The Gifts of Yoga
The GIFT of yoga, for me, actually started with a Christmas gift certificate for my mom one Christmas over 20 years ago. I then had the thought seed, “why not join her”? I fell in love with the gifts of yoga immediately, and I truly felt that yoga also fell in love with me, an instant comradery, within and without! In that very hour, at a Good Life Club, I communed with others, became aware of my body- mind connection and was filled with a deep peacefulness from the inside out.
Since then the gifts have become even more majestic. As one hour was just not satisfying enough, I then started attending 1- hour classes, back to back, until I fatefully found my “underground” yogi, Kaila Kukla, creator of Flow Yoga. Her classes were 2 hours long ...a Tantric, Kundalini, meditative yogic journey through the chakras. I was in heaven, at least twice a week, with myself at her small studio space in Kensington Market, Toronto. Afterwards, I would shower the city with the feeling of bliss, envisioning that anyone, who walked where I walked, would feel this real life magic!
Hence, started my journey of sharing the gift of yoga with others. I certified with my beloved teacher and started to spread the love with 2-hour Yoga Flows throughout Ontario. Every Flow expanded my body/soul and, the more I became aware, the more I just HAD to share this innate gift with others.
Hence, started my journey of sharing the gift of yoga with others. I certified with my beloved teacher and started to spread the love with 2-hour Yoga Flows throughout Ontario. Every Flow expanded my body/soul and, the more I became aware, the more I just HAD to share this innate gift with others.
The gift of ALIGNMENT, as when we practice/teach yoga our bodies align with the earth, the sky and everything in between. Softening into this gift of alignment alone is instant satisfaction. The alignment of our bones and our energy centres, the alignment with the self and the higher self communing in the present moment, and doing this with a group of like minded people making this world a better place to live in!
The AWARENESS of the body, emotions, mind and spirit is a true gift. Awareness of how our body can progress with regular practice and the awareness that the body changes daily. Customizing for each practice, working through cycles, injuries and weaknesses can strengthen the relationship with the self. Awareness of emotions was a big one for me. My teacher training awakened so much self-realization within me that I was a different and better person for it. There is a history of heavy depression in my lineage and I believe that yoga has kept me out of the psyche ward many a time. Awareness of the obsessive monkey mind and training it back into centred-mindedness opened the doorway to spiritual experiences and awakenings. Opening to miracles and the receiving of God/Source/universal energy is our birthright. We tend to forget our Godliness and that we are divine beings having a human experience. Ridding the body/mind of Illusions and untruths, coming into the present moment, is the greatest gift of awareness!
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Let’s not forget the gift of ACCEPTANCE of the self and where the body/mind is at— without judgement or expectation. Opening the doorways to the freedom of the witness. Not attaching nor identifying with the outer. Just surrendering and accepting the moment you are in. This assists us to allow others to be and also to not attach to others or outer circumstances. Accepting ourselves, as we are, others as they are and life as it is...acceptance is freedom!
There are so many gifts that come with the art and science of yoga. Accomplishing self-nurturance and cultivating peace within allows for your inner/outer world to be a better place and, with the popularity of yoga nowadays, there is hope for Peace on Earth! And this peace can start anytime. The very moment that you look within— you align, you are aware, you accept— you accomplish your very own love and peace on earth!
The gifts of yoga on the mat are an integral part to the gifts of yoga off the mat! In actuality, the gift of yoga is consciously practicing then becoming all of these things. The GIFT is truly received!
May our true practice of living and being yoga be our GIFT to humanity.
May our true practice of living and being yoga be our GIFT to humanity.
Anastasia Love
Loving Spirit School of Yoga
lovingspirit.co
Loving Spirit School of Yoga
lovingspirit.co