Just recently I have been given a yogic practice that requires me to be very regular in developing certain skills. By the nature of the practice and the immense influence my state of mind has on its success I am better off doing it every day at ideally the same time. Now, I have had practices given to me before and sometimes I carry them out over the period of time I am supposed to them and sometimes I don’t. I have found that for me it can at times be a real challenge to keep my practice up. Especially if my schedule gets a bit more hectic.
What is Dru Yoga?
Dru Yoga is a highly transformative and potent form of yoga featuring unique Energy Block Release (EBR) sequences, flowing postures, breath control and indigenous mudras. Emphasis is placed on working consciously with the subtle body and connecting with the Heart. It is a powerful, empowering and practical approach to heal ourselves by balancing the energies of body, heart and mind resulting in a natural state of well-being. Regular Dru Yoga practice leads us to master our emotions, gain physical and mental equilibrium and become mature and confident human beings that are able to fully embrace life.
Using the wisdom we find within Dru Yoga we enhance the quality of our awareness especially at a place inside ourselves called Druvakasha. A still and spacious point from which we remain untouched by the winds of life. This is where the name DRU originates from. In sanskrit the word Dhruva means still and unchanging. Dhruva is historically also the name given to the North Star which remains motionless while all the other stars revolve around it.
“By meditation on the Dru Star, the yogi knows the course of destiny”
– Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras 3.29
When regularly practicing a form like Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga you will eventually discover how rhythm is intricate to this flow.
Like no other style I have experienced until now the Baptiste flow leans on rhythm in such a way that the expression ‘meditation in motion’ becomes a living experience for most students. Rhythm is used as a key instrument to ‘tune’ people to their experience of ‘now’. When I sync with the proper rhythm when practicing myself or when teaching a class the whole experience is lifted onto another level.
Why is practicing Power Vinyasa Yoga such a magical experience? Soon after opening up to the experience you realize there is more to it than meets the eye. Inspired by Baron Baptiste’s flow a 90 min class takes you on an expedition up to the spiritual mount Everest and back…
In the yogic environment that I have experienced there are two scriptures that get referenced most as yogic authorities: The Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras from Patanjali.
Both scriptures basically lay out a route to enlightment. Patanjali’s sutras are like a scientific exposé of instructions on how to still the mind and experience the yogic state.
The Bhagavad Gita is like a song of how to celebrate and discover our ‘purpose’ in life. According to the Gita our ‘purpose’ in life is to realize our divine nature.
Although pointing to the same thing both scriptures use different approaches. The Yoga Sutras are more like a technical manual emphasizing the practical application of specific techniques towards our goal. Mother Gita as it is often called goes beyond mere technique and encompasses different kinds of ‘yoga’. It is more of a metaphorical essay on understanding and mastering the art of Life.
“When you allow the river of life, symbolised by our breath, run it’s course unobstructed through surrender… you allow yourself to be naturally carried to your authentic self.”
Often we are told to ‘let go’ when practicing yoga. But what does this expression mean when we are on our mat? How can I practice letting go? What do I need to do, think and feel to let go?