Yoga: Balance for Body, Mind, and Spirit

On Yoga.

Yoga is an ancient practice that originated in India thousands of years ago.

Far more than just physical exercise, it represents a holistic approach to wellness that integrates body, mind, and spirit. Through a combination of physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation, yoga offers a path towards greater self-awareness, physical health, connection and peace.

In today’s hectic world, the timeless wisdom of yoga provides essential tools for managing stress, improving flexibility, and cultivating mindfulness in our daily lives.

My Yoga Journey.

My journey with yoga began – as with many – in the gym. It started with LesMills

Yoga for Midlife.

Midlife brings challenges and transitions that can affect us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. As our bodies change, yoga offers a compassionate approach to maintaining strength, flexibility, and balance when we need it most. Regular practice can help address common midlife concerns such as:

Physical Benefits:

• Increased bone density to prevent osteoporosis.
• Improved balance and stability to prevent falls
• Enhanced flexibility in joints that may be stiffening with age
• Gentle strength building that respects your body’s changing needs
• Relief from menopausal symptoms through cooling breath practices

Emotional Support:

• Stress reduction during career transitions or family changes
• Creating space for self-reflection during this pivotal life stage
• Building community with others experiencing similar transitions
• Developing self-compassion as you navigate changing identities

As we reach midlife, we realise that the ‘perfect’ life as we envisioned, was part of our youth. We learn to let go of ideals, meet adversity and unmet expectations with equanimity.

And therefore, practising yoga when in midlife, we let go of achieving perfect yoga poses or competing with younger practitioners. Instead, we honour our body’s wisdom, adapting practices to suit our needs, and embrace the depth that comes with life experience.

Many find that midlife brings a richer, more introspective dimension to their practice as external achievement becomes less important than internal connection.

Yoga for Grief

Grief is perhaps one of the most profound human experiences, and yoga offers a unique container for moving through loss. When words fail, the body can speak. Through gentle movement, conscious breathing, and compassionate awareness, yoga creates a safe space to experience grief in all its dimensions.

During times of loss, yoga practice can:

• Provide grounding when grief feels overwhelming
• Release tension stored in the body after trauma
• Offer gentle movement when grief has left you immobilized
• Create rituals for honoring transitions and losses
• Connect you with your breath when anxiety constricts it
• Allow emotions to move through rather than become stuck

Restorative poses, supported with props and held for longer periods, can be particularly healing during grief, offering the nervous system deep rest and releasing emotions from the fascia. Simple breath practices can help regulate emotions when they feel unmanageable.

Most importantly, yoga reminds us that even in our darkest moments, we remain connected to something larger than ourselves—whether we call it universal consciousness, nature, or simply the human experience we all share.

Yoga as a Spiritual Practice: Practices and Philosophy

While many in the West know yoga primarily through physical postures, its deeper essence lies in spiritual transformation. The eight limbs of yoga as outlined in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras provide a comprehensive framework that extends far beyond the mat:

1. Yamas (ethical restraints): Non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, energy conservation, and non-possessiveness
2. Niyamas (observances): Purity, contentment, discipline, self-study, and surrender
3. Asana (postures): Physical practices that prepare the body for meditation
4. Pranayama (breath control): Working with life force energy through breathing techniques
5. Pratyahara (sense withdrawal): Turning awareness inward rather than focusing on external stimuli
6. Dharana (concentration): Single-pointed focus as preparation for meditation
7. Dhyana (meditation): Sustained awareness without effort
8. Samadhi (integration): Transcendent state of oneness and peace

These eight limbs offer practical tools for spiritual growth in daily life. Through consistent practice, yoga becomes not just something we do, but a lens through which we see and experience the world.

Spirituality vs Religion

Many people wonder about the relationship between yoga’s spiritual aspects and organised religion. Yoga emerged within the cultural context of Hinduism, but its core practices and philosophy transcend any single religious tradition. Yoga offers a spiritual technology that can complement various religious paths or serve those who identify as “spiritual but not religious.”

Unlike many religions that focus on specific beliefs or dogmas, yoga emphasises direct experience. Rather than telling practitioners what to believe, it invites them to explore their own consciousness through practice. This experiential approach allows people of different religious backgrounds—or none at all—to benefit from yoga’s transformative potential without conflict.

