What can animals teach us in our yoga practice? Dru Yoga has a focus on the elements of nature, earth, sky, sun and moon along with trees and oceans. However many of the asanas, or postures in yoga are named after animals like the cat, dog, eagle, cobra, crane and camel to name a few. It makes sense really as if you observe animals closely you will notice they are often more connected to their bodies than humans. Animals truly live in the here and now. Before or after they pause to rest they stretch. They seem to understand they need to move and stretch their bodies in certain ways to maintain their health and mobility. The practice of ancient yogis was influenced by observing and imitating the movement and rest of animals. The wisdom of animals is captured today in yoga poses and honored with the name.

Sarah Robinson in her book “Yoga for Witches” says “as we journey through yoga to unite body, mind and spirit, animals are a fantastic inspiration: strong, agile, flexible, instinctive and aware.” There is also a great deal of symbolism associated with animals in myth and folklore. Many of us would resonate with a favourite animal and there are lots of different ways we may wish to connect with animals. Despite the novelty factor maybe it is why yoga in association with animals like kitten yoga, goat yoga and “doga” are becoming so popular. It is Mental Health Week right now and there is much evidence to suggest the beneficial nature of pets and animals for our mental health and well being. An article from Beyond Blue lists many ways pets can positively impact your well being including not judging you, providing companionship and encouraging you to be more active.

Join me in Term 4 as we explore in class the theme of Animal Wisdom as we practice a different yoga pose based on animals each week. I will also share a related “Spirit of the Animal” oracle card from the beautifully illustrated card deck by Colette Baron-Reid. I encourage you each week to tune into the qualities and symbolism related to each animal and how it may or may not resonate with you. I will also be donating 10% of my profits this term to SAFE Bunbury as well as a collection tin for donations at class.

In the first week we will start with possibly my favourite animal and yoga pose, the Cat (Marjariasana) which is done kneeling on all fours, or standing / sitting cat, and consists of two wavelike movements originating from the base of the spine. One flow hollows the back while the other arches it much like a cat. Practicing this posture offers so much but particularly supports us to gain awareness of the vertebrae along the length of the spine. We inhale as we hollow the spine and exhale as we arch. Feel into lengthening from the tailbone and sense, feel or imagine you have a spine as flexible as a cats spine with a tail even! It is always such a pleasure to watch a cat stretch, they make it look so easy. A healthy spine means a healthy, happy life so let the Cat posture bring with it a wonderful sense of free flow and harmony.

The animal I chose for my logo is the peacock, and while we will probably not be practicing the Peacock Pose, listen to the wisdom of the “Prana the Peacock” and Let it Shine! Come along to yoga class and shake a tail feather in the activation, be joyful and shine your light for all to see. Please feel free to leave a comment below to let me know what animal you resonate with.

Term 3 has come to an end as we move past the spring equinox and the days begin to get longer giving us more time to practice yoga outside in nature. Over the term we have worked with the theme “Embracing the Elements” so I encourage you to go for a mindful walk in nature and take it all in. Mindful walking is a perfect way to create balance and equanimity. We have never needed nature more than we do now and a recent study suggests a short ‘awe’ walk in nature at least once a week, preferably daily, can combat negative emotions and help maintain a healthy mind. Read more about this study in the journal Emotion.

Getting some physical exercise is vital but you also benefit from ‘innercise’ as you focus on being fully present as you walk. When we are stressed and anxious we often pace, we know that walking and moving helps alleviate stress and it is even better if done outdoors in nature. Walking in nature allows us to absorb negative ions which stimulates fresh energy, or prana, and aliveness. Spending time in nature near green trees and the oxygen rich ocean reduces stress levels. Open spaces fill us with feelings of expansiveness, optimism and hope.

