Whatever your beliefs, there’s a universal premise that yoga is a process of turning inward. Of getting quiet so you can truly be present. Of finding your brightest inner light or—gasp, even achieving Samadhi or enlightenment.
This ancient practice of yoga has been around for about 5,000 years or so. There’s a mind-boggling amount of information on yoga. Opinions. Texts. Traditions. Philosophies and schools and styles of yoga have proliferated, especially in the last few decades in the West.
Often the question arises whether what you are practicing on the mat is truly “yoga.” Some people claim that their yoga is the “true” yoga and everything else is not yoga. Whose path is the right one? Is there a right one? If the end result is that you uncover your best self, you shed the layers weighing you down and shine bright, isn’t that actually the “right” path for you?
Who cares what anyone else is doing? Preaching? If their way doesn’t resonate with you, you won’t benefit, right? You’ll be resisting, judging, withdrawing from this practice that doesn’t touch your heart. What’s the point?
And, asana, the physical postures, are a part of yoga—don’t be ashamed if you enjoy the physical aspects of a sweaty, challenging practice. It’s all a part of going inside. One day a sweaty class, the next a quiet meditation—whatever works for you!
So, whether today that means adding some butt-kicking to your practice like Becca Riopelle’s Hardcore Yoga with Weights—Thigh Blaster or Ben Davis’ Fitness’n’ Yoga + Weights= Exercise Your Body, do it!
You get the point? We here at YogaDownload.com are celebrating the emotional and mental benefits we receive when we push our physical bodies to the limit. Try Blair Bradley - Strengthen, Tone & Stretch or Dawnelle Authur - Qi-Flow: Body Ability to step outside of your comfort zone.
So, the toughest part of your yoga practice today is choosing what resonates for you: have fun!
Here are this week's class descriptions:
Dawnelle Arthur / Qi Flow: Body Ability
"Your body will get better at whatever you do or don't do. If you don't move you will get better at not moving. If you move, your body will allow more movement." -Ido Portal
The QiFlow movement method “wu wei” is a practice in effortless action, strength, beauty and FLOW. It’s a method that constantly evolves and expands as I explore the movement world outside of yoga.
Ben Davis / Fitness ‘n’ Yoga + Weights: Exercise Your Body
Fitness 'n' Yoga + Weights: Exercise Your Body fuses yoga with general components of fitness and is designed to give you a full body workout. This class contains an exercise sequence that consists of 15 chaturanga push ups, 30 seconds of eagle crunches and one minute of squats. In addition to the exercise sequence, there is a warrior 3 balancing series and a warrior 2 flow. Get ready to sweat as you exercise your body!
Becca Riopelle - HardCORE Yoga with Weights - Thigh Blaster
This class will tone every part of your thighs - front, back and in between! Get ready to sweat and work your quads, hamstrings and glutes in this 30 minute thigh blast. You won't regret it, but you WILL be feeling it the next day...ENJOY!
Blair Bradley - Strengthen, Tone & Stretch
In this class you will warm up your body with 15 minutes of yoga and then add weights to build strength and endurance. Be prepared to challenge yourself and find your edge in this fun and quick 45 minute workout.