The healing touch
A three-hour long practice is medicine for my body, heart, mind and soul. That's exactly how I feel in extended asana practices with my teacher.
It becomes more than just an event I schedule in my calendar - somehow it becomes a ritual I prepare for - I condition my body preemptively, eat well and at the right times and sleep early prior to the multi-day intensives so that I can be in an optimal state to receive the full power of it.
The body takes time to recognise what is happening, and so do the mind and nervous system. In an extended practice there is leeway for unhurried breath work and in-depth intention setting which can be shared as a mindfulness frame work or an intention to contemplate on.
Three weekends ago of group of participants I was hosting basked in a three-hour long restorative practice that allowed room for the intricate details that made a difference to the quality of support one can afford to receive, to be shared. The extra pairs of hands my teaching assistants, Hui Shan and Shivanee added to the personalised touch also meant that everyone received the support they needed before the room fell quiet for the medicinal properties of stillness and silence to be assimilated into their psyche.
Wellness is not limited to pampering treatments - it is the ritual of self care for the mind, body and soul. Relaxation does not stem from escaping one's reality. Rather, we need to mindfully tap into the practice of self care and an elevated healing approach to wellness. Such an approach nurtures our current needs, recognises any deficits in our holistic health and seeks to close this gap through nourishing practices.
Time spent unwinding gives us the chance to pause and allows an authentic interaction with how we are feeling - when we offer ourselves that mental and emotional rest, it can help to dissolve the deep layers of tension that we hold.
The act of self care cannot afford to be a trend; it has to take form through thought, words and action. Only through this can we alter our values in a positive way, changing our level of tolerance and approach to burnout, stress-related illnesses and modern day expectations. Such is the path towards altering the destiny of our health and lives.