability and contentment.
Someone in the group said that this reminds her of how she’s been feeling in corona times - enjoying finally having time to be with herself, in the relaxation that comes from fewer choices and reduced external focus. I really resonate with this. It’s a time that can teach us so much about needing to take a pause.
I hope you’re all well and have time for yourself to reflect, breathe, rest, be... Love, Anya
*Vairāgya is found in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali, where it is coupled together with abhyāsa - repeated practice - as the key to calming the movement of the mind (YS 1.12, "abhyāsa-vairāgyabhyāṁ tannirodhaḥ”)
Adhiṣṭhāna
In Vedānta (one major philosophical framework of yoga), Adhiṣṭhāna(m) translates to: seat / basis / ground / support / abode / the substance from which something is made.
This tradition asks us to discriminate (have ‘viveka’) between everything that is unstable due to its nature of change, and that which is beyond change - our underlying essence. That which is the basis or foundation for everything else.
It is a reminder that all of our human concerns & limitations rest on a basis of stability; existence or being itself. In my experience, we can gain insight into this when we sense our own presence in the pauses between mental movement.
This is why meditation is often called a process of ‘remembering’. Relaxing mental busy-ness to remember our essence nature.
In Vajrayana Buddhism the term also means ‘grace’ and ‘blessings’, which makes sense to me; there’s a certain sense of alignment and reciprocity with the universe when our minds return home to quietness and we rest in our natural state.
Śraddhā
In Sanskrit, this means means faith, trust or conviction. A deeply held trust - in the rhythms of nature; that we belong in the universe; in our life path; in this moment.
Amidst all the uncertainty, the tides continue to flow, the sun and moon rise and set in perfect rhythm, Italians are singing songs of solidarity from their balconies, and we're all, always connected. Both online, and in a much deeper sense.
Śraddha is the fundamental trust not only that 'everything's going to be ok', but that in some deeper sense, it already is. Even if our rational minds can't fathom it at the moment.
With love, and Śraddha,
Anya & team
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