Mindfulness
Mindfulness is defined as the capacity to intentionally bring one’s attention to the internal and external experiences occurring in the present moment. It can be defined as the ability to observe things as they are: without choosing, without comparing and judging, without evaluating and without subtracting from or adding anything to what is happening. All the thoughts, feelings, sensations – indeed all our experiences, both physical and psychological – are like clouds passing through the sky.
JUMP TO SCHEDULE“Do you have the patience to wait till your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving until the right action arises by itself?”
Lao-Tzu, Tao-Te-Ching
Mindfulness teaches us that we do not have to react to these thoughts as if they were the ultimate permanent truth, which is how it might feel when we experience them. In mindfulness, instead of reacting to our moment-to-moment thoughts, we cultivate a place for them and treat them as experiences in their own right. The practice of understanding this continuous process of impermanence is a fundamental pillar in mindfulness yoga practice.
In all classes, I invite you to focus on your breathing throughout the practice and to use the breath as an anchor when the mind starts wandering, which it naturally likes to do. I remind you again and again, to stay present, to be in your body and to pay attention to what is happening on the mat.
The class format changes each week so students are able to experience a variety of different postures and sequences.
Sometimes we focus on a particular area of the body like tight hips or tense shoulders, sometimes we hold postures, sometimes we flow.
However, an important part of the practice is good alignment and whether in person or on Zoom, I’ll be observing you, to see how you move, making sure that you’re not taking yourself to a place that your body is not ready to go to.
It is fundamental to remember that my voice is just a guide. Only you can feel your body.
All levels are welcome in my class and I take care to adapt each posture to the needs of each individual student, whether you are new to yoga, an advanced student, or working with an injury.
All I hope for is that you show yourself patience, don’t judge yourself if you can’t do a particular pose and enjoy the class. And maybe what you uncover on the mat and the practices you learn, you can extend into your everyday life too.
I look forward to welcoming you to my class. If you have any questions please email me at helen.georghiou@mac.com.