Blog
What is Embodied Yoga?
"Welcome Home, welcome to your Body!"
In a world dominated by the constantly stimulated mind, which gradually disconnects us from our bodies, Embodied Yoga is a practice that balances reconnecting us with our own sensations and giving them permission to exist through the body. Knowledge that doesn't pass through the intellect but rests on it, a sensory guidance that activates our senses to find a deeper connection, this is Embodied Yoga.
A non-judgmental practice that brings us into the present moment and "gives us permission" to explore, without the primary aim of trying to go further or do better, is a conversation with ourselves.
Over time, and in line with the times, yoga has evolved and continues to develop. Today, yoga has a tendency to become increasingly athletic and achievement-oriented, but this has never been the primary aim of yoga. Even in the early days of Hatha yoga (when the use of the body was included in yogic practice), the focus was not on asana (posture), but on the movement of energy in the body through Kriya, including breathing and pranayama techniques, meditation, visualization and sensory or somatic approaches.
Embodied yoga is a somatic experience, a connection to what we feel from within. The emphasis is on the experience with the body, not on the form to be achieved: "let the asana serve you, not you serving the asana". A practice that reconnects us with our own sensations, teaches us to feel and lets form appear.
Each person has a different history, shape, size and bone structure. Instead of imposing a single alignment, Embodied Yoga encourages students to position/align themselves through their own investigation. This method does not seek to get rid of alignment altogether, but cultivates "sensory alignment", an awareness of individual and personal structure, so that the person finds his or her own bodily support. This approach invites us to leave behind the idea of a "right or wrong" placement defined by others, to focus more on what we are experiencing with ourselves and free ourselves from judgment.
We learned anatomy on dead bodies, and traditional alignment is based on this teaching. Sensory alignment is based on organic, living movements, inspired by movements from everyday life.
The search for a form (posture) to satisfy can stress our physical structure, making it rigid and restricting our breathing, which is the main communicator with the nervous system. Spacious, unrestricted breathing increases the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system (rest) and simultaneously reduces that of the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight), resulting in a slower heart rate, lower blood pressure and the maintenance of a calm mind and relaxed body.
Another physiological element to consider in an Embodied Yoga practice is fascia. Our bodies are completely covered and connected by this connective tissue, which is also directly linked to our nervous system. Through the fluidity and non-linear movements encouraged by Embodied Yoga practice, the fascias are stimulated and will help to maintain a good sensory connection between body and mind.
Contrary to what one might think, this freedom can be emotionally demanding and destabilizing, and the work will be to welcome all that lies behind this freedom that connects us with our own Self, including our fears of seeing ourselves as we are, believing in ourselves and in what we feel... For some people, Embodied yoga will be an incredible opportunity to get to know ourselves and to recharge our batteries. For others, this freer approach that takes us out of our comfort zone may stimulate an already existing lack of security, and a return to a more traditional practice may be more appropriate.
"I'm responsible for the way I feel".