Key distinctions between spirituality as practiced in yoga and organized religion include:

• Focus on practice rather than belief
• Emphasis on personal experience over doctrine
• Cultivation of awareness rather than adherence to rules
• Recognition of universal principles found across traditions
• Encouragement of questioning rather than unquestioning faith

Many practitioners find that yoga deepens their connection to their existing religious tradition by offering practical tools for embodying its spiritual teachings. Others discover in yoga a spiritual home that honors their autonomy while providing community and time-tested practices for inner development.

Using Yoga, Reiki, Fitness (or a combination) for Overall Wellness

True wellness emerges from addressing multiple dimensions of our being—physical, energetic, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Integrating complementary modalities like yoga, Reiki, and fitness creates a holistic approach that can be tailored to individual needs.

Yoga balances the nervous system, increases body awareness, and provides tools for self-regulation through breath and movement. Its philosophical framework offers wisdom for navigating life’s challenges with greater equanimity.

Reiki, as an energy healing practice, helps remove blockages in the subtle body, supporting the flow of life force energy and activating the body’s innate healing mechanisms. Many find that Reiki complements yoga by working directly with the energetic dimension that yoga acknowledges.

Fitness approaches focused on functional strength, cardiovascular health, and flexibility provide the physical foundation needed for longevity and vitality. When practiced mindfully, fitness activities become moving meditations that strengthen not just the body but our capacity for focused attention.

When combined thoughtfully, these practices create a synergistic effect. For example:

• Yoga can improve recovery time from more intense fitness activities
• Reiki can help release emotional blockages that might be limiting your yoga practice
• Fitness can build the strength needed for certain challenging yoga postures
• Yoga’s mindfulness can transform mechanical fitness routines into more meaningful practices

The key is finding the right balance of practices that addresses your unique constitution, current life circumstances, and wellness goals. This integration isn’t about doing more, but about creating a sustainable rhythm that nourishes all aspects of your being.

How Can I Help?

Contact

As an experienced and certified yoga teacher, who specialises mentoring midlife transitions, grief support, and energy healing, I offer a personalised approach to wellness that honours your unique journey.

My services include:

• Individual Sessions: Personalized yoga practices designed for your specific physical needs and life circumstances
• Group Classes: Community-based yoga for different life stages and challenges
• Workshops: Focused explorations of yoga philosophy, meditation, and specialized practices
• Reiki Healing: Energy work that complements your yoga practice
• Wellness Consulting: Holistic planning that integrates various modalities for optimal wellbeing

My approach emphasises meeting you where you are with compassion and practical wisdom. Whether you’re navigating grief, seeking spiritual depth, managing midlife transitions, or simply wanting to feel better in your body, I’m here to support your journey with time-tested practices adapted for contemporary life.

Contact me to discuss how we might work together to support your unique path to wellness.

Research.

For increased bone density:

• Lu et al. (2016) published in Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation found that yoga practice can help prevent bone loss in postmenopausal women
• A 2016 study in the Journal of Physical Activity & Health by Motorwala et al. showed improvements in bone mineral density among yoga practitioners

For improved balance and stability:

• The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine published research by Tiedemann et al. (2013) demonstrating improved balance and reduced fall risk in older adults practicing yoga
• Nick et al. (2016) in the International Journal of Yoga showed significant improvements in balance parameters after a 12-week yoga program

For flexibility and joint health:

• A study in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research by Grabara and Szopa (2015) found improved spinal mobility in middle-aged adults after yoga practice
• Research in the International Journal of Yoga by Gothe and McAuley (2016) demonstrated improved flexibility measures across multiple studies

For menopausal symptom relief:

• Cramer et al. (2018) published a systematic review in Maturitas showing yoga can help reduce vasomotor symptoms
• A study in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine by Joshi et al. (2014) found significant reduction in menopausal symptoms through yoga breathing techniques

For strength building:

• Chen et al. (2020) in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found improved muscle strength and endurance in middle-aged practitioners
• A study by Tew et al. (2017) in BMC Geriatrics showed improvements in lower limb strength through regular yoga practice