Have you ever closed your eyes, taken a deep breath, and even for a split second felt as though you were living in the present moment? Right now? Then you have practiced yoga. Many people are of the understanding that yoga is solely a physical practice, where one must create crazy positions with ones body, requiring insane flexibility, and only very bendy people can do it. But guess what? This is only one form of yoga practice! In the western world many people are drawn to yoga for the workout that the physical practice provides, and often they aren't even aware of the other more spiritual or mental benefits of yoga. However, you don't have to be on the mat to begin your yoga practice.
The word yoga means union; the union of breath, mind, body and spirit. In Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, an ancient manual written in Sanskrit and interpreted in many ways, he describes 8 limbs of yoga (for more info, see link below). Each limb provides an opportunity to delve deeper and connect to the truest self. Asanas, the postures practiced in yoga, are the third limb. The asanas were historically practiced in preparation for meditation, ideally connecting the breath to the body, the body to the mind, and the mind to the spirit. However one can create these connections, these unions, off the mat as well.
In Patanjali’s manual the very first sutra can be translated as "The time for yoga is now." ...and now...and now...and now. Get it? It's always time to start your yoga practice, and my goal is to provide you with fun and easy ways to begin your practice now!
In this blog series I will provide ways to integrate yoga into your day to day life. Please leave a comment if you have a question and I will do my best to answer either personally or within the next post.
Om shanti.
March Challenge:
Lying or sitting up in bed, when you first wake up in the morning, set a timer for 5 minutes. With your eyes closed count your inhales and your exhales, inhaling for 3 and exhaling for 3. Or if you don't want to count, internally say to yourself as you inhale "I am inhaling" and as you exhale "I am exhaling". If you notice your mind drifting away to other thoughts, let the thought go. Picture the thought in a beautiful bubble and release it, let it float away. Bring your focus back to your counting. Commit to doing this for 10 days in a row, see if you notice any differences in how you approach the day, and if you miss a day, so what! There is no judgment in this practice, nothing to do right or wrong, allow yourself this freedom. This practice is sure to have you centered and grounded before even stepping out of bed!
Musical Inspirations:
Resolution by Matt Corby
Baba Hanuman by Krishna Das
Give me Love by Ed Shereen
Links:
Pantajali's 8 Limbs: http://www.yogajournal.com/basics/158
Check out The Wellness Maven’s take on flexibility: http://thewellnessmaven.com/?s=flexibility&submit=Search
The word yoga means union; the union of breath, mind, body and spirit. In Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, an ancient manual written in Sanskrit and interpreted in many ways, he describes 8 limbs of yoga (for more info, see link below). Each limb provides an opportunity to delve deeper and connect to the truest self. Asanas, the postures practiced in yoga, are the third limb. The asanas were historically practiced in preparation for meditation, ideally connecting the breath to the body, the body to the mind, and the mind to the spirit. However one can create these connections, these unions, off the mat as well.
In Patanjali’s manual the very first sutra can be translated as "The time for yoga is now." ...and now...and now...and now. Get it? It's always time to start your yoga practice, and my goal is to provide you with fun and easy ways to begin your practice now!
In this blog series I will provide ways to integrate yoga into your day to day life. Please leave a comment if you have a question and I will do my best to answer either personally or within the next post.
Om shanti.
March Challenge:
Lying or sitting up in bed, when you first wake up in the morning, set a timer for 5 minutes. With your eyes closed count your inhales and your exhales, inhaling for 3 and exhaling for 3. Or if you don't want to count, internally say to yourself as you inhale "I am inhaling" and as you exhale "I am exhaling". If you notice your mind drifting away to other thoughts, let the thought go. Picture the thought in a beautiful bubble and release it, let it float away. Bring your focus back to your counting. Commit to doing this for 10 days in a row, see if you notice any differences in how you approach the day, and if you miss a day, so what! There is no judgment in this practice, nothing to do right or wrong, allow yourself this freedom. This practice is sure to have you centered and grounded before even stepping out of bed!
Musical Inspirations:
Resolution by Matt Corby
Baba Hanuman by Krishna Das
Give me Love by Ed Shereen
Links:
Pantajali's 8 Limbs: http://www.yogajournal.com/basics/158
Check out The Wellness Maven’s take on flexibility: http://thewellnessmaven.com/?s=flexibility&submit=Search