Mindful Rest & Reset, & Energy Balancing Yoga

Yoga is not about perfect poses. It’s about steadying the mind.

I want to take a moment to describe how my yoga classes are based on aligning with two of the sutras from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, a classical yoga on text.

There are of course many sutras and many texts on yoga, but I like to focus on these two as a foundation for sharing yoga through my classes.

The Sanskrit phrase in Patanjali's yoga sutra"Citta vrtti nirodha" describes yoga as the cessation of the fluctuation of the mind. You can think of this as settling the mental movements, thoughts, emotions, reactions, stories or internal noise.

In another sutra Patanjali says “Sthira sukham āsanam" posture is steady and easeful.

If we think about it, we can understand the connection. When the body is restless, the breath is strained, or if effort is excessive, the mind follows. But when the asana (posture) becomes steady and comfortable, effort softens. The nervous system regulates. The mind begins to quiet and energy is balanced.

Energy Balancing Yoga

In my energy balancing yoga classes we utilise

• Gentle-to-dynamic movement, with some restorative poses

• Breathwork

• Subtle energetic awareness

  
  

This isn’t about pushing or performing. It’s about circulating prana so energy clears and balances. When breath becomes rhythmic and movement intentional, mental fluctuations naturally begin to settle. We are not suppressing thoughts we are creating conditions where they can begin to quieten down.

This allows for mental activity to reduce, energy to flow and a sense of calmness and a feeling of being grounded to restore.

Mindful Rest & Reset

In Mindful Rest & Reset, we take a slightly different route.

We intentionally

• Slow down

• Use restorative postures

• Practice gentle breathwork

• Utilise mindfulness

• Allow deep nervous system regulation

  
  

Instead of building energy, we soften effort. Instead of generating heat, we cultivate quiet.

This is where sthira (steadiness) and sukha (ease) meet most clearly. As effort dissolves, mental turbulence reduces. And in those quiet moments, we experience glimpses of what Patanjali describes as 'awareness resting in itself'.

Two Pathways, One Intention

Energy Balancing and Mindful Rest & Reset may feel different on the surface:

• One circulates and harmonises

• One softens and restores.

  
  

But both serve the same purpose

To reduce mental reactivity.To regulate the nervous system.To support steadiness in body and mind. To create the conditions for inner quiet.

Yoga is not about achieving a pose. It is about cultivating a state where the mind becomes clear enough to rest in its own nature. This is the deeper practice. And that is what we are focusing on

breath by breath, class by class.

Join me at Vida.Haus