Eight Limbs of Yoga Studies: ASANA

We have explored the first two limbs of yoga... 1. Yamas (outer ethical codes) & 2. Niyamas (the the inner, personal ethical practices) & today we move to the 3rd limb of yoga... ⁠
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♥️Asana♥️⁠
(Postures | Forms)⁠⁠

Take a moment to reflect on what comes to mind when you think of pictures you have seen of yoga... Likely you’re imagining images of people practicing asana and these images often show people in very complex postures!

As we honour ancient wisdom by practicing yoga as more than a physical practice, we enliven our privilege to decolonize yoga by honouring yoga as a deeply integrative system and philosophy. In that, we honour asana as a very important system within a much larger system.
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I'll unpack this... ⁠
When we honour how (not if) our body needs to move, we invite ourselves towards an inner steadiness with greater capacity to sit in stillness, mindfulness, and meditation ⁠
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I am grateful for one of my teachers, Susanna Barkataki, who is courageously decolonizing yoga!
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In the Trauma-Informed Yoga Psychology School, together we explore and practice asana as a way of strengthening our ability to notice our inner landscape, to regulate our nervous system, and, most importantly, in support of the the other seven limbs of yoga which we can take off the mat  ✨
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Would love to hear your reflections, if you are called to share!⁠
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♥️ Dr. Melissa⁠ Jay