Yoga: Subtle changes make a big difference

As I walked into our staff room at work on Monday, a crowd of teachers were gathered around the new shiny coffee machine, each holding in their hands a paper cup which ‘must be used’ as china mugs will damage it. All the mugs had been removed from the kitchen. Next to the coffee machine was a bin for recycling the cups.

I must admit I felt a little overwhelmed on Monday and couldn’t allow myself to join in with the excitement. It didn’t feel right, not because I’m more of a tea drinker than coffee (although I am), it was because it was yet another embrace of the throw away culture our society loves, besides I love my old mug, and I refuse to use the shiny ‘paper cup hungry’ contraption, I’m taking a stance!

Who knows if my action will make a difference? Sometimes it’s hard to acknowledge or know how our subtle actions & changes can make a difference. This was my theme for my inversion workshop at my yoga class Monday evening.

In Uttonasana (forward fold) we explored through the use of blocks how engaging our legs – rolling our inner thighs in and back, hugging in to the mid-line and drawing our shins in, enabled us to go deeper into the pose – and by taking these principles into our handstands (Adho Mukha Vrksasana), elbow stands (Pincha Mayurasana) & shoulder stands (Sarvāngāsana) we were able to extend & lift towards the sky.

Through our awareness and by making these subtle changes we made a difference to our yoga poses.

Enjoy living your yoga.

Namaste