Yoga to connect to intuition and purpose
Have you ever felt a deep sense of unease but you don’t know why, that something is out of place and you suddenly crave meaning and purpose? That little niggle that you’re not quite where you should be but you’re not sure how to get there?
We all have divine guidance available to us but that moment where we start to question who and where we are can often be the start of an awakening to our spirituality and connection to the universe, a greater power.
At our very core, the most powerful tool that we have in our physical and mental health is already ours, our intuition leading us towards a life of meaning, purpose and even guiding us on how to nurture our physical body.
This month our practice is designed to support you to tune in to inner and spiritual guidance. This powerful practice includes our senses, working with aromatherapy and crystal healing alongside a physical yoga practice to stimulate our physical and energetic body.
Step 1: Set the mood with essential oils.
Frankincense is the go-to oil for connecting to our spiritual side. Pop a few drops of frankincense in an oil diffuser to enhance your practice or dilute with a carrier oil before applying a drop directly on the skin at the third eye centre, just between the eyebrows.
Step 2: Take your focus inward, with crystal support.
Sit comfortably, close your eyes and breathe in and out through your nose, simply noticing your breath to begin with, then starting to breathe deeper all the way down to your tummy. For connection and intuition, amethyst can aid your meditation by holding in cupped, open hands and then visualising the same purple of the amethyst at the crown of your head, imagining that you are allowing any spiritual easily flowing to you through the crown and creating a deep sense of trust in your inner knowing.
Step 3: Three yoga poses to ground and guide.
Finding your path, understanding who you are and breaking free of societal expectation to be guided through faith and intuition is amazing, but also can be rough. These yin poses balance connecting to intuition and guidance with calming and grounding.
Hold each pose for 2–5 minutes, repeating the affirmation in your head to yourself and notice anything that comes up for you, any physical or emotional reactions to the affirmations to explore later through journaling.
Toe squat with hands at third eye.
Tuck your toes under and sit back on your heels, you may need to adjust your little toes by gently moving them out to the sides. Sit your weight back if you can, keeping spine long. Bring your hands to together into prayer and place your thumbs at the third eye centre, just between the eyebrows.
(If this is too strong on your feet or ankles simply bring the hands down and shift weight forwards slightly).
Affirmation: I trust my intuition.
Child’s pose
Bring knees together or hip distance apart. Sit back towards your heels, and fold forward with your head on the floor, arms can wrap behind you for a really gentle child’s pose. Draw your attention to the point between your brows, the third-eye space, where your forehead is in contact with the mat, blanket or block.
(If you need to fill any gaps you can pop a block or folded blanket etc under your forehead, you can also pop a cushion or rolled blanket between your heels and bottom for extra comfort)
Affirmation: All I need is already within me.
Waterfall (Legs up the wall pose)
Using either a wall to support your legs, or a yoga block, bolster, cushion or rolled up blanket to create a support for the base of your lower back.
Lie on your mat and place your chosen prop for support to lift your hips on to slightly elevate and extend the legs up (alternatively rest them against the wall). They do not have to be completely straight. Try to relax the shoulders and upper back down to the mat.
Affirmation: My mind is quiet and calm.
