Kintsugi Yoga & Meditation
by Berna Horozoglu
Classes
Yin Yoga
Yin Yoga is a slow-paced style of yoga as exercise with asanas (postures) that are held for longer periods of time—it may range from 45 seconds to 2-5 minutes; you are mainly focused on the effects of tensile loads on your tissues. Yin yoga can help prevent restrictions that occur as a result of the binding of tissues, such as muscles and fascia.
Mindfulness Meditation
Meditation is like the Fight Club, no rules ! "Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.” according to Jon Kabat-Zinn. I use different meditation styles in my classes; such as guided, zazen, breathe, walking, compassion, body scanning (Yoga Nidra), gratitude, with Tibetan singing bowls, etc.
Vinyasa Flow
Vinyasa means to “flow” by stringing postures together so that you move from one to another, seamlessly, using breath. So breathe initiates the movements. Ujjayi Breath is the breathing technique used. It is done by inhaling and exhaling in a rhythmic manner through the nose. It is not a power yoga and the classes are never alike with fixed poses.
TRE
Shaking is a natural response to extreme stress – whether it’s an actual life or death situation. Trauma Release Exercises) can radically transform the way we deal with stress, particularly old and accumulated baggage. We can all feel how stress creates patterns of muscular tension in the body – it might go to your stomach, your jaw or your shoulders, for example. It can lead to pain (back pain being a prime example) and have a knock-on effect on our behaviour – anger, road rage or even something more serious such as turning the stress inwards by self-harming. TRE is said to work by rewiring our nervous system, setting us free from those default stress patterns, which were set up to protect us. It’s been referred to as ‘trauma-proofing’. We can’t stop difficult life events when they break us.
Somatic Movements
The term Somatic means ‘embodied’ or ‘of the body’. Somatics is about body-mind integration. Our muscles can become tight or restricted due to development reasons, habitual patterns, emotional stress, injuries or trauma. Small, slow and gentle movements are used to re-educate the brain so that it can relax and move these muscles more functionally. These can be specially prescribed by a body-work practitioner or used as general principles to complement other practices. Its benefits are :
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Improves mobility, strength and posture.
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Reduces neuromuscular pain and symptoms related to chronically-tight muscles such as headaches, frozen shoulder, and breathing difficulties.
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Creates greater body awareness.
Breathe Work
Breathing is automatic and not automatic at the same time. Respiratory function is controlled in the brain stem, the part of the brain that controls the basic things that keep us alive, like a heartbeat. You still breathe when you're unconscious, asleep or anaesthetised. It's almost a miracle when you are able to let breathe to breathe itself. I use breathe and different pranayama techniques as the main base in my classes.
