Euphoria

Ever notice how the energy of a crowd can be so electric that it is contagious? This is most often felt at sporting events. The crowd roars with excitement and you find yourself caught up in the momentum, standing out of your seat, cheering and clapping. It is amazing. It is euphoric.

Yoga can have a similar feeling of ecstasy. The energy of the group is powerful and can change your sentiment from when you first walked into the class. This can swing either way. Some classes I have attended contained a general feeling of heaviness, lacking in energy and enthusiasm. You can almost hear everyone scream with relief as we move into final resting pose of savasana. This seems to be more typical around the festive season when late nights, parties, high carbohydrates and sugar laden food along with too much alcohol are all too prevalent.

In contrast, I have also experienced many amazing and breathtaking classes that are strong and consistently flow with unison. These are by far my favourite, of course, and one of the main reasons why I continue to practice. But it stands to reason that the group energy can be all of these things. We don't outwardly think about what the group or anyone else is doing. The purpose of yoga is to go within and focus on your own individual practice. If everyone in the room does exactly that, concentrates on their breathing and moving with flow, the results are euphoric.

Awareness

Being truly aware of who we are and how we feel can be one of the most difficult things we will ever try do. Having the patience to slow down the incessant mind chatter, to allow our bodies to feel – and nothing else, can be incredibly confronting.

We live in a society where we constantly blur our minds and fill our bodies with chemicals that hinder the ability to allow us to be aware of what we are feeling. Too much coffee, alcohol and processed foods with their additives all contribute to changing our perception or altering how we feel. This may be done consciously or unconsciously, but the fact remains that we continue to alter our natural state of being.

Yoga teachers often talk about being in the moment, to breathe and feel the posture rather than try to force the body into position. I know from my own personal practice that if I take a few moments before class to sit quietly and breathe my practice will be so much stronger. I may not always do advanced poses, but it isn’t necessary if the posture and flow are done correctly, an immense workout can still be achieved.

By taking that awareness and listening to how the body feels we are honouring it. The mind, body, emotional and spiritual elements unite to flow.

Unresolved feelings

Meditation has been a part of my daily ritual for a while now. It is so very interesting to observe the changes that have become apparent over the recent months. There are times when I struggle to sit through ten minutes and times when I emerge after twenty or thirty minutes of energised bliss. My mind can be busy, even at 6.00am. But without it, I feel the cracks around the edges begin to surface. I become irritable, anxious and easily frustrated.

Lately these feelings of anxiety and frustration have been more apparent, even with regular meditation. I began to realise that these feelings have arisen because they are unresolved. Emotions of undealt with past history – they are dangerous and destructive. Perhaps I thought that I had dealt with them but really I had not; or I swept them into the closet hoping they would be forever locked away; or the universe is clearing unnecessary clutter for me.

I am grateful these fragmented emotions have been brought to my attention. This is an amazing self-learning experience and an opportunity to grow. Without admittance and closure to these emotions I am preventing myself from advancing, from being open to receive the goodness that is waiting. But how does one progress? The only way forward that I can truly see is through meditation. Meditation. And more meditation. Giving forgiveness where necessary, accepting circumstances as they are and letting go.

Certainly this will not be an easy task and who knows how long it will take to complete. I think it will be enriching but most of all it is essential.