As you walk concentrate on your breathing, the movement of your feet with each step, the muscles involved in walking. At the same time bring in all five senses as you notice what you can see, the colours, the light, the textures and shapes. Notice what you can smell, the eucalyptus leaves, the freshly mown grass, the smell of rain or the saltiness of the ocean. Notice what you can hear, the birds, the wind in the trees, the ebb and flow of the tide of the ocean. Notice if there any tastes in your mouth, from your surroundings or a recent meal or drink. Bring your awareness to touch the bark of a tree, a smooth rock and beautiful feather you find on your walk. You can even take a ‘thank you’ walk and practice gratitude while walking.

You might like to even practice some of the Dru Yoga sequences outdoors with a focus on the elements. Practice the Dru Star Breath that balances all the five elements at the heart space and is so beneficial to do outdoors with an awareness of the beauty and harmony of nature all around you. The Salutation to Four Directions sequence can also be done with a focus on a different element and colour as you face each of the four points on the compass, finishing with one further round of the sequence focusing on the element of space.

Many of the Dru Yoga sequences incorporate different mudras, or hand gestures, that can enhance your yoga and meditation practice. The Salutation to Dhruva sequence includes the Energisation Mudra with all 5 fingers and thumbs on both hands joined. The Water Sequence includes the Lotus Mudra with the little fingers and thumbs touching as in the picture below. Each of our fingers represents one of the five elements.

Enjoy practicing and being playful with the elements. Remember you are made of all five elements, you are grounded and stable like earth, you are creative and nurturing like water, you are strong and radiant like fire, your are compassionate and joyful like air, you are connected and still like space. Rest in stillness and embrace the elements as you feel a sense of connection with everything that is.

Julia Baird in her new book “Phosphorescence: on awe, wonder & things that sustain you when the world goes dark” writes about how to find, nurture and carry your own inner light to ward off the darkness. Bathing in nature, seeing green leaves, feeling the earth beneath our feet and basking in sunlight can only support us to become happier, healthier and more resilient. Embrace the elements, the more nature, the better you will feel.

In my first blog post I touched a little on some of the components and principles of Dru Yoga and why I resonate with it as a yoga practice and now as a yoga teacher. The word Dru comes from the Sanskrit word ‘dhruva’ which is the name for the north star which does not move. Dhruva symbolises the constant, immovable or fixed or as we refer to it in Dru the ‘still point’. In that stillness we can sit back from anything that is happening around us and see things from a point of clarity and inner calm. This is why I chose the name True Equanimity Yoga as Dru gives me the tools and practices to help me maintain mental calmness even in times of stress.

Dru Yoga is accessible and inclusive for beginners, all ages, fitness levels and every ‘body’. It is a slow, subtle and mindful practice which regulates the nervous system. Dru Yoga includes yoga asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing), mudras, positive affirmations, empowering visualisations, sequences and relaxation performed in a flowing and dynamic style.

A typical Dru Yoga class is a little different from most other yoga classes and will generally have these components in the following order:

• Activations

Classes start standing for a systematic activation of the body from head to foot which frees tension, dispels tiredness, enhances circulation, increases our physical awareness and allows our energy to flow outwards. In my classes these are done to more lively and up beat music and can be social and fun!

• Energy Block Release (EBR) Sequences

The 3 main EBR sequences are easy to do yet they are potent and able to dissolve physical, energetic, emotional and mental blockages. EBR sequences generally conclude lying down in crocodile (makarasana) posture to allow the benefits of the movements to ‘rest and digest.’

• Flowing Postures and Movement Sequences

There are many sequences with specific effects and outcomes but all sequences are done in flowing manner which is subtle, slow and gentle. An example is the grounding and flowing Earth Salute Sequence which can be viewed on Dru Yoga Online Studio.

• Deep Relaxation

This is a very important part of any yoga class. In a Dru Yoga class the 10-15 minute relaxation at the end of class allows the energy which has been stimulated an opportunity to anchor and settle in the right way in order to create internal balance. The Dru Foundation Relaxation has four stages including progressive muscle relaxation, softening the body using the breath, resting in stillness and re-energising the body.

