Gifts of Yoga

I started giving the gift of yoga more than a decade ago….today yoga gives me gifts I would not have dreamed of! I started out this blog thinking that it would be all about gifting, seeing that we were in the Christmas season and such.

As I wrote I was thinking about how I give the gift of yoga in various forms to my children and grandchildren, to friends, to clients and a few others along the way. It may have been through practicing together, encouragement or sharing some techniques here and there. This is where my thoughts transition to reciprocation and how I have been the recipient!

Yoga has given me not only the gift of increased physicality, flexibility, strength, movement, but also that of serenity and reducing stress in my days, the gift of expansion of confidence, endurance, introspection, boundaries and possibility. This is just to acknowledge those few nuggets I ‘picked out of a hat’. I know there are many more that will make themselves known to me and others I continue to play with.

If YOGA is looked at as a tree (just google Patanjali), there are 8 limbs (ashtanga) to this tree, one of which is the physical asana practice. Another limb is reached through meditation (through dhyana and/or dharana) and yet another through, breathwork (pranayama). The yamas (ethical considerations) and niyamas (self discipline practices like self inquiry and inner reflection). These are 6 of the 8 limbs of yoga. When most of us start a yoga practice, we think it is just the physical poses on our mats. Then we learn it is much more expansive! The gifts of yoga keep giving! Perpetual Gifting!

Would the gift of yoga be good for a your partner, friend or to yourself?

There are many ways to give! It can be given as a studio membership, online class memberships, individual private classes, books, recordings, meditation courses, breathwork sessions and (I realize cd’s may be outdated!), but there are good quality recordings out there in various formats. And then there is Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga or Power Yoga, Chair Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga, Therapeutic Yoga, Acro Yoga, Suspended Yoga, and I’m sure forms of yoga I don’t know about.

Here with Niagara Mountainside Therapeutic Services (yogawithdenise.ca) I teach a varied selection of classes through the week both over zoom and in person sessions. I offer private classes also on zoom or in person within driving distances. Connect by phone, email or through the website for answers to any questions you may have!

Happy New Year 2023! Blessings for beauty and bounty in the new year! Denise