Yoga for the fallen

What is Yoga?

Yoga is not just an exercise regime, but a fully integrated health maintenance system for body, mind and soul. Yoga has its own sense of timing and humour and encompasses not only physical movement and breathing exercise, but also lifestyle, mindfulness and self-awareness and if you wish, a deepening into the spiritual state of Being Human. The scope and depth of Yoga can be used as a panacea for life’s ups and downs, and can be integrated simply into daily life.

Through the regular practice of 5 of its fundamental principles: Asana (proper exercise): Pranayama (regular/controlled breathing): Yamas and Niyamas (lifestyle guidelines), Yoga Nidra (deep relaxation) and Dhyana (meditation/mindfulness), we create a calm and reflective state of mind, which not only help us become more self-aware, but also aware of our place in the wider community. Correct breathing and exercises alone stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, allowing us to come out of our fight and flight response, facilitating a greater sense of well-being and happiness and generating better health.

Yoga is not the asana, it is how we do them. Anyone, fit or inflexible, well or not, can be good at yoga. Yoga has a sense of humour, a subtle element often missed due to the ‘seriousness’ of western practice. I ascribe to Sivananda’s wise words…, “an ounce of practice is worth a ton of theory so practice, practice, practice” and “what is the hurry, there is plenty of time…”

What is Marjari Yoga?

Marjari, in Sanskrit, translates to Leopard (in the feminine) (marjara is the masculine). I have used this symbol to embody my practice as it visually demonstrates how I feel we need to approach yoga. Cats, of any size, stretch in a methodical and unhurried fashion; they enjoy the feeling of stretching and almost play with their bodies to gain the maximum benefit from their stretching. My hope is you will find relaxation and joy through Yoga and its many facets, in an unhurried and supportive environment and community. Below are some core concepts of what Marjari Yoga is about:

Community, at both macro and micro levels, is a group of supportive, approachable and generous people, like-minded in the sense they share a desire to include and respect the diversity community can entail. This diversity manifests in all aspect of itself such as differences in the ways people think and understand the world around them.

Education, two way street, contributes to everyone involved; the greater community is affected by the educated; teachers learn from their clients and colleagues in the same way students from their teachers.

Collaboration is the multi-directional communication of information and knowledge. It is shared and conducted with an open mind in the mutual spirit of fun and friendship.

Mindfulness, the gentle art of self-awareness at a personal and community level, is also the practice of forgiveness, tolerance and gentle education. It has a lifetimes application and embodies an empathy for self and others, and the environment, to foster sustainable lifestyles.

Growth is the necessary forward movement of the mind and consciousness towards mindfulness and a more enlightened way of living. Sometimes difficult because it challenges outmoded ways of being and thinking, growth is always in perpetual motion, ultimately nurturing to the soul, creating an expanded world and cosmic view.