There are some energetic principles of Dru Yoga which are the foundations for safe and effective practice of all Dru postures and sequences:

• Energy Blockages

Energy becomes blocked in the spine and in all the joints of the body. Energy Block Release sequences can reverse this process and assist to detoxify the body.

• Soft Joints

Energy gets blocked when the joint are locked, therefore in a Dru Yoga class we keep our joints soft e.g. knees, elbows.

• Spinal Movements

The spine is dynamic and stiffness in the spine is another cause of energy blocks in the body. All movements in Dru Yoga originate from the spine and I will often refer to uncurling from the base of the spine or the ‘spinal wave’.

• Sequences

Every posture and movement comes from somewhere and goes somewhere. Consider every posture as a sequence.

In a Dru Yoga class there are some guidelines about the practical application of breathing which is very basically whenever we contract the body we exhale and whenever we expand the body we inhale.

• In-breath and out-breath

On an in-breath we expand the body, for example raising the arms over head on an inhalation. On an out-breath we contract, for example moving the arms downwards and inwards. Whenever we squeeze or compress the body we exhale, for example as we forward bend. Twisting also squeezes the body so we breathe out as we twist and breathe in as we return from the twist.

• Integrate movement with breathing

One crucial aspect for all yoga practice is the integration of breath with movement. In order to synchronise movement with the breath our minds must be attentive to the process of conscious inhalation and exhalation.

• Inhalation (energy) and exhalation (release)

The inhalation can provide you with the energy you require to adopt a posture, while exhalation allows you to release tension so that your body can relax more deeply into the pose.

To break automatic breathing patterns it can assist to allow a short pause of 1-2 seconds after each inhalation and exhalation. You can also deepen your breath by adding in abdominal or belly breathing or deep yogic breathing during your yoga practice.

Dru Yoga will help you become more aware of all the layers of your being (koshas) including the physical, energetic, emotional and mental. Dru Yoga works with the flow of energy within our body to access every level of our being. So enjoy the journey and if in doubt just Dru it!

My logo created by my talented husband Aubrey at Pixel Smith Studio is inspired by the beautiful peacock. So what is the symbolism of the peacock and why did I choose it for my logo? I remember growing up loving peacock feathers and being told they bring bad luck. To me peacock feathers are a symbol of renewal as their entire tail of feathers is renewed each year. In Buddhist tradition they are symbols of wisdom and enlightenment while in Native American tradition the peacock is a symbol of dignity, wholeness and beauty. The peacock is the national bird of India and in Hindu tradition represents benevolence, patience, kindness and compassion.

To me the peacock symbolises allowing your true colours to show. Be more peacock in your approach to life as you face challenges with courage and confidence. These are all good qualities to bring to yoga on and off the mat but don’t worry I won’t be teaching the peacock pose in a Dru Yoga class anytime soon!

PS – The yoga class has given our mascot a name, I am pleased to introduce Prana Peacock!

Many people turn to yoga to reduce stress or relieve back pain but one of the reasons I love particularly Dru Yoga is the greater sense of connection it gives me with myself, the community and nature. At a recent yoga workshop my teacher Sarah had the theme of connection and she described how she has set an intention to connect with nature each day. Yoga outside in nature and Dru Yoga with its visualisations based in nature and the elements helps me to connect with something bigger than myself. However I am also interested to explore how yoga increases feelings of social connection. We can often come to class feeling separate or disconnected after a busy day.

I have been doing lots of reading about the vagus nerve and its key role in stress resilience. Dru Yoga with its heart opening postures tones the vagal nerve which in turn increases feelings of social connection. In a yoga class we are hopefully moving in a synchronised way which also creates bonding and after a class we can often feel that have been a part of something larger. Being fully present in the moment also has a powerful effect on social bonding. Yoga means union and evidence is starting to show why and how that union or connection arises.

Social connection makes us feel better as it helps prevent loneliness, isolation and depression. So with that in mind this year I decided to organise a Neighbour Day Yoga and Afternoon Tea in my community of Dalyellup. Neighbour Day is Australia’s annual celebration of community, encouraging people to connect with those who live in their neighbourhood. In a culture that increasingly tends towards isolation and less face to face interactions the experience of social connection has far reaching implications on the body and mind.

