Motion Yoga
Philosophy of Motion Yoga Balance Retreats
Yoga, body awareness and mental training have been a constant in our lives. We believe that the endeavour to know thyself is a life-long process. Working as co- workshop leaders in Goa is a part of that challenging and rewarding process. We firmly believe that giving time and effort and devotion to explore oneself can make an enormous difference in ones life.
We can work with the physical body to achieve many goals. First of all, we can do the obvious: make our bodies strong, flexible and efficient in order for our bodies to have maximum health. That means all systems are being worked, relaxed, manipulated and stimulated. The physical work can also take us to less material aspects of ourselves (the emotional sheath, the energetic sheath). The body will respond emotionally and energetically; the mind will become sharper and more observant; and the spirit will follow into a similar state of balance and vitality.
All by doing some focused bodywork!
This leads us to a deeper understanding of the self. It gives room to the inner dialog to quiet down so the fluctuations of the mind can also start to quiet down. And realisation can take place.
Very often one goes through life without developing a sense of self-awareness. One very quickly notices the difference in a bicycles performance after putting oil on the chain, but is less inclined to notice how ones body and mind respond to different stimuli.
At any moment we can begin a very rewarding journey of exploration by working with the body and through this tapas we can discover that the ego gives space, the fluctuations of the mind become more silent so we can start to feel the finer part of our layers or koshas.
We can start with a few yoga exercises. After a time we will notice with more refinement how our muscles feel before, during and after these exercises. We will become more aware which muscle groups are being challenged in a pose or movement, which muscles are being stretched, which muscles are needed for balance and so on. We will gradually begin to have more awareness of how our body functions while working, bicycle riding and standing by the cashier while shopping. As we continue over time, we will perhaps begin to notice that breathing in this position is entirely different than breathing in another position. We can learn to control our breath to encourage specific results. That can lead to learning to keep our breath calm even as we feel the stress of an approaching speech or interview or confrontation with someone. We will perhaps continue with the devotion to knowing ourselves and start to sense how a specific posture or breath affects our nervous system.
Is it stimulating, invigorating, calming or neutral? How does it affect my mood? Do I feel something different when I make a position that opens my heart area compared to one that opens my hip area? We will then make these same observations is other situations in daily life. We will slowly start to observe our patterns of thought and behaviour.
How do I respond in my mind as I approach my limits?
How are my breathing and mood and energy and thoughts as I encounter a new pose, or one that I have done 1000 times?
Can I draw parallels in my relationship with my boss, partner, mother or dishwashing?
Can I slowly learn to keep my concentration on only one point at a time, learning to live more in the present while becoming less distracted by worries or fears or uncertainties from the past or future?
Through physical challenge, self listing and studying and relaxing with it we create an atmosphere where transformation can take place.
Be ready for transformation!
We look forward to our time in Sri Lanka to instruct and explore Asana, Pranayama and Meditation as a wonderful step on that path of transformation. Enjoy a wonderful week in paradise and have lots of fun.
The language will be English and German.
For more information on Motion Yoga retreats visit http://www.motionyoga.ch/index.php?section=20&;lang=en