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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