Stretching Through International Day Of Yoga With Song Of The Morning

International Day of Yoga will be celebrated across the world on Thursday.

“Yoga is a science, a system, a philosophy, a way of life,” said Linda Gabby, Chair of the Lotus Board at Song of the Morning.

It’s been a way of life for Linda for the last 25 years.

“It’s really just become just a commitment to life…of your own self and your own practices,” she explained.

Yoga is a physical and spiritual practice.

“It is a full way of breathing, it’s a full way of life, and it addresses not only the physical aspect of the feat with yoga, but also someone’s lifestyle and the world around us,” she said.

The physical aspect of yoga focuses on strength training and flexibility.

“A system of postures and movement that involves stretching, testing and flexing, so that you are moving the body,” Gabby said.

Stretching beyond the focus of muscles.

“It enables the organs to be massaged, the spine to be straight so that energy can flow, it allows the mind to be calm so that we’re able to be center and do whatever is you’re trying to accomplish,” she said. “There’s a focus on alignment and breath and so it’s all aspects of the body of the mind.”

There are many types of yoga.

Some, you might have to bend over backwards for to fit in your routine.

Others, you could practice right at home.

“Meditations is one aspect of it,” she said. “The purpose of the mediation is to be aware for your own being and in that, know where you are, what this is, what your practice is and how you can manifest it,” she aid.

Kira Harrison is the programs coordinator at Song of the Morning.

She’s seen her overall health improve through yoga and meditation.

“I used to deal with a lot of chronic fatigue,” Harrison said. “It makes such a difference in my energy level in my life.”

Now, she instructs.

“It’s something I really love, like facilitating people connecting with themselves on whatever level, just tapping into that is something I really love, however it’s received different for each person,” she said.

Putting a class together is called sequencing,

She focuses her sessions around what’s called practical sequencing.

“Which is basically just practice of movement that will help people move more easily in their lives,” she said.

As the breeze fills the room overlooking the beautiful greenery of the Pigeon River Forest, you’re reminded to stay in the moment.

“It doesn’t always feel great and doesn’t always look great because it’s life and life isn’t always pretty but I think underlying all that, what makes yoga wonderful, is that it offers you to meet life in a certain way,” she said. “It’s life met with more grace.”

For more information about how Song of the Morning will be celebrating, click .