When I first started practicing yoga, the majority of my thoughts during class were focused on making sure my expression of the postures was as close to textbook (i.e. Yoga Journal) as possible. It was hard enough trying to decipher which pose blah-blah-blah-asana was, but then attempting to align everything from my toes to the crown of my head was enough to send my thoughts spinning. I’m not sure if it was several months or several years later, but eventually the postures became familiar, the yogic breath became a habit, and my practice became much more fluid. I cared less about how the poses looked and more about how they felt, and with that my expression of the postures changed.

When I practice now, I try to let my thoughts rest exclusively on my breath in order that the poses may become an expression of what my mind, heart, and physical body need. Some days I find stillness in the postures helps to ground me while other days I want to play, trying new variations and flowing dynamically. By staying present with each moment of your practice, you will discover which expression makes the most sense for you at that exact point in time. In this way, your yoga will more fully meet the changing needs of your mind-body-heart, keeping your physical body safe, your mind steady, and your heart happy. –Michelle Laxton

Sometimes when my yoga practice feels stale and I need a resurgence of that je ne sais qua to reinvigorate my flow, I watch a video clip of Seane Corn demonstrating yoga as body prayer. Seane Corn is known around the world as a talented teacher and practitioner of Vinyasa Yoga as well as Karma Yoga. While I’ve never attended one of her workshops or taken her classes, her energy as a yogini reaches me all the same through the net.  

In this short You Tube clip, Seane demonstrates just one round of Surya Namaskar/Sun Salutation B. The asanas and sequencing are familiar, but the beauty and intensity of her flow is always powerful enough to re-awaken my passion for yoga. It’s easy to move from posture to posture while letting the mind run wild. For me, the real work is presence: staying connected to each asana and ensuring that my movements are a reflection of my intention. This is a practice that will never get stale, but will continue to challenge, teach, and inspire me. –Michelle Laxton

Seane Corne Demonstrating Yoga as Body Prayer

Walking into my morning den with a sense of purpose and knowing desire sure to be fulfilled, I, the modern day caffeine addict enters the womb of the green goddess. Uttering a medley coded words, I create the beverage of my desire, to be magically manifested by the speedy, well trained barista. The enthusiastic cadence of  voices surrounding me reveals a morning crowd assured of fulfilling their bodily longings.

In this stylized, post-modern opium den all are equal. Doctor, lawyer, painter and priest: all of us stand at the altar of the liquid. Momentarily satisfied in the knowledge that soon the green mermaid will pour her brew liquid into our veins and brains.

How does this relate to yoga? Yoga teaches us to observe the movement of our thoughts and desires: both physical and mental. In the ability to observe ourselves we stand a chance to become the observer…to become the self: that element of ourselves which transcends our fleeting longings and desires. Find that in your yoga and you will find the flow of joy which is self-effulgent: a joy which depends on nothing other than its own existence for satisfaction.