What kind of yoga?

When you say yoga, what do you mean? We say “yoga” referring to such a wide variety of practices. Some of us think of yoga as a physically challenging practice; others consider it as still as meditation. And there is no correct answer: even historically, the term “yoga” has been a label on many different approaches.

What I can share about is my own yoga practice. I can tell you that it includes movement, yet it can be accessible to Every-Body. The aim of my practice is to integrate body, mind and breath, reaching a state of physical wellbeing, mental balance and inner stillness.

Here are a few words about what you can expect, and you are warmly invited to the practice, since “Yoga is known only through yoga. Yoga is realised only through yoga.”

Simplicity

There is great power in slowness. It allows us to become more sensitive to our inner vitality, to feel the energetic movement inside of our body. This is one of the key aspects of the Pranayoga Method®. When we are sensitive to this subtle perception, very simple movements become infinitely interesting and powerful. Yoga starts from a very simple question: how do you feel?

Why Hatha

Hatha yoga is sometimes described as the “mother” of all yoga styles: the practice is a creative combination of the fundamental building blocks of any yoga technique. Hatha yoga reminds us that the fundamentals are the root of the practice. Mastering these fundamentals can make the difference between a superficial sequence of movements and the transformational power of an aware practice.

Less is more

In a long term yoga practice, it often becomes clear that an asana or pranayama does not need to be hard or complicated in order to be very powerful. When we are attentively listening, the discovery can be that simplicity is not boring. The challenge in yoga is often not to achieve a certain shape with the body. The challenge can be to become able to connect to ourselves in any shape, even the simplest.

Adaptability

The yoga practice with the Pranayoga Method® is adaptable to each person, yet very precise. What does it mean? In order to perform an asana (posture), a certain relationship between the different parts of one’s body is needed. It is a precise relationship, adapted to the specific context of that unique body. This is what we call “alignment”. Alignment is not about being forced into certain rules. It is about searching for the exact position of the key that opens the lock.

Safety

When we practice yoga with the intention of connecting to ourselves, we draw a clear line between the inner effects of the practice and the outer performance aspects. It is still the responsibility of the teacher to make sure the practice remains safe. Pranayoga Method® teachers are trained to have an applied knowledge of anatomy, biomechanics and subtle physiology. Alignments is not a dogma, but ensures the safety, harmony and effect of the practice.

Energy

The aim of asana (posture) practice in yoga is not to train our bodies to take certain shapes. If we stop at the physical shape of the body, we are looking at the finger pointing to the moon. Yoga, as other practices, suggests to take certains shapes of the body that stimulate an internal movement of energy. This is where alignment becomes important: movements and postures need to be precise and personalised in order to find the bridge between material and subtle body.