Within each of us there is a story…
And as we each exist within the fullness of time, we are the beautiful combination of the wisdom of the past, the perspective of today, and the potential and freedom of tomorrow.
We are each a story in constant evolution.
The story of our lives is being written.
When we slow down, naturally pause, vibrate in the space of now…
We ensure that WE are the one’s holding the pen…
Anjali Restorative Yoga, Deeply Restful, Meditative, and Vitally Present Yoga
Listen here for a 15 minute guided, basic relaxation posture… Lie down, palms open to the sky, legs supported by a bolster or rolled blanket beneath the knees and a narrow rolled blanket beneath the ankles. Feel covered by a blanket and breath deeply… The Courage of a Seed, Basic Relaxation Pose
Founded within the walls of the original om time yoga, this deeply healing modality, and practice, Anjali Restorative Yoga, teaches us that the present experience does not exist without a past or a future and is therefore held in deep connection to the fullness of time, kala purnatha. A present moment that is active in time and space is deeply powerful, potent, and available. The power within the present moment exists in its ability to harness the deep intentions of the heart, mind, and body. Lie Down, feel the the tactile support of life beneath you, and breathe.
In this practice, we do not strive to empty the mind of thoughts or stop the mind from thinking. Rather, we strive to connect the mind to the sensations, health, and needs of the body. We strive to connect the mind to the desires, wisdom, and lessons of the heart. We use the connection of the mind, body, and heart to encourage our own innate power of healing.
The practice of Anjali Restorative Yoga invokes the breath to articulate our story from our wise past to our potential filled future: the breath allows us to sit in the expression of our present perspective. Our present perspective is able to grant us deep awareness in to pain physically and emotionally. We know when we feel good and we know when we feel bad… even if we cannot articulate why or where. By breathing in the present moment, thoughts will arise, and the choice get to be which thoughts serve the pain and which thoughts serve the healing.
Thoughts of service, thoughts that: inspire, enliven, soften, delight, comfort, remind, and invoke love are thoughts that turn our body’s abilities toward healing and rejuvenation. We align to these thoughts and our body uses them to right itself. Thoughts that do not serve, thoughts that are full of: worry, self doubt, anger, fear, frustration, anxiety, or self loathing are thoughts that tighten and harden and misalign us further and further from our true strength, happiness, and grace. If we have lower back pain and we focus on thoughts of anger, the body responds and no healing softness can get through the tightness the body creates from the thoughts. Similarly, if we have lower back pain and we think about something warm and loving and soft, the back softens with those thoughts. Thoughts are not things; however, thoughts create responses in the body from cell to cell…. skin, muscle, bone, organ to organ.
In order to support positive thought engagement, students are guided into their breath. The deepening of the breath grants the student into a deeper awareness of the state of things inside as well as the immediate gratification that deepening the breath immediately aligns the bodies softening and relaxing mechanisms. By using the breath as a vehicle, the student is guided though a series of supportive postures several full body meditations. The instructor draws attention to the breath and suggests the movement of the breath through different parts of the body. By engaging the student in her own breath, she offers the power and the courage to participate in your own body, in your own life.
Anjali Restorative Yoga is best noted for its “Spinal Series” sequence. Using soft cushions, bolsters, and blankets to optimize support, alignment, and relaxation of the spine, the student is guided through nine different poses that gently stretch, bend, twist, and move the spine in seven different directions: back-bending, forward-bending, twist right, twist left, side bend right, side bend left, and extension.
The effects of the practice are gentle but pervasive – the entire body, breath, and spirit are soothed, relaxed, and integrated. The central nervous system is balanced and even.
Please, visit the many skilled teachers and Shannon at om time for weekly classes to sooth and nurture you.
Hear the call to teach Anjali Restorative Yoga?? Answer that call! Anjali Teacher Training initiates July 22