At the end of yoga class one day in 2004, I had a distinctive feeling there had to be more. More than just being able to put my leg behind my head.

My yoga practice was transforming my life, and I wanted to find deeper meaning by delving into complementary teachings.

This was the moment I decided to begin practicing qigong and meditation – a few years after I began my yoga path.

My experience has been an unveiling: Layer by layer, more has been revealed.

Have you ever wondered why meditation feels easier after yoga or qigong?

Lately I’ve been thinking about the realm of mind-body practices I work with today, and how they affect my students.

When I started teaching yoga, many of my students got inspired to seek out meditation, too.

Years later when I began teaching meditation at the JCC, most of my students were not yogis.

With my roots steeped in yoga, meditation, and qigong, I began to offer gentle movement before our meditation.

This was new for many students, and they almost always reported an easier, more relaxed sit after movement.

The same thing has happened in many yin yoga workshops: Students say that meditation feels easier after movement.

Fascinated by this feedback, I began reflecting on how powerful it is to combine the practices of yoga, meditation, and qigong, which are all considered mind-body practices. They’re also considered spiritual practices.

Many people think of spiritual practices as being limited to the mind, but for me, it’s clear that the physical body is a gateway to a more intimate relationship with the mind.

Your body is your first teacher of nowness.

Your body can never be living in the past or the future.

This body, your body, is living in the moment.

It invites you into deep presence and awareness, from moment to moment.

If we just meditate without paying attention to our bodies, we may feel disconnected, like we’re “just sitting there.” When we ignore our bodies, they may feel like a barrier, limiting our ability to connect with our minds.

When we invite movement before seated meditation, we invite the possibility of ease and comfort, which can lead us to a place of rich inner knowing.

One of the most profound teachings in Buddhism is the Satipatthana Sutta, aka The Four Foundations of Mindfulness.

The very first foundation is Mindfulness of Body: The Buddha’s first instruction, which is to pay attention to your body. He speaks of the body as a whole, specifically in the sitting posture, and then goes into all its parts: Blood, bones, sinew, and organs.

We know that state of mind is innately influenced by the physical body.

For example, if you were to walk around slouched, looking down for most of the day, at a certain point you would notice your mind “looking down,” and perhaps begin to feel tired or sad. All that compression on the diaphragm would make it hard to breathe, and my guess is that over time it would be hard to not feel depressed.

Conversely, if you stand upright with a tall spine, collarbones spread, and eyes up, you may feel light, benevolent, or even regal.

Your posture is an invitation to feel joyful and upright. It’s like faking it until you make it. If your posture imbues confidence and happiness, you may start to feel that way.

The ancient yogis were on to something with the idea that opening up the body first leads to a more comfortable meditation. And get this: Yin yoga was specifically designed to prepare the body for meditation.

How beautiful is that?

I feel lucky to be able to introduce students to their bodies in a way that feels supportive on all levels.

To remind myself and all of us that we have bodies, and we can identify with our bodies in a positive way.

By synthesizing yoga, meditation, and qigong, I hope to share a balanced practice that gives students a window into themselves – body and mind.

I invite you to keep carving your own personal path of practice by combining these modalities, and perhaps others, in the way that feels best for you and only you.

Do your current practices help you connect with and support your body and mind?

What’s your being asking for more of?

Leave a comment below – I’d love to hear from you.

Happy practicing!

Warmly,
Michele