| Is your basic yoga practice getting old? Are you | | | | struggling with your breath, back out of your pose |
| getting bored with it? Try focusing more inside your | | | | and readjust so that your mind can be calm. |
| body than on your poses. I tell people all the time to | | | | Making your yoga practice a mind-body exercise |
| find the stretch in their body. Look for the tightness | | | | increases your awareness of your body. This |
| in your muscles and when you find it stay there and | | | | awareness can lead to a multitude of goodness. |
| breathe into it. | | | | When you build awareness you can avoid injuries, |
| Everyone will find a stretch a little differently. Some | | | | react to stress in a healthier manner, and basically call |
| people will be able to fold into a forward bend with | | | | on your practice whenever you need it. |
| their palms flat on the floor while others will only be | | | | You can reduce stress simply by acknowledging that |
| able to reach the front of their thighs. It doesn't | | | | you are in a stressful situation and breathing to |
| matter where you have to go to find your stretch | | | | relieve the physical symptoms of stress that you feel |
| as long as you can bring your focus inside your body | | | | in your body. Obviously we can't always walk away |
| and pay attention to the different parts. | | | | from a stressful situation and take an hour to |
| It is magical when you are focusing on a muscle and | | | | practice yoga. But if we can be aware of stress and |
| simply allowing it to stretch and then ... ahhh ... it | | | | choose how to react to it we can use yoga |
| releases. When you feel this happen you understand | | | | techniques to relieve some of it. |
| what it means to breathe into a stretch. This is when | | | | I met a new student last week who told me that |
| you can increase your stretch by exhaling a little | | | | her yoga practice was a gift; a gift that she could |
| deeper into it. Your mental focus is the key. | | | | take with her wherever she goes and use to her |
| You can practice the same basic yoga poses in | | | | advantage anytime she chooses. I've heard this |
| every class and make them different by focusing on | | | | analogy before. I have another student who tells me |
| different areas of your body. | | | | my yoga classes are similar to having a massage. |
| Tired of that forward bend? Try contracting the | | | | Students leave relaxed, less stressed and happy; |
| quadricep muscles in the front thighs and notice if | | | | physically and mentally. |
| your hamstrings release a little. Tuck your belly up | | | | We are less stressed because we stop thinking |
| towards your spine and see if that changes your | | | | about all that is going on with the world when we |
| stretch. Close your eyes and focus on the feeling in | | | | focus on ourselves for a little while. It gives the brain |
| the muscles you are working and the surrounding | | | | a rest even though you are still thinking. During your |
| muscles. | | | | relaxation, at the end of your practice, try to be |
| Downward dog? Press into your fingers and thumbs | | | | present. Being present isn't always easy or clearly |
| and lift up through your belly. Notice if it allows your | | | | defined. You can always think of what you should be |
| hips to go higher. Press your quadriceps backwards | | | | doing or who is waiting for you to do something for |
| and notice if your heels move closer to the floor. | | | | them. |
| Upward dog? Push the tops of your feet into the | | | | Last night I asked my class to think about the world |
| floor and pull up with your quadriceps (even if you | | | | outside of our classroom. Everyone out there is |
| practice cobra, activate your thigh muscles and press | | | | running around doing their 'things'. I asked them to |
| through the tops of your feet). Send your shoulders | | | | practice being present for a minute and simply allow |
| down away from your ears and back to open your | | | | any thoughts to drift out of their minds. Be here and |
| chest. Do you feel your front body expand? | | | | let yourself relax - consciously let your brain be |
| Triangle? Press the front foot down on the big toe | | | | peaceful. |
| side of the foot. Do you feel the thigh bone move in | | | | So what if we take that feeling and store it in the |
| the hip socket? Lengthen your spine by pulling your | | | | back of our minds? If we take that calming yoga |
| head forward and away from the lower back. Does it | | | | breath and every once in a while sit back and use it |
| help to open the top shoulder a little? | | | | to bring us into a relaxed, peaceful state? |
| Work your poses instead of moving through them. | | | | Use your basic yoga practice to strengthen your |
| Close your eyes and focus on the areas of the body | | | | mind/body connection. Even the basic yoga poses |
| that you are working. Be aware of your breathing. | | | | can be a powerful tool if you add focus. Use your |
| Try to keep it slow and even. If you find you are | | | | yoga to your advantage. |