Stay Connected: The Real Essence of Asana and Finding Wholeness
I’m going to cut straight to the chase. Let’s be honest, most of us are completely disconnected. We’re hunched over our screens, stressed to the max, and wondering why we never feel calm or balanced. Sound familiar? Don’t worry—you’re not alone. But the good news is there’s a way to sort this, and it’s not some mystical nonsense.
Let me guess—you’ve heard about Yoga and think it’s all about getting bendy, floating around in flowing robes, and chanting “Om” like you’ve joined a cult. Not quite. The real power of Yoga—especially Asana (that’s the postures)—goes much deeper. It’s about connection. And I’m talking about connecting with your body, your breath, your mind, and ultimately yourself. But don’t panic, we’ll keep it practical. No fluff, just straightforward truths about why staying connected matters—and how you can do it. Let’s dive in to the point of yoga and the real essence of asana.
What Do I Mean by “Stay Connected”?
Let’s get down to it. You, me, everyone—we’re not just bodies. We’re made up of body, mind, emotions, and energy. The lot is supposed to work together. But does it? Not most of the time.
We live like everything is separate. Our heads are always elsewhere—thinking about the next task, worrying about what’s happened or might happen, and our bodies are stuck dealing with tension, stress, and that stiff neck you’ve been ignoring for weeks. Meanwhile, emotions are bubbling away underneath, ready to catch us off guard. It’s no surprise we feel a bit disconnected, is it?
But here’s something Yoga teaches us: you’re already whole. I know, you’re probably thinking, “Yeah, right.” But it’s true. The problem is we’ve forgotten how to feel it. This is where Asana comes in. And it’s not just stretching and hoping for the best. Asana is about waking up to the fact that your body, mind, and breath are one—and when you get that right, everything clicks.
The Real Essence of Asana
When you hear “Asana,” you might picture a class where you’re folding yourself into awkward positions and holding on for dear life. Not quite how we do things here. The word Asana actually means “seat” or “posture,” but it’s really about finding stillness—even if you’re balancing on one leg or bent over in a Forward Fold.
What Asana does, when practised with awareness, is bring you back to yourself. You start to notice things. At first, it’s the little stuff—how you’re breathing, whether your shoulders are hiked up around your ears. But with time, bigger realisations come. You begin to sense how your body is holding onto stress or tension. And the best part? You learn how to let go.
Here’s the kicker: when you’re fully present in an Asana, you’re connected. You’re in your body, breathing with awareness, and your mind isn’t darting around like a toddler on sugar. You’re here. And the more you practice, the more you realise that this sense of connection can extend beyond your mat.
Breathing Properly: It’s a Game-Changer
Now, I need to be blunt—most of us are shocking at breathing. Yep, I said it. We spend our lives breathing too shallowly, holding our breath when stressed, and wondering why we feel wound up. Here’s the thing—the breath is the glue in Yoga. It ties everything together.
When you practise Asana, every move is linked to your breath. It’s like a dance: inhale, move, exhale, move. Simple, right? But what you might not realise is your breath is the bridge between your body and your mind. When you breathe well, you calm your body and your mind. Everything softens, and suddenly, you’re not quite so frazzled.
Let me share a quick trick: next time you’re stuck in a traffic jam or stressing over an email, stop and take a proper breath. Inhale slowly through your nose, let your belly rise, then exhale through your nose again. Do this a few times. Notice how you start to feel a little more… present. That’s staying connected, and Asana helps make this a natural part of your day-to-day life.
How Asana Keeps You Whole (Even When You’re Off the Mat)
I get it—you’re busy. Work, family, life admin, and who knows what else. But trust me, Asana isn’t just something you do for an hour in class and then forget about. What you learn in class stays with you—and here’s how:
1. Physical Awareness
Practising Asana makes you more aware of your body. You start noticing where you hold tension and how to release it. In your everyday life, you’ll catch yourself slouching or clenching your jaw, and because you’ve trained yourself to connect with your body, you’ll adjust before it becomes a bigger issue.
2. Emotional Awareness
Asana works on your emotions too. When you practice with intention, you’ll notice feelings cropping up. Maybe you feel frustrated holding a pose, or maybe you feel a sense of release after a deep stretch. This is part of the process. The more you practice, the better you get at identifying and dealing with emotions as they arise.
3. Mental Focus
You can’t drift off when you’re balancing in Tree Pose, can you? Asana teaches focus. You’ve got to pay attention to what you’re doing and how you’re breathing. This mental discipline carries over into your daily life. You might find it easier to stay focused at work, be present in conversations, or simply be more mindful during the day.
4. Energy Alignment
Here’s where I’ll dip into the slightly more subtle stuff, but bear with me. In Yoga, we talk about energy—those days where you feel utterly drained, no matter how much caffeine you’ve had. Well, Asana helps keep your energy flowing. When your energy is balanced, you feel more alive and steady. It’s like pressing a reset button.
Staying Connected in Everyday Life
So, you’ve done your Asana practice, you’re feeling good, but how do you keep that connection going throughout the day? Here are a few tips:
1. Check Your Posture
Hate to break it to you, but most of us have terrible posture. And it affects how we feel. Stand tall, open your chest, and stop slumping over. You’ll feel instantly more grounded.
2. Breathe Properly
I can’t stress this enough—breathe! Whenever you feel tension creeping in, take a few slow, deep breaths. It takes just seconds but can change your whole mood.
3. Move with Intention
You don’t need a yoga mat to practise connection. Walk, sit, even drive with awareness. Pay attention to how you move, and stay connected to your body. The more you do this, the more natural it becomes.
The Bottom Line: You’re Already Whole
At the end of the day, you don’t need to go on some big spiritual journey to feel whole. You are already complete. Asana is just a way to help you remember that. It’s not about getting the perfect pose or becoming super flexible—it’s about tuning into yourself.
So, if you’re tired of feeling scattered and want to start feeling more grounded, come and join us at Yoga Local. We’ll have a laugh, get real, and leave the nonsense at the door. You’ll walk away feeling a bit more like yourself, and let’s be honest—who doesn’t want that?
See you in class!
Josie
