On and off the mat - Off the mat

 On the mat yoga 

Physically -  Connecting with your body and breath.  Exploring the range of movement within my joints and muscles. Noticing if there are restrictions within the movement or if the movement is free and unhindered. For my personal practice and how I teach I have become more interested in freedom of sustainable movement than in the end range of advanced poses. 

Mentally - Becoming so focused on the movement and the sensation feedback from the body that you don't have to time think about anything else. This is very relaxing for the mind. Focusing on the movement acts as a form of meditation. No time for over thinking.

Emotionally - The movement of the body can move emotions and this is a good thing. Trapped emotions can make us feel heavy and restricted.  The release of emotion on the yoga mat is usually very subtle and passes as freely as the movement of the body. Most of the time we would hardly notice the release and would just feel different after practice.

On the mat yoga can bring us to a place of calmness that helps us function better in our day to day life of the mat. 

Off the mat yoga  - self exploration and self development. 

This can come in many forms, from how we move, what we read, watch, listen to, buy, eat/drink and who with and how we choose to spend our time. 

All of this should come from a place of honouring who you truly are. 

Physically - Movement any movement that you enjoy from walking to extreme sports. Movement is the key to life. 

Mentally - Becoming focused on the life we want and what we have to do to achieve or maintain that life.  Knowing what you want can be the first and often the most difficult step to achieving this. Knowing what you want and or don't want can be a very deep inward but rewarding journey. 

Emotionally - Understanding what things can trigger you into emotional unrest and dealing with them so they can not have any control of the decisions you make. 

The Chimp Pardox by Prof Steve Peters is a great book for explaining the complexities of the mental and emotional side of choices and decisions.  

Off the mat yoga can bring us to a place of deep understanding of you we truly are. 

Sarsha