To enhance our well-being and sense of embodiment we use tools to make us feel more connected to ourselves. Yoga can be one of many useful tools we integrate into our toolkit for self-regulation. In Sanskrit, yoga literally means “to unite” or “to join”. The goal of yoga is to balance and unite body and mind, nature and humans. In yoga philosophy, only one of eight parts of yoga entails the physical practice with the postures (asana). The remaining practices are principles of how you interact with yourself and others (yamas and niyamas), the control of the subtle currents in the body (pranayama), consciousness (pratyahara), focused attention (dharana), meditation (dhyana), bliss (samadhi).

The combination of bringing attention to breath and body while experiencing sensations through gentle movement can be a great way to practice becoming aware of your sensations, internal states and emotions. Yoga elements can be used to revitalize yourself or to bring relaxation to your mind and body. Both of these actions are integral to the process of self-regulation. Self-regulation is the ability to find stability within yourself, finding inner peace and a homeostasis. The body is constantly working for you to keep itself and manifold inner processes balanced (blood sugar levels, body temperature, etc.). It does do by signaling you through needs like hunger, thirst, need for sleep, etc. Therefore it is integral to your health and well-being to be able to listen to your body and the signals it sends you. Your needs are counter-balancing measures intended to keep your inner states constant. If you ignore your body’s signals and suppress your needs (emotional or physical) – these messages get trapped in your body and result in stress. When our biological basic needs (hunger, thirst, need for sleep, safety, etc) and psychological basic needs (belongingness and connection, sense of control, self esteem, etc.) are not met, the body always enters a state of stress. And stress always affects the entire body and mind in many ways.

The practice of yoga can be an excellent tool to tune into your body’s signals and become a more “attentive listener”.

Please note: I am not a licensed psychotherapist, if you need assistance for mental or physical conditions, consult your physician or psychotherapist.