It’s valid to come to yoga for the physical part, the movement, the shapes with the body. Joyful and mindful movement is important for our overall wellbeing, as the body is designed for movement. Movement also increases the oxygen level in our cells. Reduced oxygen levels, due to lack of movement, provide a perfect environment for ill cells to grow. So yes, movement is important….
AND my BIGGEST WHY for teaching yoga is to CONNECT YOU BACK TO YOUR BODY.
The connection to our physical bodies, not merely our minds, our logic and our intellect was, is, and will be my most basic and most important motivator for this work.
Why?: Because I have firsthand (starting with my nursing days when I was 18) seen and continue to see the detrimental effects on our mental, physical, and emotional health when there is a disconnect from the body. We cannot live from our intellect alone. Another big factor is the ability to have agency over our health and our lives, versus outsource our responsibility, authority and influence.
What’s body: Body not only means flesh and bone, even though, that is hugely important too. There is also our Nervous System. A system you can influence with your breath. A system that let’s you navigate life, that tells you what’s right and wrong, safe and dangerous.
It also means innate wisdom: Memory, ancestral family wisdom, feelings and emotions, which are all signs and signals, and useful information for you and about you.
There’s also your Intuition: A system you can rely on to find answers to any questions you may have. Again, your body will respond to any stimuli, situation, or question much quicker and more reliable than your logic ever will.
And YES, the aim is to connect and harmonise the head with the heart, the thinking with the feeling, and its influence on the body. The embodiment and understanding that thinking, feeling and physiology influence each other. This concept is often referred to as the mind-body connection or psychosomatic relationship.
To understand and really live this concept takes time and practice and is an ongoing process. Just like life itself.
It is my heartfelt wish for you to love and embrace your body as a physical container, as a container that houses your soul, your heart, your innate wisdom, your intuition and all your systems.
They way we are designed and put together is nothing short of magical. We are perfect the way we are.
Let’s find the awe for our physiology, as opposed to demonise it, looking for flaws and imperfections. With yoga we work with our body, not against it.
Logic, heart and body become a team.
Looking forward to practicing with you.
Much love, Bettina