Finding Your Compass

Name: Finding Your Compass
Start: 2024-11-02T10:30:00+00:00
End: 2024-11-02T12:30:00+00:00
Location: Judgemeadow Community College

Schedule

Sat Nov 02 2024 at 10:30 am to 12:30 pm

UTC+00:00

Location

Judgemeadow Community College | Leicester, EN

Leicester Yoga Circle Event. (£8 members/£12 non-members)
Inspiration for this class comes from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Book 1, Verse 2:
"Yogas citta vritti nirodhah" The restraint of the modifications of the mind-stuff is Yoga
- Translation by Sri Swami Satchidananda
The practice of yoga is a process of relocating ourselves through the tangible reality of the body. Although this sounds wonderful in theory, in reality, we often set off on this journey as ill-equipped as a sailor setting out for the open sea without navigational instruments. Finding our compass and developing an interior map takes time, and there are no simple formulas—it is, like life, a necessarily messy business which requires practice and patience.
In this 2-hour workshop we’ll take time to progressively explore the elements that make up the pose - Parivrtta Surya Yantrasana. It is a deep and twisty shoulder, hip and hamstring-opening seated pose that also goes by the names of Revolved Sundial Pose or Compass Pose. Initially, compass pose can seem like quite the puzzle. How does my leg get back there? How do I keep it back there? How on earth am I supposed to reach my foot? And if I do reach it, which side of my foot do I hold onto? Wait, is this supposed to be a twist?! Which way do I turn? But by approaching Parivarta Surya Yantrasana step-by-step, you can begin to orient yourself within the shape of the pose, and to get a sense both of the direction in which you’re headed and how to get there. What once felt like a frustrating endeavour can then become a thoroughly absorbing one.
By focusing our attention on moving our body in various complex ways that take focus and effort we can quieten those mind monkeys and turn down mental distractions far enough to be able to hear our quietest yet most powerful voice of all - our inner voice, the voice of our soul, and discover the true direction of our internal compass. We can then work towards acknowledging that we all hold the answers within. Whether that be for inspiration for a theme in a yoga class or the answer to a life changing decision we may have to make off our mats.
We’ll take plenty of time at the end of class to unwind from the efforts of the pose with a sense withdrawal practice before leaving our mats with a relaxed body and a calm mind.