How Are Yoga and Mindfulness Connected?

By Maryann Parker

Looking for a yoga experience? I’m here to help you. Once again, as in my previous blog, I am referring to Hatha (pronounced hot-tah), which involves physical poses: asanas.

The word “yoga” means to yoke or join. In hatha, that means to yoke and join your body and mind. Doing so is a tremendous benefit to how you function in life. Remember when Simone Biles said she needed to work on her “mindfulness”? She was referring to her mind-body connection, which was broken and cost her a gold medal in the Olympics. When you are mindful, you are focused and filled up in the moment, and that makes everything you do more fulfilling and effective.

How do yoga postures help your mindfulness – what is the connection? Mindfulness is an obscure concept; it is hard to explain or define. When doing poses, we are moving energy through the body. In standing poses, we are pushing energy into the earth with our feet and simultaneously reaching up with our arms to the sky – counteraction. When we focus on this movement of energy, it feels like being grounded. At the same time, our attention is focused, fully present to the moment: This is mindfulness.

The best poses that can make you experience this connection are performed slowly, giving you the time to feel each action. A yoga class that moves too quickly is less effective in accomplishing this. If you are new to yoga and are expecting to learn what mindfulness is, I would recommend a class that emphasizes technical precision, which slows you down and gives you more of an in-depth experience. An Iyengar-influenced teacher is the best way to start. You will get even more benefit physically and mentally if you take the time to be “filled up in the moment”, mindful.

Mind and body yoked and joined will be your gold medal experience.

For classes and individual sessions contact:
Maryann Parker
952-927-9380
parkeryoga@yahoo.com