Yoga is Intention

Yoga is Intention

My yoga study has taught me so much more than how to teach and practice yoga. Not only do our abilities change the more we practice but also as we age, or have a “bad” MS day. Yoga is easily adaptable so that any person, regardless of their ability on the day can gain some benefit.

An example I was given, was of two yoga students. One fiery enthusiastic young man joined a class with his mellower mother. Mum struggled to achieve a balance asana (pose) that her son easily achieved, but she persevered. Her son moved quite easily to the next level, another level and further levels. Her son then began to attempt a more complicated challenging asana. He had obviously reached his current limit and was not able to hold the pose for a moment; he decided to give up trying. It could be easily argued that Mum’s continued perseverance despite her lack of success was a more profound and beneficial yoga practice. Intention is a very important part of yoga.

Learning to control breath (Pranayama) is yoga and DOES give a multitude of benefits. At times of stress, take a minute, close your eyes and just observe the natural flow of breathe and then feel your body relax. When I feel pain, be it with stiff legs or when I give myself my daily Copaxone injection, I have learnt to breathe through and let go of the pain (or at least reduce!) I have been able to fall into a restful night’s sleep by consciously observing each breath and the pauses at the beginning and end of each breath.

Even the intention will give benefit. I may not be able to move a single hair on my head but as long as I put in 100% of effort sincerely trying to do so I will get benefit, even if it is just by observing my breath.

This month I have seen the wonderful Dr MacDonald at Mayday Hospital. She asked if I had seen a physiotherapist. I advised that I had and the physiotherapist had commented that I already was practicing the appropriate exercises, Dr MacDonald and I said in sync, ‘that would be the yoga!’