Yoga is an embodiment practice. Like an ideal holiday gathering, feeling safe in class is a prerequisite for having a good time. Yoga teaches us how to connect with the moment and feel our experiences more fully as they happen in the present without judgment or expectation.

This year, what if we lean into exactly how we feel during the holidays and enjoy what the journey reveals to us along the way?

Throughout the year we practice yoga to feel freer. That ease is the counterpoint to the stresses that we encounter off the mat. We practice because it feels good and brings us closer to our true selves. Our instructors cue us, but ultimately, we make decisions in asanas that are right for us. We evaluate our need for stability or challenge at each moment. We become temporarily unavailable to others when we practice, and it forms a healthy boundary that opens the door for us to reach deeper levels of ourselves.

Honoring our needs is critical to the practice of yoga. Feeling extra heavy on the mat does not necessarily mean pumping out a bunch of chaturangas to get the fire burning. Perhaps feeling heavy is the body’s signal that we should put a knee down, use a block, or come into child’s pose. Maybe we’re feeling heavy because we went back for seconds during a feast. Regardless of the reason, giving ourselves that extra support might be exactly what is needed today. There is bliss in grounding.

Tina Turner’s We Don’t Need Another Hero was written in 1985 – almost four decades ago – and it could very well be the most appropriate song for our post-pandemic yoga playlists. In it, she sang, “Love and compassion, their day is coming.” As more COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and we relax from the constriction of living in forms of survival mode for more than a year, let’s ask ourselves how our yoga practice can help us celebrate love and compassion today?

It’s been a long season of life during a global pandemic, and it feels like the tides are starting to turn. Things are opening up and there is a new rush of energy ready to be released. It’s like we’ve been in a really long reclined hero/fixed firm pose and are now letting the synovial fluid rush back through our knees and flush our joints clean. We’re optimistic and it’s exciting to dwell in this space, but those sensations can also feel really big in contrast to where we’ve been for the past year. So we breathe.

As fulfilling as it is to see each other’s unmasked smiles, we also have a choice of to what extent we want to exercise our newfound freedom. When we’re in class, we actively exercise compassion for our bodies when we decide how deeply we want to go into a pose or whether we want to take the flow. Similarly, as more opportunities arise in our newly opened world, we have to mindfully respond to the options we’re being presented with. From “vax-cations” to more relaxed dining experiences at our favorite local restaurants, practicing yoga provides us an invaluable sense of grounding and centering. We know what feels right and we will act with integrity and honesty as we venture out in the world and reconnect with others.

What do you have on your mind when you sign up for a yoga class? Is it to relax? Stretch? Get stronger? See friends? While our personal impetus for going to a yoga class is often egocentric and self-care driven, the practice makes us better, more functional people in the outside world too. When we have met our needs for self-care, service, and self-love, we are able to share that care, service, and love with others.

Radiating kindness is not just a lofty aspiration for more zen-like people. A consistent yoga practice can help us get to know the best version of ourselves. We are all capable of embodying the virtues we admire. Yoga gives us that path to mindfulness. Having said that, some days we walk into the studio and just don’t feel great. In those times, it’s important to show ourselves kindness and remember that making time to practice is the first step. When we’re in class, it’s hard to ignore that our combined effort of practicing together is greater than the singularity of any one of our individual energies.

Although COVID-19 forced many of us into isolation, we have been able to access classes virtually and, with some planning, in studio too. Hearing people’s deep ujjayi yoga breathing helps ground us in class. It’s incredibly valuable to tap into that togetherness in a time where we are being told to keep our distance. Being mindful of practicing yoga helps fill our tanks with the message that we’re all trying to be better. When class is over, we’re also in a position to take the love we’ve shown ourselves and share it with our outside world.

We are lucky to have technology that enables us to take live-at-home yoga classes. As we transition our practice from in-person at the studio to Facebook Live and other live streaming platforms, we may be wondering whether this new format of class will be as good.

Here are three unexpected benefits to doing a live-at-home yoga class:

• Live streaming class at home means we have to establish a space to practice.

This involves a little preparation on our parts mentally and physically. In addition to clearing a physical area, we also require respect from others. Dogs, kids, partners, roommates, calls and texts all are paused while we are in class. Unlike going to the studio and being out of the house, this might mean creating a tangible example for our friends and loved ones about how sacred our practice is.

• Practicing at home is a chance to create our ultimate sanctuary.

We may have heard mantras like “the real yoga starts off the mat” or “beyond the studio doors.” At home, when our instructor invites us to set an intention, it’s a chance to bring yogic mindfulness and movement into our most familiar spaces and create new places of peace.

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS AND YOGA

January is a popular time to make resolutions about health such as losing weight, getting more physically fit, and eating better. Gym and studio memberships spike, athletic apparel companies see increased sales, and our social media feeds are flooded with content about starting fresh.

Although the idea of a blank slate is filled with potential, let’s pause here and ask ourselves, do we just throw out everything we did last year?

Didn’t we learn important lessons that contribute to our growth in our personal and professional lives?

Don’t we want to build on those lessons for continued betterment and evolution?

BECOMING “GOOD” AT YOGA

Resolutions are usually about trying to improve, but we don’t usually say that we’re trying to get better at yoga. That implies we are bad at yoga, and there’s no such thing. The beauty of yoga is that you realize once you’re in class none of that matters. Those are concerns of the ego and yoga helps balance our egos with the rest of our world. Instead, getting better at yoga is about building on the foundation we have already established.

