The progression of the seasons is evident in so many ways. We see it in our natural surroundings, the birds singing, the trees blooming, the days are lighter and longer. I feel like spring is the new "New Year's." Time to consider changes for us, out with the old and in with the new - yoga practices.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays I instruct a Yoga Intro class which is then followed with fifteen minutes of guided meditation. I simply love these classes. I am amazed at the openness and willingness of the participants. Many of the participants are well over 60; many quite limited in their movements and yet so dedicated to coming week after week.
The class is simply inspiring and makes me proud of where anyone can go, no matter what age, shape or form. I think what makes the class so awesome is how so many people stay for the fifteen minutes of meditation. This is where the real work begins and today I was reminded of how important it is to "try something new."
I have evolved over my 13 years of teaching. I used to think that yoga was just about the poses, hard work and pushing to that final expression of the pose. Well, in today’s practice we mostly focused on standing postures using a chair for assistance. We move at a slower pace, really focusing on getting into the postures and changing them for each person's needs. We spend quite a bit of time on learning how to really breathe - finding a complete inhale and exhale. Finally settling into our savasana. Most of us can get down to the floor but those that cannot stay in their chairs and simply find their own state of calm.
Today's guided meditation was given to me by a fellow instructor. I really liked it so I thought I would try it out on the class. The meditation is a memory meditation and involves some vocalizing. Being the old "asana only" yogi for so many years you must know that chanting and oming is still a bit "out there for me." Although I like to think that it is the people in the class that won't like it, I think I have used that as a cover up for my own insecurities with this process.
So, I thought what the heck let's try out this meditation and see how people react.
The idea is that you say the sounds "Sa, Ta, Na, Ma" while touching your thumbs to a corresponding finger. "Sa" goes with thumb and index finger, "Ta" with thumb and middle finger, "Na" with thumb and ring finger, "Ma" with thumb and pinky finger. The first two minutes you say the syllables out loud while lightly touching the corresponding finger, the next two minutes you whisper the syllables, the next four minutes you say them silently in your head, the next two minutes return to whispering, and the final two minutes back to saying them out loud. It should take about twelve minutes give or take. You also really want to draw out the "ah" sound with each syllable.
The meditation itself is quite simple and very soothing. So how did the class respond? Quite well indeed. Everyone was saying the words, some louder than others but no one walked out (which is always an instructor's biggest fear, well that and someone getting hurt). Everyone left at the end with a great yogi smile and a calming nature.
This meditation was conducted on a group of people through an Alzheimer’s study. They did this memory meditation everyday for 8 weeks and found amazing results showing increased blood flow to the area of the brain that holds memory.
I just finished reading Sanjay Gupta's "Chasing Life." It is a great read on how to live the fullest life we can with what we have before us. I felt great about my role so far in the exercise and diet areas (although there is always room for improvement!), but when he started talking about lowering our stress levels and exercising our brains I felt like a slouch. This memory meditation is something that I can do for the next few weeks. Conducting it with my class as well as doing it on my own. I know this area I need to grow and change comes from within. I cannot control very much in life but I can take a lead on trying to make my life the most abundant it can be with the tools I have at hand.
So we come back to this new season of spring and my goal is to take better care of my mind and spirit. I need this calming breath and focus as I jump into tax season!
Allow this spring season to open our hearts, minds and spirits to something new. I leave you with a simple song of "Sa, Ta, Na, Ma."
May the springtime light in me honor the springtime light in you.
Namaste.
