top of page
.png)
our story
More people doing more yoga.
The name "The Woods Yoga" was borne out of the studio's proximity to Lincoln Woods State Park. And the owl, a symbol of wisdom, intuition, and keen observation, became our logo. As we have grown and matured through seven+ years of operating a yoga studio, more meaningful interpretations of this name and animal totem have revealed themselves to us.
Traditionally, the forest represents exploration and being lost. Trees represent life itself; a reflection on our personal development, spirituality and individual growth. The many spiritual meanings of the forest often seem to be diametrically opposed to one another. For example; lightness and darkness; taking action and finding stillness; transformation and being grounded; ancient history and renewal; self-reliance and community; the conscious and subconscious mind. Through the teachings of yoga and the lessons of life, we learn that harmony lies in the balance.
"Finding stability in the body and the mind while practicing asana, meditation, or any other yogic practice is what ultimately brings us into balance."
The concept of Sthira and Sukha in yogic philosophy is generally understood as the balance between effort and ease. Sthira is the fire; the part of the practice that requires you to be fully present when you experience discomfort, whether it emerges from the physical body, the mind, or the energetic body. Finding stability in the body and the mind while practicing asana, meditation, or any other yogic practice is what ultimately brings us into balance. Sukha occurs when we learn to let go. It’s the part of the practice where, as we become more familiar with ourselves, we begin to relax and become more present in the experience without the need to do more or try harder; the law of minimum effort. It is that part of ourselves that truly knows when we’ve arrived in the posture. Everything feels aligned and there is no strain in the muscles. The mind feels calm, content and spacious, and the life force energy flows freely through us.
And then we have the owl. What was once a simple and pleasing mascot for our business evolved into a deeper, more meaningful totem. As with the forest, there are numerous symbolic associations for the owl including that as a harbinger of death. But don't let that frighten you. Let's look at our yoga practice as a metaphor for life.
A wise old owl lived in an oak.
The more he saw, the less he spoke.
The less he spoke, the more he heard.
Now wasn't he a wise old bird?
As in life, there is also death. In most classes, we start in Child's Pose, and progress through movements and poses until we reach our final resting pose, Savasana, which is also known as Corpse Pose. Savasana is the practice of death. Death of the ego, death of all craving and grasping toward anything outside of us which we mistakenly think will create happiness, and death of all aversion to anything we think is causing our unhappiness. In Savasana, we practice recognizing that everything is perfect exactly as it is. There’s nothing left to do. And as we slowly awaken from Savasana, we roll to the fetal position, thus representing a rebirth. As we rise, we are reborn as a clear-headed, peaceful, and more loving version of ourselves. And so as we step onto our mat, whether for the first time, the last time, or the only time, we are granted an opportunity to begin again. With every breath, every pose, every action, every reaction, we have the opportunity to begin anew, to bid adieu to the past and to sit with ease in the present.
Savasana is the practice of death. Death of the ego, death of all craving and grasping toward anything outside of us which we mistakenly think will create happiness, and death of all aversion to anything we think is causing our unhappiness.
Welcome to The Woods.
bottom of page