Developing a practice is a personal journey that is fluid and constantly changing. Although flexibility and strength are two benefits of a regular yoga practice, those traditionally physical standards of measurement are not the only way to deepen our practice.

The flow state.

Yoga is an opportunity to set our intention to have a graceful practice. Being graceful in yoga may equate to feeling ease in the body and mind. It may also be expressed as the unity that yoga helps us establish connecting ourselves with our collective community.

Grace is an expression of ease. Ease does not mean easy. Grace in yoga is given space to grow when we focus on flow.

When we come to our mats, we draw our attention to the flow of our breath. As we move through our asana practice, we become attuned to our inhales and exhales. In. Out. Ease. Flow.

Sun salutations warm our bodies through stretching, folding, breathing, and engaging our muscles. We mindfully link our breath to each movement. We may set an intention at the start of class that we begin to explore as class progresses. Or we may be along for the ride that day.

Once we’re warmed up, we have the opportunity to practice grace by embracing the feedback our bodies give us in strengthening and balancing poses. Our heart rates increase, our blood pumps stronger, our muscles fire, and our breath intensifies.

Yoga poses like boat, humble warrior, and tree are not necessarily easy, but they are chances to explore grace. Our teachers remind us to keep breathing through all the sensations that arise during class so we can play with ease and practice grace.

The heart symbolizes love, but what exactly is an open heart? In honor of Valentine’s Day, let’s take a look at the yogic practice of “heart opening,” and how incorporating heart openers into our practice can lead to pure love and a blissful state.

At Collective Yoga, we celebrate diversity. Our instructors do not strive to make everyone look the same in any pose. Instead, we encourage everyone to find their own variation – their own “shape” – of each pose while still practicing safely.

In our studio, it is common to see our teachers practicing alongside our members. Why is this? Because we truly love our space, the vibe, the friendships, and our community, as well as the creativity and freedom that we experience in our individual practices.

If you suffer from anxiety, you should know that you aren’t alone. In fact, there are over 40 million others in the United States who suffer from anxiety, putting you in a lot of good company. While the stigma of anxiety disorders and mental illness is starting to fall away, there are still a lot of people who are reluctant to get help. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, only a little over a third of the people who suffer from anxiety get treatment for it.

If you are looking for a healthy way to deal with feelings of anxiety, yoga classes can be a safe and supportive environment that may help. Our Virginia Beach classes welcome everyone, whether you are an anxiety sufferer looking for relief in your first yoga class or you’ve been practicing for years. Our team loves to work with everyone and help them grow in their strength and flexibility, as well as developing tools to help individuals work through anxiety and panic attacks.

If you are hoping to become pregnant in the coming year, it’s a good idea to start preparing your body for the upcoming changes now. That’s because your body will undergo dramatic adjustments to make room for your growing baby as well as to prepare you for labor and delivery. The more you can prepare your body for what’s ahead, the smoother the journey can be for both you and baby. Yoga can play an important role in this adventure! We love helping women develop healthy habits for their body and mind that will not only help them before and during their pregnancy but long into their journey of motherhood as well.

Taking regular yoga classes can be extremely beneficial to your mind and body. Yoga has been shown to lower blood pressure, increase strength and bone density, and reduce anxiety among men and women. Regardless if you’re a beginner yogi or you’ve been practicing yoga for years, there are yoga classes available that can suit all body types and sizes. In this blog, we’ll look at some different styles of yoga so you have an idea of what each class has to offer.

At Collective Yoga in Virginia Beach, we’re proud to offer a large array of yoga classes at our yoga studio. Whether you’re to try our beginner flow class or a stress relieving hatha class, we’re confident you’ll love everything our yoga studio has to offer. If you’re interested in learning more about our studio and our yoga classes, contact us today!

Are you interested in yoga, but wondering where it all began? Yoga is an ancient practice that is rapidly gaining in popularity as a gentle, restorative method to bring rejuvenation to the mind, body, and soul. In several installments, we’re going to discuss the history of yoga and how it came to be one of the most popular practices across the entire world today. If you’re interested in beginner’s yoga classes and you’re located in Virginia Beach, look no further than Collective Yoga. We’re passionate about teaching yoga in a relaxing and fun environment. Call us today for more information and to get started!

If you’re interested in starting the practice of yoga, it can be overwhelming to choose a place to begin. Attending a beginner’s yoga class is a great place to start, but you’re probably left wondering about the practice and how it can benefit your life. In this blog, we’re going to answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about yoga so you can know more about this ancient practice. If you’re interested in a beginner’s yoga class, come to Collective Yoga. We understand that trying out yoga for the first time can be intimidating and overwhelming for most people, so we promise to do our best to create a safe place to learn and enjoy this amazing regimen that will calm and open up your mind, emotions, and body. Call today for a class schedule!

Adding yoga to your exercise routine is a great way to relax your body, improve your balance, and strengthen your muscles. If you’ve ever considered practicing yoga as an excellent and gentle exercise routine and a way to relax and benefit your body, check out Collective Yoga in Virginia Beach. We’re proud to offer more than 30 classes during a week, perfect for any body. If you’re interested in trying yoga, we offer beginner yoga classes that are geared towards students who are interested in trying out the practice but are intimidated by more advanced classes. Contact us today for more information!