What is Mindful Yoga?
Mindful yoga is a practice that combines the principles of mindfulness meditation with the physical movements and postures of yoga. It involves bringing non-judgmental awareness to the present moment, paying attention to the sensations in the body, the breath, and thoughts and emotions that arise during practice.
Yoga and meditation complement each other and, when practiced regularly, are an excellent mind–body discipline for anyone who wishes to move toward greater physical and mental health and well-being.
Beyond the physical benefits of yoga, such as better circulation, increased flexibility, strength and balance, individuals can also experience deeper relaxation, greater presence, improved focus and concentration, increased body awareness, self-acceptance, and overall well-being by practicing mindful yoga regularly.
The emphasis during mindful yoga is not on achieving perfect postures or becoming physically fit, the way many exercises and fitness programs — and even some yoga classes in the West — tend to focus on what the body is doing and how it’s progressing. These approaches tend to push and perfect, and while there’s a place for that, mindful yoga emphasizes non-striving and non-judgement while moving slowly and with awareness, facilitating a deeper mind-body connection.
Practicing mindful yoga involves cultivating deliberate and focused attention. It encourages you to notice the physical sensations, the alignment of the body, the breath, and the overall experience of being in the present moment. It is about being fully present with your body while also developing an awareness of the mind’s tendencies to wander or get caught up in judgments or distractions.
Mindful yoga involves exploring your limits but not pushing beyond them and, instead, exploring and playing at your edges while honouring the wisdom of your body and listening closely to its messages. Bringing mindful awareness to yoga transforms it into meditation and creates the likelihood that it will expand your perspective and understanding of who you are.
Mindful yoga can be practiced in various styles, such as Hatha, Vinyasa, or Yin, with each style offering its unique approach to combining mindfulness and yoga. It can be practiced at various levels, from gentle and slow movements to more vigorous sequences. In MBSR, we practice (Hatha yoga) slowly. If you’re interested in practicing gentle mindful hatha yoga, join an MBSR program or check out Jennifer’s free mindful Hatha yoga classes on Insight Timer.
