ON PRACTICE

The intention of the practice is to cultivate awareness. That’s why we use the breath as our main tool—to stay present and connected with our bodily sensations. The breath anchors us, helping the mind to become still.

For me it is fundamental to understand this. And understanding this marks a major transformational step in the practice. Cultivating awareness helps us realise that the practice is not just about pushing or pulling our bodies into perfect forms. Instead, it's about becoming aware of what the postures bring out in us—mentally, emotionally, and physically.

This kind of awareness goes beyond simply following mental cues to achieve a shape. It invites us to dive deep into our bodies. What do we feel inside as we approach the posture we dread the most—the one that challenges us or brings up strong emotion? What if, by staying with the breath and cultivating presence, we’re able to remain longer in that discomfort—and explore it?

What is it that makes this posture so uncomfortable? And what if allowing the discomfort to be, just as it is, changes everything? Not only in how we relate to the posture, but also in how we relate to the emotional state it brings up.

For me, it’s in these uncomfortable or challenging moments during practice—when we feel scared, angry, sad, or vulnerable—that the real transformation begins. That’s where the juice is. That’s where growth lives.

This is deeply connected to acceptance and contentment—allowing things to be as they are, and being at peace with the present moment. This attitude creates space—for healing, for change, for new insights to emerge.

Our bodies are vast containers of emotional memory, life experiences, and stored energy. When we work deeply with the body, breath, and mind, we may eventually come face-to-face with what has been held or hidden in different parts of ourselves. If you find yourself challenged by your own practice, that’s not a bad place to be—it’s a doorway.

I suggest approaching your practice from the inside out. Let your intention be to connect with what’s happening within you, rather than striving for “perfect” external forms.

When you practice in this way, you may no longer crave more postures—especially if that craving came from a need to prove something. Because you will begin to understand: the real point of the practice is not to master shapes, but to meet yourself more honestly through them.