Yoga with Tracy
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 About Yoga:

Yoga is a word which has many meanings to many people. Nowadays it is commonly associated with 

fitness, health and the vastly expanding well being industry. However, fundamentally it is derived  from the

Sanskrit word  meaning to "yoke.....join"  and "unite". It's a very special term, but more importantly it is a way to be, a

physical and mental practice which involves the uniting  "mind, body , breath and soul"  with the intention 

of bringing about a wholesome connection with our divine Self, a transformation unique to the individual  

who practices it.Traditionally in Yoga we try to cultivate a clear calm and balanced attitude reducing the erratic nature of the 

mind  with its tendency to flit from one thought to another. Asana, the physical practice of postures is our starting point.  

Its a special kind of exercise which works in harmony with our breath and is both dynamic and static in form. These 

wonderful movements work in a unique way to cleanse the body and strengthen our muscles, joints connective tissue and 

circulation system. It has a positive influence on our endocrine system which is responsible for controlling hormones 

including stress and anxiety. Traditionally, thousands of years ago in ancient India, Yoga was practiced by Sages and  men 

seeking spiritual awakening including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists alike. However today in our modern world, Yoga  

is practiced by men, women and children, old, young, those seeking to  improve their health and those with disabilities and 

life limiting illnesses.  It has as much relevance and benefits for those without a religion, as well

as for those with a strong religious faith. Yoga can bring great benefits 
to all whom practice, it is truly inclusive and holistic.

Elements of Practice:

Asana

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We practice physical postures to help encourage strength, flexibility and lightness of the the body. 

With time we become strong and supple, an essential part of our physical and mental well-being in 

typical everyday life as well as during our yoga practice. Asana is about gaining deeper self 

awareness whilst both moving with control into a fixed posture and at the same time being still within 

the posture. However the real internal work is not about a attaining the perfect outward shape. Many of us live 

with individual imperfect bodies which are not designed with the same template. The internal effort is physical 

and mental to gain a true sense of just being alive; learning to be bodily aware and  finding a relationship with 

ourselves and the space around us. Asana teaches us so much about ourselves and 

we aim to work with non competitiveness, with compassion and a positive attitude that respects our 

own individuality; our strengths and our limitations inform us. We embrace Asana with a sense of 

comfort and ease, seeking balance, peace, joy and calm both on and off the mat. However that is not to say 

that Yoga is easy, it has a tendancy to locate parts of the body which carry tension or stress and can feel 


uncomfortable to the  beginner.  Yoga really becomes a way of living.



Pranayama

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We begin with getting to know our own unique breathing, observing the breath like a wittness. 

With time we progress to pranayama," breath-control" which helps to bring calm clarity to the 

mind. It can increase  our energy and sense of being alive! Prana is the individual and universal energy- life 

force which sustains 
each and everyone of us.


meditation

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 With the use of many techniques, we learn to focus our inner attention, for example, using a 

specific object to look at, mantra to think of or repeat, a visualization to contemplate or the breath 

to listen to. This can be developed within our Asana and Pranayama practices too. We hope to 

move into meditation, empty the clutter from the mind and illuminate the true nature of Self. Time and patience 

is needed, little and often is the key!


Active Relaxation

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Always at the end of class, and sometimes at the beginning we practice active relaxation, remaining awake, 

but also absent! This restorative posture allows us time to let go of all 

tensions and stresses, thoughts and worries. Outwardly, it appears relatively  easy for some of us to lie still but

inwardly it can be a difficult posture to master!  As Vandna Scaravelli Says, "Relaxation is not the act of just doing 

nothing! It is actively the letting go of tension."

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Photos used under Creative Commons from lululemon athletica, Marc Lagneau