Written by Aviva Tulasi
Heart of Wonder: Our third semi-annual Art & Yoga Retreat celebrates the beauty of the ordinary at the NC Botanical Garden. Through mindful movement and creative art journaling, you'll see the world through an awe-filled lens. Experience the joy of profound connection, the inspiration hidden in a blank journal, and the heart-felt wonder in every breath. Click here for more information.
Explore your connection with nature as you immerse yourself in the world of plants with this week’s Lunchtime Learning: Plant Walk with Ainslee. The walk will happen outside at Stonegate Stuidio after Wednesday’s Mindful Movement and Yoga. Sign Up In Person or Online.
"Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by discomforts." — Arnold Bennett
Swami Sivananda taught that one needed to “Adapt, Adjust, Accommodate” in order to practice yoga. He wasn’t just talking about modifying asana poses; he was providing the mental basis needed to practice yoga.
The body and the mind are hardwired to accept routine and consistency. Habits are comfortable. Humans thrive when they know what to expect. Structure and consistency offer a sense of predictability, safety, and control. Brain activity decreases when the brain operates in a predictive mode. With each repetition, neural pathways strengthen, making actions feel automatic and less stressful.
Every behavior, experience, and thought is “recorded” in the mind. These mental imprints, known as samskaras, shape our perceptions, reactions, and understanding of the world. You can think of a samskara like the grooves on a vinyl record. Thoughts are conditioned by previous experiences and often repeat themselves unconsciously.
Our yoga practice invites an exploration of positions and movements you don’t always do. You might feel uncomfortable when interlacing your hands in the “wrong” way, but this simple act of doing something different opens your mind to accept and explore change. Giving yourself permission to try things in a new way strengthens these new neural connections and fosters adaptability.
Change disrupts our routines and forces our brains to make new neural connections. However, resistance to change is natural. The mind often resists change because it takes a lot more effort to change. Therefore, rather than fighting with the resistance, it is beneficial to befriend it. Give yourself permission to explore the new thought, habit or routine without expectations that it should be the norm. The more you engage with the new mindset, the stronger those neural connections and the neural connections for the old habits weaken.
Neuroplasticity can happen at any age. Our brains and mind are capable of change. Give yourself the permission to accept changes in whatever form they might take.
By embracing the discomfort of change through yoga, you cultivate mental resilience and openness. As you continue to "Adapt, Adjust, Accommodate," you develop the mental agility needed to accept changes with grace and confidence.
Reach out to us with your questions at info@dogwoodstudioyoga.com. We are here to help. ❤️❤️❤️
Aviva Tulasi is a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT) and studio coordinator at Dogwood Studios. Aviva applies the teachings of classical yoga (movement, focused breathing & meditation) to nourish the nervous system. Aviva’s classes empower students to explore their thought habits in order to promote greater wellbeing both on and off the mat.
SAM Sather, founder of Dogwood Studios, is a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT) and an Insight Yoga Institute (IYI) endorsed teacher. She individualizes the yoga practice with appropriate modifications for participants’ unique bodies and medical histories with a focus on finding calm and improving health. She offers several live, online and in person yoga classes as well as private sessions so you can focus on your needs one-on-one.