Yoga journal
Peilan Yang
6:00PM-7: 15PM MW
01/13
This is my first time take yoga class. The teacher leads us do some simple pose on
this class. I feel that those are not very hard for me. I think is a good beginning for
yoga practice. I want to keep practice at home in the future.
01/18
This class is a little bit difficult for me. Because teacher add more poses in the class. I
feel little bit tired after class. But on the final we do the Savasana pose. This pose
helps people calm the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression. And it also
helps me relaxes the body.
01/19
Today I practice yoga at home. I do some basic pose from class, like downward-
facing dog pose. This is a vey basic pose in the class. This pose helps me stretches
the shoulders, hamstrings, calves, arches, and hands. And this pose also helps me
energizes the body. I try to practice more pose at home.
01/20
Today’s class is still not very easy for me. But my body feels really relaxed after the
class. And it helps me release the stress. And I try to adjust my breathe during the
practice. I realize that breath is a vey important part for yoga. I will more focus on it.
01/22
I watch some yoga videos online. And I notice some useful tips from the video. For
example, balance the postures with relaxation. Working with the body or mind alone
is usually not enough to create the inner strength and equilibrium I hope for. A
balanced combination of asana practice and mental centering will engender a sense
of well bing.
01/25
From today class, I noticed that breathing is a very important part of yoga. Breathing
is a powerful tool for managing stress. Breath gives us a tool with which we can
explore the subtler structures of our mental and emotional worlds. When the breath
changes, that tells me that something is happening in my mind. When something
happens in my mind, like a disturbing thought for example, my breath will reflect
that back to you.
01/27
Music is a good tool to help me release stress. In the class, teacher likes to play some
Yoga music. So I try to find some yoga music online. I think music help me become relax
quickly. And I become more enjoy the process of practice yoga. And yoga music is also
very useful for clear the mind.
01/30
Yoga really helps me sleep better than before. Because I always have lots of sleep
problems. I try many ways to get better sleep. But I think yoga is most healthy and useful
way for me. I noticed that yoga improved my sleep quality. I will keep practice yoga in
the future.
02/01
When I take the yoga class, I always find some people did better than me. At beginning, I
feel little confuse about it. But now I realize that I don’t need to compare myself to
everyone others. I can learn so much by observing others people’s talents. I just need to
trust that if I apply myself and show up regularly my practice will thrive.
02/03
From today class I noticed that I don’t need to push myself too hard. People always
encouraged to try new poses, but not if it means struggling in pain. I don’t want myself
get hurts.
02/06
This week I read some information about the 5 Yamas. It’s including Non-
Harming(Ahimsa), truthfulness(Satya), Non-Stealing(Asteya), Moderating the
Senses(Brahmacharya), Non-Possessiveness(Aparigraha).
02/08
Today I learned some knowledge about Niyamas. Nitama iterally means positive duties
or observances. These are the rules prescribed for personal observance. Like the Yamas,
the five niyamas are not exercises or actions to be simply studied. They represent far
more than an attitude. Compared with the yamas, the niyamas are more intimate and
personal. They refer to the attitude we adopt toward ourselves as we create a code for
living soulfully.
02/10
The first Niyama is Sauca, which means purity and cleanliness. The second one is
Santosa, Santosa is having a sense of modesty and the feeling of being content with what
we have. The third one is Tapas. Tapas means to disciplined use of our energy. And
buring desire to reach self-realization. The fouth is Svadhyaya, which means “inquiry” or
“examination”. And the last on e is Isvarapranidhana, svarapranidhana means “to lay all
your actions at the feet of God.”
02/13