Yoga BLOG

Learning to set boundaries with yoga – this is how you do it Are you surrounded by people and unable to distance yourself from their energies, opinions, or views? Many people are familiar with this problem, as we have learned to put others before our own needs. In this article, we want to help you integrate saying "NO" more fully. Yoga can be very helpful in this context: It increases relaxation within your own system and directs energy to where it's needed. Why is setting boundaries so important? Anyone who spends a lot of time with other people, for example in the medical profession or various social professions that require people to come together, should know how to set boundaries. Those who can communicate their boundaries are more aware of themselves and can more easily perceive their own needs. This requires a little practice and the development of language that is clear yet gentle. If you find it difficult to set boundaries, it means that you often carry around thoughts or feelings of other people that do not belong to you. Your energy levels will be significantly better when you can clearly identify and express your limits. You'll save energy for things that don't help you progress or even drag you down. Stress at work or at home will decrease. Whether at work or within your family and circle of friends, setting boundaries is important to protect your energy and your spirit in the long term. It's essential that you manage to achieve a good balance between giving and taking. Of course, it's great to help others and be there for them. However, you must realize that you can only truly give if you have enough energy within yourself. Thanks to healthy boundaries, your life will be much more self-determined and the feeling of being left out will be significantly reduced. What is the reason why it is so difficult to set boundaries? A large portion of humanity struggles with successfully withdrawing. We'd like to explain why this is the case in the following list: The world has become so fast-paced these days, almost everyone has a smartphone, which creates a constant urge to be present. This means that people often no longer consciously know whether they need time for themselves or would rather be socially active. Furthermore, the amount of time spent online on screens is constantly increasing, not decreasing. Work and leisure are becoming increasingly blurred, so that there is no longer a clear boundary. In addition, the pressure to be better increases and few can see their individual strengths. Highly sensitive people find it even harder to set boundaries. If you're one of them, you can learn more about this topic to find the best solution for you. If you are clear about these points, you can change a lot and draw gentle, clear boundaries. Can yoga help? Boundaries can be achieved in various ways. In yoga, for example, there are two steps. Pratyahara means withdrawing your senses and creating a protective space around you. Anyone who wishes to take this step can clearly express their desire for distance. This means clearly signaling that you want to create distance from what's happening around you. This is a breathing technique that supports you in this process. You must also clearly name the space you desire and set the intention. The second step involves recharging with new energy (prana = the universal life force, without which a person dies). Similar to the first step, this involves practicing a breathing technique on your cushion . In addition, some asanas are performed for maximum effect. After successfully completing the first two steps, you will have enough energy to go about your daily life or to help other people (for example, if you work as a healer). In simple terms, this means that you first set boundaries and clearly focus on yourself. Afterwards, you recharge yourself with new energy that can subsequently be used for various purposes. Kundalini Yoga and Boundaries: The Positive Effects There are many different styles of yoga, each with a different effect on the body. However, if you want to work with your energy, Kundalini Yoga is the perfect choice. This style will help you implement the aforementioned steps. With the help of Kundalini energy, which can flow from your tailbone to your crown chakra, you can increase your energy and allow it to flow throughout your entire body. What exercises are there in Kundalini on this topic? a) Fire Breath Certain breathing techniques are essential for directing your energy. For example, the fire breath, in which you breathe in and out quickly, is helpful for increasing the energy in your body, creating more movement within it, and focusing on your inner self. Those who are trying this breathing technique for the first time shouldn't worry if they experience dizziness. This is perfectly normal, as the body is flooded with significantly more oxygen. The fire breath strengthens the solar plexus center, which in turn is responsible for self-awareness. Those who are in tune with this, can more easily stand up for themselves and practice greater mindfulness of themselves and their surroundings. b) Ego destroyer Anyone who has ever practiced this style of yoga will be familiar with the valuable exercise known as the Ego Destroyer. Here, you sit on your yoga mat and raise both arms upward, fingers together, and thumbs extended upward. You breathe in and out with the breath of fire. The effect of this yoga exercise is to cleanse your lungs, open your heart, and eliminate negative thoughts. As a result, you are ready to set boundaries and recognize your body's cues more quickly. Those who are ready and open to change can easily learn this. c) Posture of an archer This asana is especially valuable for strengthening your resolve. For this yoga practice, stand upright on your mat (Mountain Pose). Step back with your left foot; your back leg is straight, while your front leg is slightly bent, with your hip pointing to the side. Hold your hands with your thumb pointing upward and the remaining fingers touching your palms. Remain in this position for a few moments. d) Sufi circles In this exercise, you sit cross-legged on your mat and circle your upper body clockwise, focusing on your spine. You inhale as you go forward, and exhale as you circle back. If you're unsure, you can take an online course where you can learn all of these exercises and improve your practice. Experienced yogis can easily integrate the asanas into their daily yoga practice. Over time, you'll clearly feel the change. e) Meditation In addition to these typical Kundalini asanas, it's important to focus on your inner self, and the best way to achieve this is through meditation. If you sit down for a few minutes every day, close your eyes, and listen within, you can discover and recognize many things, such as patterns from your childhood that still prevent you from standing up for yourself and standing up for yourself. If you want to go even deeper, writing about your feelings and thoughts might be advisable. This will strengthen your ability to treat yourself with love. Those who have many deep-seated processes can gain further inspiration through psychotherapy. If you incorporate these exercises into your daily routine, you'll notice a difference in your well-being. Along with breathing exercises and setting clear boundaries with words, this can help you stand up for yourself more. Do you have an issue with boundaries? If so, what do you do to make it easier? And do you have any specific tips for practicing?