Adapting to Your Mental State

I have long been an advocate of adapting each pose to each student, each day. Further, over time, I've learned how to adapt breathing exercises, also. But, this week, for the first time, it occurred to me that the mental focus must be adapted to each student.

But how can a teacher do that in a room full of students? The workings of the mind, the regulation of the nervous system is not easily visible to the teacher, despite some clues.

In Sutra II.50, Patanjali explains that the breath cycles can be counted. This helps one develop a sensitive self awareness and focus one's mind.

So, now I plan on teaching my students not only how to adapt the poses to their physical level of ability for each day and each stage of life---but also how to adapt for the times that they need more tools for mental focus.

Next time you are in triangle pose and find yourself getting bored, try counting five breaths of equal length of inhale and exhale. If that tool of mental focus works for you, keep on applying it and adapting it whenever you find your mind wandering.

Season of Rest

The autumn leaves cover the forest floor, giving it bedding for the winter. This reminds us of the importance of rest.

Yoga also reminds us to rest. If you live in a four-season climate, this is a great time of year to make sure you do some restorative poses each week. (For you blog readers who belong to ACAC---there's a restorative class!). In the restorative poses, our bodies are laid carefully into a position which is healthy for the spine, lungs, and nervous system. The body has plenty support through yoga props.

Although we often think of "yoga" as doing poses, it is also about getting enough sleep. This is a great time of year to let ourselves hibernate a little. This allows time for the immune system to build itself and then we are less likely to get winter illnesses.

And don't forget that every exhale is a rest. So, whether you are taking a break from your computer, or in shavasana, let your exhale have all the time it needs.