We practice yoga cultivating a holistic approach. If we strengthen our physical body, the internal organs are also stimulated to function as well as possible. Intense poses, at the beginner or more advanced level, will test your endurance. While controlling your life energy (pranayama, mastery of the breath) will allow you to establish greater stability of the Self.
A typical class begins in a sitting posture focusing on controlling your breathing. We then slowly move into a physical practice (asanas). Depending on the teacher, the variety and speed of the postures can vary, this is called Vinyasa, and each teacher has their own tempo. Once engaged in the practice of asanas, you are notably led to match inhalation and exhalation, this is called Pranayama, then to focus your concentration on specific visual points. Before the practice ends with meditation, you are invited to settle into the corpse pose, Savasana, a relaxation pose that requires surrender to the sensations of your body to experience deep relaxation. The combination of these three elements will allow you to develop a strength that you never thought possible.
As your practice grows, you will develop physical power and open up to new emotional and mental possibilities. By learning to respect, push or play with your limits, you can also relate this to your own life with new tools. At the end of each class a feeling of personal enrichment and refocusing happens. A deep feeling of letting go, whether it is an event in your day, your own story or your past reveals itself