This feels appropriate as I’m finishing preparations for our Rocky Mountain Yoga Retreat this weekend. Remember we always have a choice to focus on darkness or light. And whether it’s intentional or not, we spread whatever it is we’re focusing on. First we need to see the light, then we can be the light. Happy travels!
On Fridays I share a list of links that caught my attention over the last week. Some are related to the monthly theme – September is National Yoga Month. Others I just think are interesting. Enjoy!
Sure, practicing yoga makes our body strong and flexible, but it also sharpens our mind. Practicing yoga helps us bring our awareness into the present moment. It teaches us to concentrate on the more subtle aspects of our body and breath. Through yoga we start to cultivate a sense of mindfulness that helps us feel more grounded and centered. But this process isn’t confined to your yoga mat. Try this one small shift to bring more mindfulness into the rest of your day.
You’ll always wake up on the right side of the bed when you start your morning with a few minutes of yoga. Instead of immediately grabbing your phone or checking email when you wake up, reclaim the beginning of your day to check in with yourself.
Take a few deep breaths. Stretch. Maybe set an intention for your day or run down a quick gratitude list in your head. You could set a timer for 2-minutes and meditate. Figure out what works for you and set a morning routine. It doesn’t have to take long. Five to 10 minutes is great.
If you’re craving more movement you could try these yoga poses while you’re still in bed or take it to the floor or mat for these 5-poses to get you ready to face the day. A few rounds of Sun Salutations is always a solid option, too.
Turn mornings into your favorite part of the day by committing 10 minutes to yourself. You’ll feel calmer and more centered all day long.
Our lives are filled with distractions. We’re constantly multitasking. Giving our attention away to other people and screens. We worry about what’s already happened, what we think is going to happen next.
We spend a majority of our time focusing on our external world. And so little time focusing on our internal existence – who we really are. Not who we are when we’re comparing ourselves to others. But who we are when we make the time and effort to let go of doubt and judgement and embrace possibility.
There’s so much more to yoga than headstands and cute leggings. Practicing yoga is about cultivating a relationship with our true Self. it’s about shedding the external expectations placed on us and allowing ourselves to just be. Even if it’s only for a few moments at a time.
In honor of National Yoga Month all of September we’ll explore what it really means to practice yoga. Check back throughout this week for tips on practicing yoga in the morning, how to work mindfulness into your day, a quick yoga philosophy lesson and more!
On Fridays I share a list of links that caught my attention over the last week. Some are related to the monthly theme – September is National Yoga Month. Others I just think are interesting. Enjoy!
In honor of National Yoga Month a few thoughts on what it really means to practice yoga based on what I learned living and studying in India. I address one of the biggest (and most harmful) misconceptions I see perpetuated on a daily basis.
Learning to teach yoga in India helped me to realize that as an American, I’d been approaching the practice with more than a few misconceptions. This month we’ll work to unravel those common misconceptions and give you tips and tools to help you start or deepen your yoga practice.
It doesn’t matter how much you weigh, whether you can touch your toes, your age or how much your yoga pants cost. If you can breathe, then you can practice yoga. It’s not about already being strong or flexible. It’s about allowing yourself to start wherever you are today. And committing a few minutes each day to practice. It doesn’t have to be at a gym or studio. You don’t even need a yoga mat.
Forget what you’ve heard or thought about whether or not your body is a yoga body. And for the next 30 days let go of your inhibition and experience how a little bit of yoga can go a long way in helping you live your best life.
When we focus on abundance we remind ourselves that there’s no need for competition, because there’s more than enough to go around. When we focus on competing with others we get caught up in a cycle of fear and scarcity. We convince ourselves that resources are limited. We’re less likely to lend a helping hand or have compassion for others. We feel tense, worried that someone is going to take what’s “ours”.
Our ego takes over and we become self-centered. We develop a sense of entitlement. When we’re in a perpetual state of competition we start to think of ourselves as better than others. Or maybe depending on the circumstance, we start to think of ourselves as less than others.
Competition makes us forget that in fact, we’re all in this together. Trying the best that we can. We all deserve good things. And there are enough good things to go around. We all go farther when we lift each other up, instead of trying to tear each other down. Whether it’s in yoga class, at work or with your friends, competition tears us apart, instead of bringing us together.
The next time you find yourself in that competitive mindset, remember: You have enough. You are enough. There is enough. For you and everyone else. It’s not a competition.
On weekends I share a yoga pose related to the monthly theme. Keeping with the July theme of gratitude, this pose focuses on heart opening.
Humble Warrior (Baddha Virabhadrasana) stretches the chest, lungs and shoulders while strengthening the core and lower body. This pose can be very grounding if you focus awareness on the firm foundation of both feet planted on your yoga mat.
Start standing in Mountain Pose and step one foot back about 3 feet (1 meter). Turn the back foot to approximately a 45 degree angle keeping the hips square to the front of the mat. Bend your front knee and stack it directly above the ankle. Keep your back leg straight and both heels on the ground.
Interlace your hands behind the small of your back and roll your shoulder blades together. Simultaneously lift your collarbone and heart center towards the ceiling as you look up. On an exhale, keep your core engaged as you hinge at your hips lifting your arms up towards the ceiling and leaning forward.
Keep both arms active and engaged. You can unclasp the hands if it causes pain or discomfort, but the arms should continue to reach up and back. Continue to roll the shoulder blades together and stretch through the heart center. Keep both feet firmly planted on the yoga mat. Breathe in and out of the nose. Hold for 5-10 breaths and repeat on the opposite side.
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