Start where you are
How do you talk to yourself? Take care of yourself? Perceive yourself? Its easy to listen to the self-sabotaging chatter and limiting beliefs which occupy your mind day and night. But what if you turned this chatter around and saw yourself being wholly resourceful and joining in with the flow of life?
Yoga is not something you do! Yoga is a way of life. An integrational dance between surrender and acceptance. Starting where you are is a great Sankulpa (Sanskrit for intention) for you to set at the beginning of your yoga practice.
On a physical level, this intention sets off positive neurons from the brain. Think of them like positive little messengers which then communicate with your internal feedback system, otherwise known as your nervous system. This in turn invites a higher level of awareness into your psyche, reminding you, that it is ok for each day and practice to be different.
What exactly is Flow?
“Flow is the art of staying fresh and alive, like a river, in touch and present with the flowing changes of the moment in our practice and in our life.” Ganga White author of Yoga Beyond Belief.
The art of flow within Yoga is to help build strength, gain flexibility and tap into your bodies intelligence system. But there are two more heartful ways to perceive the concept of flow within yoga:
Joining with flow – a mindful practice which guides you to know what is right for your body on any particular day or moment.
Being the flow – connecting with your true essence of Spirit, so you can delve deep and trust your instinct.
What’s stopping you getting into your flow?
A typical self-sabotaging belief which yoga teachers often hear is “I can’t do that pose. I am not strong or flexible enough!”
The word Yoga means to join in with. Therefore, language patterns that include words like can’t, should, ought, need to, and must act as a barrier both on and off the mat.
They act as limiting beliefs. When repeated often they can manifest themselves on an unconscious level and lead to self-sabotaging behaviour. Preventing you from getting the most out of your practice. You can learn more about this subject in Natalie’s blog Breathing for life – The doorway to speaking your truth.
What’s stopping you being the flow?
How does your body feel different when you say…let me trust that my body is safe and open to accept, let go and surrender to the flow.
Perhaps you have been practising yoga for a year now, and you are still fighting with the discomfort that a pose such as downward dog, presents within your body. Or, you were achieving a great handstand practice and then had the misfortune of an injury?
How you approach your own physical and mental barriers when faced with a challenge is vital to your emotional response. This reaction affects the overall experience.
“If you want your life to be more rewarding, you have to change the way you think” Oprah Winfrey
Releasing Old Identities
Sarah was determined to use yoga to improve her violin playing. Her neck muscles were tight and in need of some serious loving! As she began to practice yoga, this devotion of time to herself revealed the following limiting belief:
You can only achieve success from hard work and dedication.
Sarah was approaching yoga in the same way as her violin practise. As she realised this belief was attached to her previous conditioning, she was able to approach yoga with new eyes and enjoy the benefits. Within a month her practice had evolved so much, the pain left her body completely and her energy levels increased. Her playing had also improved!
Self Love Over Self Sabotage
Keep a journal close by you at all times on and off the mat. Keep an ear on your own words and thoughts and when you catch yourself self-sabotaging, write down the negative language patterns.
Time to turn those negatives into positives…change cant’s into cans, should into what if, hard work into enjoyable challenges, inflexible into open to change, worried into excited…
As you begin to invite in these new positive language patterns, new possibilities will arise. Becoming the observer of your internal dialogue is empowering you to get into the flow both on and off the mat. Tune in and listen to these nuances for they are your teacher and will lead you to more powerful and resourceful ways of being.
Being the Flow – Positive Language Meditation
It’s now time to invite the flow in to your daily routine. Record yourself saying the following paragraph and use it as a mindful meditation either before a practice or at the beginning and end of the day.
…As you breathe in you can notice how it feels to join in with the flow and as you relax into this new way of being like the river, you know what it’s like to feel bliss, calm and tranquillity and the more you join in the easier it is for you to move this feeling through all aspects of your life, moving freely and effortlessly now, for you are great at listening to your body’s needs and paying attention to the tension and releasing it always and in all ways to love…
Written by: Natalie Farrell
Natalie Farrell is a leader in voice activation, intuitive sound healing and linguistic psychology. With an accomplished 20+ year background in singing, voice coaching, presenting and writing her work with Soulpreneurs acts as a catalyst for profound transformation guiding them to be fully visible within their field of expertise.
In 2021, she published her first book, ‘Light The Way,’ a powerful companion for modern-day change makers who are ready to go all-in and approach business and life the unconventional way.
Her mission: to release reverberant voices.
