Thirteenth Yoga Experience

Is yoga taught as a spiritual practice? How is spirituality defines and expressed in your practice space(s)?


I do believe that sometimes yoga is taught as a spiritual practice. Between the meditation and the respect for a single guru I believe that a lot of yoga can be mistaken as either spiritual or religious. I think that spirituality believes that there is a greater power and greater wealth of knowledge and I think through yoga, the dedicated yoga strives for enlightenment. I would have to say through my own practice I haven't been really exposed to anything spiritual but in my own way, during the quiet moments of breathing I use it to reflect on my own catholic life. 

Twelfth Yoga Experience

How is pranayama taught/practiced in your practice space(s)? What is the purpose of breath work in your practice space? Is breath the "focus"of your practice? Explain why it is, or is not.


Pranayama or breath work has been incorporated in most of my practices. it usually depends on the teacher but I have found a lot of emphasis on breath in most of my practices and I think it adds to the benefits of yoga. Its not secret that breath work helps calm you and ease anxieties. I like how it keeps me grounded when I practice yoga. I think we often hold our breath when we do difficult things but I have been learning to breath through things. Although breath is not the focus of my practices I do find that my heart rate is able to be more stable and I stay cooler for longer. By regulating my breath and paying attention to it I am able to make smoother transitions with each position.

Eleventh Yoga Experience

What is the role of the body? How is the body approached and how is the body seen as a vehicle for experience of the divine?

The role of the body, in my experience, is a vessel for your spirit which will try to reach enlightenment. We have learned in class that the goal is to stop being reincarnated in a human body and to be a spirit for eternity. In class we practice to be fully aware. We want to be in the moment and use our bodies to maintain proper breath and be tranquil. I know that when I practice I try to forget my body when a we are meditating. I choose to breathe and feel myself leaving my body so I can experience something more divine. I can personally say that there have been some times when I have been very enlightened. In the sense that I was focusing on nothing worldly but something part of the bigger picture. I think when practicing in the right atmosphere and in the right mind everyone can experience something like this.

Tenth Yoga Experience/ In class meditation

Reflecting on the semester to this point, I can think of two distinct classes at grow yoga that were very meditation based. And, those two classes stand out as my favorite. Yoga was used as a form of mediation to take us on a more spiritual than physical journey. For most of the class I was on my mat laying down with a bolster under my head and my blanket on me. It was explained as being in the moment and being aware of where I was spiritually. The instructor told us that this was time to focus on ourselves. Focus on the calmness and tranquility around us. She did some guided imagery and told us to breath in and out and focus on now and bring ourselves back every time our minds started to wander. She spoke in a slow and calm tone and I noticed my breathing starting to slow and a lightness in my body. I was totally into myself and not really aware of my physical body but more on what was really important in life. I started to think about what I was grateful for and grateful for the beautiful day that was laid before me. I was genuinely happier after. And that how I felt after our meditation on Thursday! Our meditation in class wasnt ideal as I was laying against the wall in a well lit room with a huge crowd but it did allow me to self reflect. I found myself calm and ready and in control of my emotions. I had to take a big test right after and felt like I was in the right mindset to do so.