Hi,
These are unprecedented times in our lives. Just a few days ago I had almost finished writing the blog for this month, all about inversions and how to practice them at home, but I'm going to save that for another time because things are moving so fast, that we all just need to take stock.
Coronavirus has impacted all of our lives in multiple ways. Some of us are already self-isolating, some of us are worried about our parents, our jobs, some of us are gutted that holidays we'd planned, outings and so on are now being cancelled.
We listen to the news and the tidal wave of information is overwhelming. Social media is another window to a world that seems to be shaken to its core.
And yet.
There are still comparatively few fatalities worldwide, the sun comes up, the world keeps turning, and in Venice, dolphins are playing in the harbour and shoals of fish are visible in the canals.
The sheer pace of life that we kept up without thinking about has had to slow. We can't make plans for the short term, because we're living day-to-day. And that creates a sense of space that is both scary and freeing.
Where yoga comes in
We choose to attend weekly classes for a variety of reasons. Perhaps it's the sense of community, the physical satisfaction of having stretched the body, the way we sleep better after a yoga class.
But the father of yoga, Patanjali, who we chant our acknowledgment to, says that yoga has one purpose, which is:
yogah Chittavritti Nirodhah - Yoga is the stilling of movements in the consciousness
And at the moment our minds are anything but still, as we worry about how our lives will be impacted, and struggle to take in the sudden changes to our daily routines.
Yoga practice
The simple discipline of getting on your mat when things are difficult is a constant in your life that can provide reassurance.
Now that we're working from home, or going out less, we should have more time to commit to a home practice.
What about pencilling in 8 - 9 am every morning so that before you sit at your desk/spring-clean the loft/homeschool the kids, you have a set window to be on your mat? It might be that you only do 10 minutes in Bridge pose or Supta Baddha Konasana, but at least you know you've added yoga into your daily life.
What do I practice?
This is always a challenge. During the swine flu outbreak in 2009 when the institute in Pune had to close, B K S Iyengar posted a morning sequence on the noticeboard, which was to help boost immunity:
Credit: Yogaforbeginnersandmore.blogspot
We've done a variation of this sequence in the recent restorative classes. But holding some of these poses for a long time is not easy for everyone, so make sure you're doing these poses to strengthen the body, and don't force the pose if you start to shake or feel exhausted.
A simple sequence which would waken up the body and still the mind would be to start with poses that stretch the legs, then move to standing poses, then headstand if you practice it, then seated poses, then shoulderstand, a supine pose to cool the body and finishing with savasana.
Exploring online options
Practicing yoga through online options has its limitations, and nothing can replace being physically in the same space as a teacher, but in these unusual times, it might be worth looking into practicing yoga online. I am looking into taking my classes online and will keep all students updated.
There are also plenty of resources online for sequence ideas, such as this website by another Iyengar yoga teacher, Tamara Hockey.
Final thought for the day
Having endured four years of non-stop Brexit doom-mongering, we seem to have immediately switched to Corona-crisis-mode. But yoga is here to remind us that while everything around us changes, the things that matter, such as our connection to our inner selves, remain the same. In Iyengar's words:
Change is not something we should fear. Rather, it is something that we should welcome. For without change, nothing in this world would ever grow or blossom and no one in this world would ever move forward to become the person they're meant to be.
Keep safe, take care of yourselves and your loved ones, and keep doing yoga.