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Kriplau is a yoga of compassion. Kripalu yoga, like many forms of yoga, involves instruction in asanas, or physical postures, pranayam, or breathing exercises, and meditation, but it also incorporates so much more.
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When practicing Kripalu yoga, there is also an emphasis on practicing compassion for oneself, developing self-acceptance, being aware of the activity of the mind while practicing and most importantly practicing all of the above in what is referred to as “yoga off the mat.”
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Unlike many forms of exercise where you may push yourself over your limit or may be exercising without paying attention to signals from your body, Kriplau yoga is practiced with full awareness and the ability to honor what your body needs at that moment.
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Step 1
During this stage, the student focuses on learning the postures and working with correct alignment and placement. In addition, the student learns to coordinate the breath with the movement.
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While focusing on the breath, the emphasis is on keeping the mind one-hundred-percent present in the moment and aware of sensations in the body and thoughts in the mind that are occurring in response to the practice.
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Step 3
This stage helps the student to strengthen their flow of breath and develop mental concentration.
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In this stage, the student begins to hold the postures for longer periods.
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While holding the postures, the student may begin to become aware of and learn to release tensions and emotions he may or may not have been aware of.
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Step 3
In this stage, the body becomes physically stronger and mental concentration is enhanced.
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In this step, the student takes the postures they have been working on and begins to create a flowing sequence, moving slowly and deliberately from one posture to the next.
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This should be a spontaneous flow in response to what the body is feeling. The student moves beyond thinking about what postures to do and instead listens to signals from the body as to what it needs.
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The flow can be actual postures or any other movement that the body is calling for.
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Many times as the student develops compassion for the body and deepens her self awareness in her yoga class, she will often make other healthy life style changes. This can include losing weight, cessation of smoking and making time for regular exercise and stress management.
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As we develop greater compassion for ourselves, we can then be more compassionate towards others and learn to listen better and be accepting of others needs.
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By learning to be fully present on your yoga mat, you can then learn to be fully present in life.
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Since Kripalu yoga is not about specific postures, any yoga posture or stretch can be practiced using the Kripalu approach by keeping the above philosophies in mind.
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Each time you step on your mat or sit in a chair or on the floor to practice, you have the opportunity to practice yoga for the first time. Our bodies are different everyday and so should our yoga practice. Kripalu yoga is not about forcing your self to go deeper just because you did so the last time you practiced.
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Be willing to not only discover what your body’s need, abilities or limitations are but also be open to honoring them as well.
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Step 4
There are many great books and videos on yoga, however, if you are new to yoga, it is best to study with a teacher to ensure you are using correct alignment. Once you become familiar with your body and how to keep your joints safe, then a home practice is fine.
