Yoga Mind Body and Soul

“Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open.”

Why yoga over exercise you may ask? Because it’s a mind-body path – healing more than the physical self. What does it really mean and how does this affect our well-being? It simply means that to be ‘healthy’ and to feel good within ourselves in the here and now, we must also pay attention to these three aspects of our nature:

– our body, how we care for it through our food and activity levels
– our mind, how we allow time to unwind in nature, spending quality time with family and friends, cuddling our pets, just being alone in quiet meditation and reflection, bringing peace and harmony

– our souls, acknowledging and recognising that there is a higher being at play and knowing we have nothing to fear because all is under control although there may be moments of doubt

These three aspects combined make us who we are.

How can we recognise when these aspects of ourselves are aligned? Those moments of physical activity when we feel invigorated, fit and well. We mostly realise the importance when we are unable to take part in these physical activities that we love. No out of control cravings for food or sugar can be an indicator of body, mind and soul alignment, especially if you are prone to snack attacks when you are stressed, frustrated or bored. I often feel totally relaxed when I have my hair done and I notice that I feel sleepy. It is a state of acceptance of where I am at that moment and recognising that I cannot go or do anything else but sit and enjoy the experience in the knowledge that I’ll feel better afterwards.

Where does yoga sit amongst all of this? Yoga is amazing for overall health because it builds strength, coordination, flexibility and resilience while calming the mind. It encompasses the mind-body-soul connection through the connection of the breath, meditation and physical poses.