What Is GRIT And Grace?

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, an ancient and seminal text on yoga, states that we should practice according to the complimentary principles of Abhyasa (this is a Sanskrit word that means to practice regularly with consistency over time) and Vairagym (non attachment to an immediate particular outcome).

At Yoga Home Sligo, we translate this into a style of practice that means the discipline of showing up consistently but a devotion to showing up without the drama of demands!

We have the Grit to show up on the mat regularly BUT once we are there we have the Grace to meet ourselves where we are on any given day. This means we practice without forcing ourselves to feel a certain way or “perform”. We get real and we commit to staying real. Once we meet reality, all kinds of interesting things become possible!

This kind of authenticity is a fierce practice, but in the long run, it saves a lot of energy because pretending to be other than who and how you truly are is exhausting and deeply depleting. Once we free up this energy, we can restore, rebuild and revitalise on multiple levels.

Meeting yourself where you are does not mean “slacking off” or mean that you don’t grow in strength, endurance, flexibility and skilfulness, but it does mean that these capacities evolve gradually in authentic and therefore sustainable ways. By inviting ourselves into a GRIT and Grace practice we are stepping into a dedicated, curious and fundamentally friendly and appreciative relationship with our bodies, minds and hearts. As as my teacher Judith Hanson Lasater puts it, we

“embrace challenge but drop struggle!”

Dr. Martin Luther King Junior, probably the most prominent civil rights activist of the 20th Century, was not a yoga teacher, but he certainly knew something about meeting reality with discipline and devotion. He was deeply inspired by the Indian leader Gandhi’s Satyagraha movement (means staying grounded in Truth). To me. MLK sums up the essence of Grit and Grace when he wrote this;

“Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic.”

In GRIT and Grace classes, we embrace the challenge of tapping into the power of our bodies and minds in a way that is fully informed by a loving and appreciative relationship with the life force itself—in yoga we call this Prana—so that we channel the power of Prana in ways support our own flourishing as well as the flourishing of our families, our communities and whole tapestry of life.

There are three levels of Grit and Grace practice and you are encouraged to practice at the level that serves you. The levels reflect increasing degrees of challenge in physical postures and sequencing, breath work and meditative practices. Level one is most gentle (suitable for those with some basic familiarity with yoga), level two is moderate (suitable for those with some regularity of practice), level three is more vigorous (suitable for those with regular and consistent practice).

What Is Alignment Flow Yoga Level 1?

In this course we work with the fundamentals of Alignment Flow Yoga, a style of yoga that blends breath based movement with anatomical insight and yoga philosophy. Yoga means union and in this practice we will come to realise the fundamental union of our body mind as we weave thoughts feelings and physical sensations together on the thread of the breath.

We will explore classic poses with gentle variations and play with a flow to build energy and strength while cultivating mobility in both body and mind. Modifications will be offered so that everyone can meet themselves where they are, and we are more interested in poses as containers for awakening experience than in mastering shapes for the sake of how they look.

All students can expect to both release physical, mental and emotional stress and tension while building strength, resilience and courage in body mind and heart.

We'll work with;

-both breath awareness and engagement (special breathing techniques)

-dynamic physical movement that both strengthens and lengthens muscle groups to encourage full mobility and balanced range of motion

-relaxation and rest techniques

-yoga philosophy

Who Is This Course For?

This course is perfect for those newer to yoga or in the early years of yoga practice of yoga especially those who are looking for a combination of dynamic flow, which brings energy and playfulness to our experience, and precise alignment, which keeps our practice safe and sustainable over time.

This course will also work well for those returning after some time away and/or regular practitioners who would like a refresher in the key aspects of alignment that respects the bodies natural architecture and keeps our flow practice safe over time. It’s also an ideal class for those regular yogis who may be looking to dial their efforting back and just want to have a very friendly and gentle experience on the mat.

If you have questions, feel free to contact Cathi 087 1740357

Dates, Times, Pricing

Time: This Class is on Tuesday 6:15pm-7:45pm

March 12-April 23 NO CLASS APRIL 9

At YHS we try hard to balance the necessities of covering business costs with keeping yoga accessible for all. Therefore we implement what we call fair trade pricing. Pricing Summary Below but For Full Explanation Of Fair Trade Yoga Pricing visit www.yogahomesligo.com/fairtradepricing

Supported €75 for those negotiating financial challenge (breaks down to approx €12.50 per class)
Standard €90 for those experiencing financial stability (breaks down to approx €15 per class)
Supporter €108 for those enjoying financial security (breaks down to approx €18 per class)

Furthermore, if you are unable to pay in one instalment and smaller payments over time would be workable, please inquire about a payment plan. This can apply to any of the three rates. The payment plans will be worked out on a case-by-case basis upon request.

* If a course had already started, it may still be possible to join if the course is not sold out. You Can still choose your tier (supported/standard/supporter) The fee will be pro-rated accordingly (€12.50/15/18) for every class missed.

Drop-in attendance may be possible if course is not sold out. Drop-in is €18 per class.

For Terms and Conditions, visit www.yogahomesligo.com/tscs

Financial challenge will not be a barrier to practice at Yoga Home Sligo so if you cannot afford the pricing outlined above, please contact me and we will work something out.