If you haven’t yet practiced yin yoga, you are truly missing out! It has only been in this last year that I have started practicing yin yoga regularly, and now it has become one of the highlights of my week, and a day and time i look forward to.

Yin yoga is the art of relaxing in a place of relative discomfort, and staying there. Excepting what is in the moment and teaching the mind to stay in that place! It is the mind that tells us to move the body to come out of the pose. The mind becomes restless and impatient.

Yin yoga is the art of slowing down and taking time to release stress and tensions from the body and mind.

How we show up in our yoga practice (on the mat) is a reflection of how we show up in the world. In the same way, how we train the body and the mind during our practice is reflected in how we approach the world when we step off of our mat.

[/spb_text_block] [spb_column col_sm=”2″ padding_horizontal=”0″ width=”1/6″ el_position=”last”] [/spb_column] [spb_blank_spacer height=”30px” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] [spb_column col_sm=”2″ padding_horizontal=”0″ width=”1/6″ el_position=”first”] [/spb_column] [spb_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjyJHJilonQ” remove_related=”yes” autoplay=”yes” full_width=”yes” width=”2/3″] [spb_column col_sm=”2″ padding_horizontal=”0″ width=”1/6″ el_position=”last”] [/spb_column]

The post 5 Yin Yoga Poses to Release Stress and Tension appeared first on Yoga With Dawn.

What is a Sankalpa?

Sankalpa is derived from two Sanskrit words ‘sam’ which means ‘union’ or ‘together’ and refers to a connection with the highest truth and ‘kalpa’ which means ‘possibility’ – ‘every possibility in existence’ when we use a sankalpa, we are directing our awareness to a particular possibility that exists within us, making it a goal towards which we are moving. Another word for Sankalpa which is often is ‘resolve’, this resolve is stated as a positive affirmation. You are already are you need to be to fulfill your life’s dharma, your divine purpose. All you need to do is focus your mind, connect to your most heartfelt desires, and channel the divine energy within. A sankalpa becomes a statement you can call up on to remind you of your true nature. The sankalpa in its purest evolved state goes hand in hand with your fulfilling your divine purpose in this life, once you have found your ‘THE’ SANKALPA this will remain constant for the rest of your life, this is the most powerful form and will not change. However, just like when reaching any goal there are certain steps you must take to get to your final goal, it is the same with making your resolve and finding your sankalpa. A sankalpa or resolve can take two forms, one can be called a ‘deep heartfelt desire’ a statement that reflects your true nature, even if you may feel that it is not your nature right now, it is still a statement of who you are ‘I am healed’ ‘I am whole’ ‘I am peaceful’ ‘I am love’ ‘I am free’ It comes from deep within our self, and it is a statement to our conscious mind of the direction we need to take in life. Another form could be a specific intention or goal you wish to achieve your heartfelt desire. You must remember that everything doesn’t happen all at once, to fulfill your life’s mission steps must be made and taken, milestones reached. This type of sankalpa will help to align and direct your energy to make specific progress to your bigger life goals. Your immediate desire may be something like: ‘I want to quite smoking’ ‘I want to stop eating meat’ ‘I want to lose weight’ desire to quit or break a habit whatever it may be, smaller concise goals, stepping stones. These are fine as a place to begin, and using these desires in your sankalpa will achieve your goals. But this is not what a sankalpa is essentially for, so allow yourself to go deeper, why do you want to quit smoking or eating meat, why do you want to lose weight, identify the desire behind it. Do you want to care for your body, do you to love and accept your self, do you want to be a more compassionate caring person. What will achieving that goal do for you? What is the desire behind the action? You do not have to create or make up your sankalpa. It is already there, it is already a part of who you are! Allow it to show itself to you, whatever comes out accept it, do not judge or try to make a different one, let it be what it is and allow yourself to go through the steps needed to finally arrive at your final sankalpa. Now you are ready to make your resolve, your positive statement! Watch my video Making Your sankalpa

[/spb_text_block] [spb_blank_spacer height=”30px” width=”1/6″ el_position=”last”] [spb_row element_name=”Row” wrap_type=”standard-width” row_bg_type=”color” row_bg_color=”#fcf7f7″ color_row_height=”content-height” bg_type=”cover” parallax_image_height=”content-height” parallax_image_movement=”fixed” parallax_image_speed=”standard” bg_video_loop=”yes” parallax_video_height=”window-height” row_top_style=”none” row_bottom_style=”none” parallax_video_overlay=”none” row_overlay_opacity=”0″ remove_element_spacing=”no” row_col_spacing=”0″ row_col_pos=”default” row_col_equal_heights=”no” row_expanding=”no” row_animation=”none” row_animation_delay=”0″ minimize_row=”no” simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] [/spb_row]

The post What is a sankalpa? appeared first on Yoga With Dawn.