Karina Norton from Free Spirit Yoga in Cronulla is our guest blogger for this week.  Karina has travelled and studied yoga throughout India and has something to say about a special time of Indian worship that starts today.

During my travels in India I was fortunate enough to celebrate many festivals, and let me tell you, the Indians love their parties! One such festival is Navaratri and today, Friday 8th October marks the beginning of this Hindu celebration for this year.  I want to tell you a little about this tradition and how we can use this time for some introspection and purification and to get our lives into balance.

Navaratri means nine nights. It is nine nights of worship to the Divine Mother, the universal female energy that surrounds us.  A lot more can be said about this but for the sake of simplicity the Hindu religion believe in God having a very strong female aspect.  In fact, Hinduism is the only religion that worships God also as a woman.

So Navaratri is a celebration of this universal power in the form of three different Goddesses – Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati.  The first 3 days are for Goddess Durga, the one who creates, preserves and destroys all.  The next 3 days are for Goddess Lakshmi, the one who takes care of our prosperity and wealth and the final 3 days are for Goddess Saraswati, the one who we pray to for wisdom and knowledge.

In worshipping all three forms of the Divine Mother we are asking for complete balance and harmony in our lives.  Basically, for everything we require in our lives to feel complete. Regardless of your religion or your beliefs everyone has the right and the opportunity to ask for a life of stability, balance and peace.  This is a perfect time to remove old habits or patterns and to start new ventures and a fresh way of thinking.

When you step onto a yoga mat during the next 9 days, or even if you just spend 15 minutes each morning doing simple stretches, be aware that this worship is happening in many places across the whole world and devote some time and awareness to this power that can help us overcome every hurdle in our life.

Happy Navaratri everyone!

Karina’s class timetable

Mondays             7.15pm – 8.30pm

Wednesdays      7.30pm – 8.45pm

Saturdays            7.30am – 8.30am  & 9.00am – 10.15am

Photo Credits: 1st image – Ananth BS, 2nd image – Stuart Chalmers

Karina Norton is our guest blogger for this week. Karina is a certified yoga teacher practising in Cronulla, and has trained extensively in Australia, Thailand & India. Karina  has studied Anatomy & Physiology and has a degree in Psychology, believing that a flexible body equals a flexible mind. Karina runs Free Spirit Yoga from the Cronulla Yoga Centre.

A Flexible Body Equals a Flexible Mind

Most people go to a yoga class to become more flexible and there is no doubt this happens, usually much quicker than they imagined.  What they don’t realise is the other benefits that become apparent after a few classes.  As their bodies open up in a physical sense so does the mind, it too becomes clearer, more calm and more open.

It doesn’t take long to see the benefits of a yoga practice visible in your everyday life.  You will find that you sleep soundly, feel healthier, have more energy and you will notice that you’re walking around with an inner calm even when life around you is chaotic.  Yoga helps you to feel good, on a physical and emotional level.

The joy of yoga is that anybody can do it.  Most people tell me that they can’t come to a class because they can’t even touch their toes.  You don’t have to touch your toes, you just need to try.  If your body will only allow you to stretch to a very small degree then that is the perfect stretch for you and this is something else that yoga teaches you:  acceptance, and doing only what is best for you.

A vinyasa yoga class is a flowing style of yoga.  It combines the traditional hatha yoga postures with breath in a style that is fluid.  As you move, you breathe, and your movement becomes like a meditation.  The aim is to move your body actively using your physical strength but remain still and calm through your mind.  It is the ideal class to create the flexibility you are wanting in all areas of your life.

If you want to attend a vinyasa yoga class, a class that is good for the body and equally good for the soul, try Free Spirt Yoga held at Cronulla Yoga Centre.

Free Spirit Yoga classes:

Mondays             7.15pm – 8.30pm

Wednesdays      7.30pm – 8.45pm

Saturdays            7.30am – 8.30am ($10)

9.00am – 10.15am

Prices:

First class is $10 and if you bring a friend they come for free!

All classes are $15 (1 hr 15 mins) for a casual visit, except for Saturday 7.30am (1 hr) which is $10.

For more information see www.freespirityoga.com.au

Where:

Cronulla Yoga Centre

Suite 1/57-61 Cronulla Street (cnr of Cronulla St and Purley Pl, above Thy Restaurant)

Photo credit: Lululemon Athetic