“Healing Yoga” with Deborah Devine airs daily on One!
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“If you want to keep moving, then you’ve got to keep moving!” ~ Moses Znaimer
Isn’t it funny that as we “advance” in age, and “advance” as a society, we seem to become ever more sedentary and dependent on devices and technology. We need to rethink all of this “advancement,” so we can question the habits we all fall into, as our lives become more and more convenient.
We find ourselves circulating more online and in our social networks, but we are actually stagnating in the most important system: our body!
These habits are dangerous and many studies have proven that all this sitting is literally killing us. The problem with not circulating is that our body fluids are not being distributed and refreshed in an optimal way, and our vitality and strength is diminished. When we are lacking in circulation, the mind and the eyes suffer too. Thus, mental clarity suffers and often there can be a sense of being out of proper balance emotionally, too.
How Yoga Helps
Of course, all of the bending, stretching and strengthening of the body is great, because we’re moving old blood and lymph out, carrying away debris, toxins and impurities. What comes in is fresh blood and lymph, carrying much needed oxygen, nutrients and prana to all of our cells.
But, that’s just the physical aspect of how yoga helps us. We’re taking all the benefits of the physical elements of the practice and adding the enhancements to our mental clarity and performance. We then marry that with a stronger sense of emotional stability and resiliency.
Circulating Body Mind and Spirit
In our Healing Yoga practice, we deliberately circulate our body fluids through movement, and at the same time, we’re also using the breath to circulate energy everywhere. We are using our awareness of the felt-sense to bring to light some areas that may need extra attention. We actively direct prana, vitality, and life-force to those areas, with our breath. This practice is very powerful and healing for those who are dealing with chronic circulation challenges.
Our practice also allows us to identify areas of energetic blockages, around the belly or the heart, as an example. Some of these blockages may show up as heaviness or dullness and we notice emotional discomfort. Our keen awareness and attention on the breath is helpful in seeing clearly and healing areas that may be connected to these held emotions. Sometimes we become aware of patterns in our lives that need to be looked into more closely. For instance, we may be out of balance in circulating and exchanging our energy with those around us. We’re circulating fresh energy around old habitual ways of thinking and actions, and bringing more clarity to all of our available options.
Our practice brings us into the present moment and helps us realize how precious and wonderful life is. When we are experiencing true Savasana, or the Tranquility Pose, we experience feelings of being supported. We often feel deep peace, oneness and gratitude. This is the most important part of the practice, especially when we are going through a health crisis and circulation issues are triggering fear. When we are going through a difficult challenge, our mat can be a safe haven through emotional storms.
Movement Tips
In this practice, the key elements that enhance circulation are to start gently and start small, and as we go through repetitions, and variations, the movements become easier. We try starting soft and then, if we feel ambitious, we can hold the poses for longer periods, or go deeper in the poses.
Breath Tips
Our breath plays an integral role in improving our circulation, and all our yoga-breathing practices help. The ones I find most effective are:
Ayurveda Tips
Other daily practices that help with circulation come from the ancient sister science of Yoga, the Science of Life (Ayurveda).
When we make the connection between our daily habits and how we feel, we can enjoy some amazing improvements in all aspects of our lives.
-Deborah Devine