Monday, November 17, 2014

Everyday Yoga

Since I discovered the healing power of yoga some 10 years ago, I can't imagine a single day of my life without it. We've all seen the hashtag #yogaeverydamnday which has become quite the trend for fancy photos on Instagram. But it's more than that. Everyday yoga is about staying present, maintaining balance throughout the day, and continually riding a wave of calm energy as you pass through life. 

I do practice #yogaeverydamnday because I have to for myself, my family, and for the world around me. I came to a point where no matter how badly I wanted to do yoga, I just couldn’t find the time for it. With two young kids who never seem to want to sleep at the same time, it’s hard enough to find time for a shower let alone time to practice yoga.

I was frustrated. I was sore & stiff. I was even more frustrated because I was sore and stiff.
So I came up with a way to incorporate some highly beneficial yoga poses into everyday life – especially those things that can seem really mundane. These 5-minute yoga exercises are a combination of Hatha movements, Yin yoga holds, and a little Face yoga to keep you looking fresh.

How much time do you have?
Sometimes it really is only five minutes. As Buddha says, “meditate for 20 minutes every day. If you don’t have 20 minutes, then meditate for one hour.” I highly doubt that Buddha had to chase two toddlers around.

We live in a time-crunched society that glorifies being “busy” at all times. As much as we collectively need to slow down, all too often it just isn’t an option. We have families to care for, demanding jobs to keep up with, places to be, people to see...

Instead of making up for a stressful week with an hour-long class that finally fits in your schedule once a week, practice 5-minutes at a time every single day and watch as the transformation unfolds. You will find yourself more relaxed, more alert & present.

What is Yoga?
Literally translated, the word yoga means “union.” The exercises done in yoga paired with rhythmic & conscious breathing help to bridge the gap between the mind & the body. Yoga means something different to everyone. Sometimes I begin my classes by asking students if they could put into one word what they want out of their yoga and share it with the class. You might be surprised at the varying answers. Some want to relax, others want to gain strength, many are looking to find relief from pain. The one thing every one answer has in common is that underneath it all, it’s about feeling better.

The good thing about yoga is that it really is for everyone. You cannot be too old or too young, too big or too small for yoga. Yoga is inclusive to all beings.

Yoga is becoming more accessible by the day. If your town doesn’t have a yoga studio, you can take classes online 24 hours a day. There’s hot yoga, snowga (yes, yoga in the snow), paddleboard yoga, aerial yoga, kids yoga, yoga for seniors, Star Wars yoga… when I say there’s a yoga for everyone I mean everyone.

Quality over Quantity

Just because you don’t have a full hour to dedicate to a yoga class doesn’t mean that you can’t benefit from yoga. Five minutes of deep stretches or rhythmic movements paired with energizing or relaxed breathing can sometimes be more beneficial than a crowded room full of sweaty bodies. 

Follow me this week as I take you through some Everyday Yoga exercises accessible to ALL PEOPLE. 

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