Welcome to the new blog page for True Equanimity Yoga. Here I will try and expand further on what I like to call “The Dru Essence” of this heart based yoga which is so beneficial for your body, mind and spirit. But first let me tell you a bit more about myself and my journey with Dru Yoga.

I have been practising Dru Yoga for nearly a decade in weekly classes with my teacher Sarah and my own daily practice. I have never really been into sport, preferring to walk in nature for exercise, and hated physical education as school as I was always the last one picked for the team. After the birth of my son I gained some weight and went through some difficult times in my relationship that impacted on my emotional well-being. I had been attending a local gym to be fitter and because it had a creche. While I persevered with the treadmill and weights the only activity I truly enjoyed was the “Body Balance” class on a Saturday morning. So when the gym closed down I sought out a yoga class and found Sarah’s Dru Yoga class at the local RSL. I immediately knew I had found my ‘tribe’ and have been going to a Dru Yoga class weekly ever since. Yoga and meditation have become an integral part of my daily life both on and off the mat. Dru Yoga has helped me manage anxiety, regulate my emotions, improve my core strength and pelvic floor as well as keeping me flexible.

In 2011 I decided to pursue the Dru Yoga Teacher Training course which I had learnt would be coming to Perth for the first time in 2013. Unfortunately a new job and other life events meant I had to make the hard decision to not start the course in 2013 and I finally commenced the teacher training in 2017. It was all meant to be and I am excited to now be able to share the positive health and wellbeing that Dru Yoga can offer with others. There are all types of yoga and you have to find the style that resonates with you. There is however a seemingly growing trend towards what I will call ‘fitness yoga’ whereas Dru Yoga is much more subtle, soft and slow at the same time as being potent. Dru Yoga is ‘resilience yoga’ and while it assists with flexibility, stretching and strengthening, for me the biggest benefits are on the emotional and mental layers of our being. Dru Yoga has assisted me to feel calm, grounded and relaxed and deal with the anxieties and stresses of everyday living. Emerging research suggests that practices like Dru Yoga change your nervous system, decrease inflammation, improve mental health, reduce chronic pain, and build resilience.

A typical Dru Yoga class starts a little differently than other yoga classes with activations to free tension, enhance circulation and awaken the energy in the body. If you have come to class after a busy day you might feel tired but you can access that energy or prana which is lying dormant within you. Activations in a Dru Yoga class are also a fun and social way to get started and interact with others. Following the activation are Energy Block Release sequence’s which are unique to Dru Yoga. These movements can help unblock energy and have proven to be very effective in clearing stress, relieving physical tension and emotional blocks. The next component is probably more familiar and involves a range of flowing postures and sequences such as the cat, downward dog, tree and sun sequence. I will discuss the energetic principles of Dru Yoga in more detail in future blog post.

The final and most important part of any yoga class is yoga nidra or relaxation. In a Dru Yoga class everything we practice is leading up to being able to settle into deep relaxation for at least ten minutes at the end of class. During relaxation the ‘rest and digest’ response assists your body, heart and mind to rebalance. Savasana, or ‘corpse pose’, is far from the easiest pose and is in fact a master pose. Can you keep your mind from wandering? Can you relax completely and not fidget? Can you relax completely and not fall asleep? Can you remain present in your body as you let go of your body? To accompany this blog I could have included a photo of myself doing a visually interesting yoga posture like warrior, dancer or downward dog. I could NOT include a photo myself doing an impressive yoga posture like a shoulder stand or the wheel pose because I am not yet able to do these inversions and back bends. So I chose to include a photo of myself settled on my mat, with my bolster under my knees, ready to completely surrender to stillness. Sound good? Come along and give a Dru Yoga class a go! The good news is that for people living a busy, stressful lifestyle just ten to twenty minutes deep relaxation can clear the effect of hours of stress.