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Yoga Chikista. What is it?
How to adapt your yoga practice to accommodate injuries
or physical limitations.
All Asana practices are not created equal. And all Asana
practices are not for everyone. Understanding your body needs
through general Asana practice is just the first step in
learning how to bring greater vitality and wellness to
yourself for your life long journey. Generally, in a
public class of 10 or more people, a yoga practitioner
cannot address the individual needs of someone injured
or someone with physical limitations, with full attention.
Even if you alert your instructor of your physical
limitation you still put yourself at risk for further
injury or discomfort if you attend a public class
with an injury, without an evaluation of your physical limitation..
Yoga Chikista is the study and practice of yoga for you
individual needs to create maximum health and vitality.
It is a one on one session with you and a teacher. All
yoga is therapeutic but, not all types of yoga are
therapeutic for everyone.
The theory and practice of Yoga Chikista may vary
depending on which lineage of yoga you consult. Vini-Yoga,
Iyangar Yoga and Phoenix Rising Yoga, are just a few
traditions which dedicate the practice of yoga (or asana practice)
towards meeting the individual needs of the student
Having an Asana practice tailored to your individual needs
requires a practitioner of yoga to become familiar with
your particular body alignment needs, your breathing
characteristics and your overall health history.
Typically an initial private yoga session should include a
health history intake, some experimentation with yoga
props and postures, home work, and then finally the
practitioner watching your progress with this practice
over a series of weeks or months.
Aside from the use of yoga postures or asana practice to
create wellness, ancient breathing practices to awaken
Prana (energy) called Pranayama can also be prescribed
based on the energetic needs of your body. Certain
Pranayama breathing techniques can be very helpful for
stress and insomnia. Similar to how an acupuncturist
will read the energetic pulses of your body and prescribe
treatment. A practitioner rooted in the tradition of
Yoga Chikista will read your body energy based on the
flow of breath, and body energy, based on the flow of
physical and energetic movements. Class participation
in a public yoga classes will assist in increasing your
vitality however, if you have an injury or other health
concerns, it is important that you schedule a one to
one session with your yoga teacher so that he or she can
assist you in creating an at home or individual practice
based on your individual needs.
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Yoga Chikista. What is it?
How to adapt your yoga practice to accommodate injuries
or physical limitations.
Yoga Chitta.
The state of mind you bring to yoga.
What is your state of mind when you arrive at your yoga class?
Are you rushing from work, stuck in a traffic jam and late for class,
arguing with a spouse or fretting over something from your work day..?
The practice of yoga Chitta is about mindfulness. It is the practice
and study of how to be mindful, to your self, your neighbors, a way
of living, of feeling and thinking. Your feelings and thoughts
effect you, your practice and others around you.
A simple way to practice yoga chitta is by making a conscious
effort to clear your mind before a practice or activity which
involves care of the self or others.
This includes: teaching, yoga practice, eating lunch, visiting
a friend or even sitting down to enjoy your favorite movie.
This ancient practice can be cultivated by using the tools of
asana practice and through simple breathing or pranayama or
just through simple meditation before an activity. Turn off
your thinking and let your mind get lost in the magic of your body.
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