You may have seen that I've just returned from leading a retreat in Suffolk. I called the retreat 'Flow & Glow', but this wasn't just a catchy title or jargon, often used these days for yoga events. But I really hoped people would experience 'flow' in a different way and to tap into something that would release an inner glow.
Flow is often used to describe yoga classes. Vinyasa Flow, Flow and Restore, Slow Flow, Dynamic Flow and the list goes on. This is mostly about keeping moving, literally flowing from one pose to the next without any long holds.
If you practice with me you'll know that I like to challenge people to take on their inner critic that we 'can't' do certain things with our bodies. That certain poses are 'too difficult' for us, because we're too stiff, tight even old. I would like to suggest perhaps that our body has forgotten how to do certain things, or that we are scared of trying something different? What can happen is that we develop habits of doing an alternative, or compromising when things are difficult. Even miss things out.
I have confess too that when it comes to side plank based poses, my mind is racing with thoughts and excuses of why not to try the full version because I can't fully straighten my arms.
I feel however, this isn't good practice. It's an important part of the yoga journey go to these less comfortable places to think about 'little steps we can take to improve' and let the ego go. It's back to not thinking about the end result, being present to the journey and to putting in the effort, which I've referred to many times before!
I feel it's also important to challenge the mind as well as the body, to go to places and move (flow) into positions that we're unfamiliar with.
By challenging ourselves like this on the yoga mat it can also help us when something difficult presents itself in our lives. To maybe be more adventurous. Even take on new challenges.
On the 'Flow & Glow' Retreat we practiced some unfamiliar sequences. Got outside our comfort zone. Moved our bodies in different ways.
I also had to make fairly last minute changes to the content I had planned because the weather was un seasonally hot. Instead of 'turning in' towards Autumn, Equinox, harvest and thanksgiving we celebrated the golden hours of sunrise and sunset, swam in the ocean, spent more time outside and walked bare foot on the earth and the sand. We ate lighter, fresher foods and drank lots of clean water.
Through the activities we did, all our senses were stimulated and we felt more connected to nature. We became more aware of subtle energy inside us. In the Yoga Tradition this is the life force which 'flows' through everything called Prana.
Also, we shared special moments, home cooked food and recipes, stories and laughter. This enabled us to better connect with each other and feel each others Prana.
Prana is an invisible energy. By physically feeling Prana through our senses, we were able to really experience the flow of the subtle body. As Prana is flow, Prana is life.
This is the 'Flow' I hoped the group would really feel and truly 'Glow'.
If you look at the instagram reels - I think you can see it. (It had to be said the golden light is hugely flattering too!)
Here's an article from Yoga International which explains Prana really well from the Upanishads an important foundational text.
Over the next few weeks as we slip into cooler temperatures (it will happen at some point) I'm going to explore different 'Flow' in all my classes. Take people out of their comfort zones and hopefully stir a different energy and Prana too.
In the meantime enjoy these late summer days.
Hope to see you on the mat soon.
Comments