Experiencing the Three Realms of Consciousness

I attended a yoga workshop with yoga teacher, Seane Corn, this weekend. I've taken workshops with her before, so I knew what I was getting into. I always get inspired from her workshops, podcasts, and other email blasts she may send out. However, each time I attend a workshop, I discover more about myself.

She talked about the Three Realms of Consciousness and how it can be applied to your yoga practice, specifically Vinyasa style, but any style will work. The Three Realms are:
1) Physical/Mental
2) Emotional/Energetic
3) Spiritual/Symbolic

The physical/mental is utilized in the physical practice of yoga, where one takes the time to understand their limitations in the poses; the benefits of the sequence of poses; and an awareness of alignment, so you're not just "dumping" into the poses. Once you've worked the body, the emotional/energetic aspect of the practice emerges. This occurs when, after moving and stretching the physical body (muscles, bones, connective tissues, etc.), old memories, traumas, experiences can be released. The spiritual/symbolic, to me, is different for everyone. It's that time when you make the "connection." You "get it." You may realize, Wow! I can let that go and take my power back. You connect with your intuition, the essence of who you are.

There were many things that came up for me, but mostly self-inquiry. It's something that has come up for me in the past, but I used to ignore it because I felt ashamed or a failure. The questions that arose, "Why do I practice yoga?" "Why do I teach it?" "What draws me to the practice?" "Why did I start yoga?' and "Am I open to being in the present, or do I shutdown?"

I don't have any answers, but these are great! Like I said before, I used to feel ashamed or a failure for thinking these things because it was those "times" when teaching yoga, I was not present. I was just moving through the motions because I thought I "had to." I went through a 500 hour yoga teacher training, I SHOULD teach!

So when these questions came up during the workshop, I felt grounded. I felt more open and willing to be with the inquiry and the emotions that came up. I felt okay. and this was huge for me.

We also delved into the Seven Chakra (energy centers) of the body. For me, this is where it all came together. It's amazing what you can find out about yourself when you apply this body of knowledge with yoga. For instance, tight or pain in the hips may be due to a block in the 1st or 2nd chakras (survival, relationships, sexuality, fear, abandonment issues). One of the best books to reference the chakras is Eastern Body Western Mind by Anodea Judith. Although, she doesn't apply it to yoga specifically, it's an amazing journey to understanding and having more compassion for yourself.

I'm going to stop for now, but I plan to continue a more deeper inquiry each time I practice yoga. Utilizing these three realms of consciousness and the chakras, I feel simple self-inquiry can take us a long way, even if the question is "what do I want to do?"