Ask Our Yoga Teachers - Emotional Release in Your Yoga Class
March 7th, 2008 by Kreg Weiss
Q: Dear My Yoga Staff, Why did I feel emotional at the end of Kreg’s Deep Energy Flow class and Clara’s Moon Salutation class? P.S. I luv this site.
A: Emotional releases are common in Yoga practices especially when we allow ourselves to shed internal holding. When we deeply connect with the trueness of the asana and breath, an energetic connection also forms. This energetic connection can combine with the emotional energy that is often contained deep in our subconscious. As we “allow” physical release to manifest in the asana (and this is the most powerful way to practice asana – no ego, but instead observance), this release transmits into “emotional-surfacing”.
A wide range of factors can help with this development of allowance and release:
*your mood or state of thought during the practice
*your intention or attitude towards your overall practice (is it a “workout” or do you practice on a more spiritual level?)
*type of music or incorporation of sound techniques (music and sound energy can have powerful effects)
*type of postures (forward bends requires one to greatly observe allowance to be done effectively, thus are often accompanied by energetic and emotional release)
*targetting of energy centers (chakras) - certain energy centers govern emotions and by engaging them through asana, we may experience emotional connection and release
In terms of these specific practices, go back and remember when the emotional release began to occur. Was it during a specific pose, a specific piece of music, or was it related to outside experiences flowing with your practice?
The mind stores experiences and vast amounts of information. Like a filing cabinet, we may not be able to see (and likely forget) a great portion of the contents stored in the mind. Our practice, though, allows this information and experiences (which carry emotions with them) to resurface. Enjoy this resurfacing regardless of what the emotion is. Simply observe. There are no good or bad emotions in this case. It is what it is. Appreciate your ability to connect and release.
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