YogaZen How-to

March 1, 2025 General Insights No Comments

YogaZen exercises revolve around spontaneity. Still, practicing them with full dedication is essential. Does this look like a paradox? In that case, each exercise becomes a practice within the paradox itself. This paradox is not a contradiction but a gateway to deeper self-awareness, where discipline and spontaneity merge into a single flow.

[For an introduction to the AureliZen series, goto AureliZEN: a Journey into Deep Growth and Open Leadership.]

The significance of these exercises might not be immediately apparent, as anything related to the subconceptual often remains elusive. At the same time, these exercises are not placebos. They don’t function merely through your expectations. They embody autosuggestion in action — serving as pathways to engage with the deeper mind and the total self. Like poetry in motion, these exercises open a dialogue between the conscious and non-conscious, fostering an organic flow of understanding. They are open doors through which to enter yourself but only if you do them correctly.

Here are some key insights into practicing a YogaZen exercise:

First, visualize the exercise in your mind before engaging in any physical movement. If it feels natural, vividly imagine yourself performing it. Mental rehearsal is not mere preparation. It is already part of the practice, priming both mind and body for a seamless transition.
Take a few deep breaths and ease into the rhythm, allowing relaxation to emerge naturally.
In a group setting, resist the urge to compare your movements with others. Let your practice remain uniquely yours. Authenticity in practice arises when comparison dissolves, leaving only the deep connection between movement and self.
Let this be a practice of the deeper mind and body rather than one of conscious control. Let your non-conscious awareness overflow in the movement.
Allow the movement to emerge naturally. If it hesitates, offer it a subtle inner nudge. For instance, by immersing yourself in the sensation of the movement before it physically begins. Like the wind before it moves the leaves, an inner impulse can set the body into motion with effortless grace. This way, you auto-suggest yourself into the movement.
There is no wrong way — avoid force and embrace flow. Even if conscious effort predominates, explore the extent to which the movement unfolds ideomotorically.
In essence, this quality of effortless emergence is present in all natural movements. Think of walking — rarely do you consciously instruct each step, yet movement happens with seamless precision. We don’t consciously experience this because we are only consciously aware of things we do consciously — obviously. So, it’s always okay. You don’t have to judge yourself.
Always connect the exercise with what preceded it. The exercise becomes a bridge, carrying the essence of what came before into the next unfolding moment. It’s in-depth that it can become alive and can influence you from the inside out. This is, in fact, the only lasting way for any (self-)influence, as explored in ‘motivation.’ Just as a river does not forget its source, each movement retains the imprint of what came before, creating a continuous dialogue within.
With an open mindset, anything may arise from the depths of your being. Memories, associations, subtle thoughts, emotions, or even a faint intuition of something undefined may surface. Whatever arises spontaneously holds significance in some way. The non-conscious mind speaks in whispers. Listening without judgment can reveal profound insights.
You may choose to jot it down for later reflection or discuss it with Lisa in the moment. What you do with these insights is just as vital as the insights themselves. Treat it as a meaningful voice from within that has just spoken. Reflection transforms fleeting moments into stepping stones for deeper self-discovery.
When engaging with Lisa, anchor any insight – however small – in a G.I.M.O. You can talk about this with Lisa or with a coach later as an isolated item or in an associational pattern with other experiences. This way, you cultivate a resource that can support you over time. Like pieces of a puzzle, these moments gradually reveal the larger picture of your inner world.
Conclude the exercise with a moment of gratitude for whatever unfolded. Gratitude roots the experience in a meaningful space, reinforcing the connection between practice and transformation.