Yoga with Marina
Yoga is the alignment of Body, Mind and spirit, which are essential to health and well-being. Connecting with our breath, body and mind are powerful means of reviving our tissues, emotions and thoughts.
Yoga is an ancient philosophy and science (acquisition of knowledge based on observation, experience and intellectual engagement) that aims at acquiring the best state of body, mind and spirit. The ethical codes (Yamas and Niyamas) that form the basis of yoga align with the moral codes accepted by all community ideologies and philosophical believes in the human history that safeguard and promote individual and societal well-being, whether religious or not.
Marina practices and teaches Classical Indian Yoga and uses somatic and spiritual techniques including breathing and meditation, as a means of Holistic treatment, self-development and well-being. Yoga can play an important role in an holistic approach to health and well-being; it is neither a religion, nor gymnastics. Instead, it is a valuable part of human wisdom and a powerful tool towards self-development, health and well-being. The symbolic language of yoga can be deciphered through the understanding of the anatomy, physiology and essence of the human body and psyche, which in turn are illuminated by the experience of yoga. Marina adjusts yoga practice to healing aims.
The experience of a yoga session should consist of breathing, physical and mental exercises that improve our physical, emotional and mental state:
( PHOTO) Breath is life. Experiencing our relationship with breathing is invaluable to the process of healing. We can learn how to cleanse the body, relax the mind, and revitalize our entire organism.
(PHOTO) Our connection with our body also plays a vital role in health, as dis-connection brings dis-ease. We can get to know our outer and inner body and build a relationship of trust and understanding with ourselves. Appropriate movements and/or series of physical postures or Asanas can address specific health difficulties and promote health and fitness. They can have a positive impact on all systems of our body: circulatory, musculo-skeletal, respiratory, endocrine, nervous, digestive, excretory, immune and reproductive. A flowing movement is pursued, as it appeases body and mind and restores energy fields.
(PHOTO) The mind is the charioteer of our lives and the seat of our emotions. Mental exercises and meditation can improve our biochemical balance, increase our concentration, sooth the mind and expand our consciousness.
(PHOTO) And finally, deep relaxation allows body and mind to fully rest and recuperate. The experience and art of deep relaxation is priceless to health and well-being.
The experience of practising Classical Indian Yoga:
- We constantly encounter the revelation of our physical entity. We learn how to become principle agents in safeguarding our health.
- Strength goes hand in hand with suppleness. Yoga rejuvenates, tones and at the same time relaxes our body.
- The mind goes calm and stress levels are reduced.
- Vitality increases.
- Energy flow is balanced and has a therapeutic effect on all systems.
- We learn to concentrate and observe ourselves, to harmonize body, breath and mind.
- We acquire physical, psychological and mental balance and peace.
Yoga asanas in most common styles are often practiced within a very austere framework that resembles military discipline or champions’ athletic performances. Our purpose, however, should not be to prove endurance and excellence, once again struggling for perfection in a competitive environment that usually results to hurting ourselves by forcefully exceeding our powers; our purpose should be to delve deeply into a journey of observing, learning, accepting and improving ourselves physically, emotionally, and mentally. To work with our weaknesses and aim for health. Discipline is necessary, but it should be an ally in constant dialogue with our needs, guiding us to a path of liberation from pain and stress, not a forceful rule from the exterior that we need to obey so as to avoid the negative feelings of failure.