I unfortunately can’t take credit for the catchy title! That would be Bernie Clark, well-known yin yoga instructor who studied under Sarah Powers. If you’ve taken any of his classes, then you’re all too familiar with his catch phrase, “yinsights”. These are little sparks of inspiration and inner wisdom that hit you when deepening into your yin yoga practice. The theory is that we have emotions, memories, blocked energy, and intelligence waiting to be released and revealed from within the inner network of our own bodies.
I was just practicing yin yoga at home when a couple insights came through to me that I found very useful, and thought perhaps you could use them, too.
- The Breath is Everything. This wasn’t necessarily an insight that came up BUT it’s what got my nervous system to calm down enough to tune-in. Especially on days like today where the energy feels chaotic, I dropped down into legs up the wall (it was actually up-the-couch because I didn’t have a wall nearby) and started by breathing into my teeth (with my imagination of course) to open my low belly, then into my cheek bones to open the rib cage, and lastly into the forehead or brow area to open up the chest. It’s really therapeutic to take some slow breaths like this AND the yogis say that the life-force flows into the body on the inhale. I believe it!
- Where attention goes, energy flows. It’s quite simple. Ever do a body scan meditation? or yoga-nidra exercise? I’ve been doing Jana Roemer’s 10 Day Overthinking Meditation Course and it has done wonders. She reminded me of this simple, incredibly useful bit of knowledge. This can be applied to everything, but start by practicing with a body scan meditation. Feel how the cloud of energy leaves the mind/brain area and re-focuses itself somewhere else. Your attention is your energy. If all your attention is on thinking, then the mind will remain to feel clouded, confused, and stressed. And we don’t want that, right? If you’re not comfortable doing this alone then try the course I mentioned above or visit me at one of my classes.
- You have time. I am a culprit of falling into the trap of believing I don’t have enough time to get all the things done that I want to. I can get stuck in that mindset for days, causing my stress and haste. We have time! We all do. Today is going to roll into tomorrow. Tomorrow the sun will rise again and you will have another opportunity to set out into the world and be your best. I strongly believe that we’re here to learn lessons and we have infinity to learn them. So there’s no rush – take your time becoming you.
- The conversation between you and the universe – is just that. So, I was on my mat realizing and feeling how I’ve been rushing my life, like it’s some sort of race to get all my credentials in order. Then the new-age-spiritual-bypassing information floods my brain: “If you don’t show the universe you’re ready to take action, then your visions won’t become reality”. Masculine energy says take action, but masculine energy balanced with feminine energy (resting, receiving, meditating) births new things. Don’t let others manipulate or sabotage the open dialogue between you and your creator. I realized that the universe knows my intentions at all times. It knows that if I take no action, I am not saying, “I don’t care and I give up”; but instead, setting an intention to practice (masculine) patience (feminine). It all is coming to you always! Let it roll and flow the way it was intended. Going for the ride will be MUCH more enjoyable than forcing control and breeding disappointment.
I’ll be teaching more yin classes online soon! If you’re interested in diving into the practice with me, keep an eye out for that or join me at Sol Full Yoga on Saturday mornings at 11am. Namaste!