What our yoga practice can bring in the age of COVID-19

I’m Tash, a Yoga Teacher from Bristol who teaches internationally. I’ve teamed up with the CWord Mag to bring you free Instagram Live yoga classes at the end of every month. These will be Sunday UK time at 6pm but saved to IGTV to access later too!

I know that even though I’ve been practicing for ten years and teaching for three, I’ve questioned what place my yoga practice has in this pandemic world. With social distancing meaning no hands-on assists; mandatory hand washing making the yoga space smells more like Dettol than lavender; and many recoiling at the thought of using Zoom again… 

Yoga has seen a big shift since March, with studios in multiple venues closing their doors. Now they are tentatively re-opening them, I’ve been asking myself the question: what lessons can my yoga practice bring to my life? Especially now, at the time of COVID-19? 

Gratitude to my body 

Enjoying where you are right now, in your body, mind and breath. For me, this is one of the most important lessons life can bring us during the middle of a pandemic. It is so easy to get caught up in what our bodies cannot do, but they really function amazingly – and most of it is out of our control or consciousness. During a yoga practice, we get to intimately know our unique bodies – flaws and all – which really is what makes us human and beautiful.  

Especially with studio doors closed, can you take some intimate time with yourself – moving, being, breathing?

Gratitude to others

Yoga practice can help make us more aware of not only ourselves, but how others impact our lives. For me it has been a revelation to think how many friends and family have my back at a time like this. Even if it is just one person, and one instance of kindness, we all benefit from the help of others. Recognising this can be a huge step towards more appreciation and kindness. 

Some useful prompts I use: what is it in my life that I can be thankful for? Where am I right now that has been helped by another person, company or event? 

Failing = growth

COVID-19 has brought about many unexpected ‘failures’ to our lives, some bigger than others. This is mirrored on our mat: falling out of tree pose multiple times helps us to learn balance and coordination, but also that frustration and failure are a part of life. The final pose is never actually the goal; the journey you take along the way is the most valuable part of practicing. Yoga postures and practice help us to see that failure is a chance to grow; rather than something to be ashamed of. 

So, even though the face of yoga has changed, I believe it gives us so much value especially in times like these. 

Join me LIVE with your mat for a 1-hour yoga class to build gratitude, awareness and compassion. We will use the breath to expand and the body to ground. This is an accessible yoga class for EVERY body!

Last Sunday of the Month, 6pm via The C Word Mag’s Instagram.

Find out more about Tash here.