Awareness….. and Dandelions

So far this week, I have been to three Yoga classes, what is Yoga to me at this point?  I think it is something that allows me to be aware of myself right now and to allow myself private moments of relaxation.  I think Yoga is individual and also a journey, however each person is different; I feel that while in these classes, there is a sense of individual calm around each person. Throughout the week I have also come to feel that it really doesn’t matter what the person next to me is doing, when they are doing a certain pose etc. because this is about me, and listening to what I need at that moment. 

Gentle Yoga was a great chance to take more time learning about the breath, Bobby talked to us how it is about where you are now, don’t think about were you want to be, think about this pose now and afterwards I thought, how often do I think about what I am doing next week, or next month and then forget about today and now?  Also, when do I focus on how I breathe in everyday life?  I realized then that there is one other activity when I focus on my breathing, and that is while Scuba Diving; long and slow breaths allow a more enjoyable dive.  Perhaps then, diving can be a form of Yoga, a time when you can experience a new environment while feeling relaxed.  Perhaps yoga then, can become part of me both inside and outside the classes. Hatha Flow 2 was a great class that allowed me to experience some more poses that I had not done before. The teacher, Laura Beth even took the time after class, to help out with individual questions about the poses. 

Thoughts and questions about other things have been coming into my mind lately too, I have noticed this week, during the walks home from the studio, that there are so many Dandelions everywhere, my instant thought about this is that why everyone has all these weeds growing on their lawns, and then I thought about that, and who says they are weeds?  I have never seen so many of these yellow heads scattered amongst the green, opening to the sun, and closing to the cold; they do give quite a nice colourful display.  In the UK, I have only seen these grow on waste grounds; households spend a lot of time and energy making sure these ‘offenders’ stay away and are cut down.  It has made me think though about perception, and what makes a flower/plant be liked or disliked? I am quite intrigued about this; do people look outside at their front lawn in horror at the Dandelions they could not keep at bay? Have they succumbed to the fact that they are just there, or do people here like them? 

Well, tomorrow, being Sunday, a day made for relaxing, I am going to try out the Restorative yoga class and see how this ends my first week of this yoga challenge. 

Kate