Gathering the Sweet Fruits of Yoga: How to Get There
We all feel how powerful and amazing the effect of yoga is. It can change a bad day into a good one, a busy mind into a clear one and a mundane life into an extraordinary one. The only catch is that we have to work for it! We can’t just go to the shops and get a box of yoga magic. Each and every yogi and yogini has to make an effort to get the rewards, without exception.
Luckily for us, the way forward is actually pretty simple. There are only 2 things you really have to do: keep practicing and keep learning. How you do those things is entirely up to you; some people go to classes, others practice at home. Some people learn by reading books, others attend workshops and trainings. Everything is valid, but you have to keep at it in order to really harvest the sweet fruits of yoga.
Create a relationship with the practice
The ideal situation is when you can study in-depth with teachers who are passionate and compassionate, committed and knowledgeable. This means finding a local studio which you can feel totally at home, with teachers who inspire you and can show up for you on a regular basis. These days there are so many different styles of yoga available, and the best way is to dive in and try everything until you find the style of yoga which takes you deep and makes you feel amazing. For people living in areas where yoga is not popular, they may need to rely on online classes. This will suffice, but if you really want to deepen your yoga, you just can’t beat the presence of a teacher, and these people will need to get their fix from attending regular yoga workshops or retreats. If you have been to a yoga intensive or training, you will know it’s a great way to take a break from your normal life and really get fully immersed into the life of yoga. The more of our energy we can focus on yoga, the more we will grow into the practice.
Understanding the practice
After a period of time we start to get curious. We feel how high this practice can take us and we start to crave more knowledge. Your average 90 minute yoga class probably does not contain an ounce of yoga philosophy, maybe it dips its toes into Pranayama or throws in the occasional Mula Bandha, but regular yoga classes simply focus on the practice for the physical body. The easiest way to access the deeper layers of Yoga is through a 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training. Regardless of if you want to teach, in a 200 Hour Training you should learn the essentials of the major poses, as well as learning a system that works with breath & meditation. Philosophy is also very important because it provides the answers to the deeper questions that thoughtful yogis ask about yoga and life.
Exploring yoga in depth
A 200 hour training is a huge game changer. Once you get rooted in the fundamentals of yoga, the fun really begins! You can gradually immerse yourself in specific areas of yoga that really light your fire. For this kind of learning, generally you find specified trainings like Advanced Teacher Training Modules which explore specific subjects, or if you are lucky, you may be able to study directly with one teacher who works in a particular field.
Classically, yoga progresses from the asana and posture practice towards the breath and energy work.
Pranayama (Yogic breathing) is a truly fascinating and life-changing practices that hold the power to transform you in ways you cannot imagine, but one has to be introduced to the secrets of the practice.
The more subtle practices of yoga such as Yin Yoga, Meditation and Yoga Nidra are amazing tools for practice and teaching. These practices have their own methods and techniques that need focused study to understand them. When you take your yoga inwards through these subtle practices, you start to change in much deeper ways because you are working with the mind and consciousness instead of just the body. There is nothing quite like the floating bliss that you experience after good session of Yin or Yoga Nidra!
The Answer
Yoga can change us in wonderful ways that can bring true satisfaction to our lives, if we make space to really explore it. So if we want to really taste the fruits of the practice, the answer is simple, keep practicing and keep learning. Practice to the best of your capacity, even if that means that 15 minutes each morning is all you can manage, just keep going. Taking time each day to be present with yourself is a small act but it is a huge gift which keeps us feeling vibrant, calm and connected, which at the end of the day is what its all about.
If you find that yoga has started to completely take over your whole life and you cannot stop obsessing over the feeling it gives you, keep going! Better yet, come and join us!
Read some of our other Yoga Blog posts:
The Secret of Advanced Yoga Poses
Swara Yoga Academy offers a variety of Foundation and Advanced Yoga Teacher Trainings:
In our 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Trainings and our Advanced 100 Hour Modules, we teach a breath-based yoga that includes a comprehensive breath system called Swara Yoga. Swara Yoga helps every Yogini (regardless of experience) the beauty and art of yogic breathing and Pranayama. Swara Yoga is a special and unique system of Yogic breathing that you will not find in other schools. If you are a teacher, it is a very powerful tool to help you effectively teach breath to your students. Join us on a Teacher Training or 100 Hour Module soon and learn the art of breath and posture!
If you are interested in breath and Prana, join us in Portugal for our Prana and Pranayama 100 Hour Module. It’s a unique experience of yogic energy work and breathing that will transform your practice.
Prana and Pranayama Yoga Teacher Training
If you especially interested in breath, prana and life force, consider joining us for our 100 Hour Prana and Pranayama Teacher Training. It’s an amazing opportunity to explore this subtle art deeply, guided by experienced yogis and practitioners.
200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Thailand
Our classic and most popular course has been running for over 12 years. The Yoga Teacher Training Thailand features an in-depth exploration of asanas and how to teach them, a comprehensive pranayama and breath section with out signature Swara Yoga breath system as well as transformative meditations, philosophy for living and much more. Join us on a course!
Yin Yoga Teacher Training
The intention of this Swara Yoga Yin Yoga Teacher Training is to immerse students in meditative practices and philosophy which relates to the process of the mind and senses, our way of relating to life, our deeper sense of Self, and to pure free awareness.
Yoga Nidra & Yin Yoga are the main take-home teaching techniques, but this Yin Yoga Teacher Training course also explores seated & active meditation, asana & Tai Qi.
