3 Ways You Can Get More Out of Your Practice
- By Yoga Studio Calgary
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- 14 Aug, 2017
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Your time is precious and often limited. When you have the chance to make it to a
yoga class you sure want to get all out of it that you can! A yoga class offers you 75
minutes of time entirely just for you. This time is for your own self care so you can
recharge and be able to serve the rest of your life to its full potential. Here are three
ways you can get the most out of your practice starting today!
1) Leave your life at the door.
Walking into the studio and coming onto your mat is
the beginning of a very powerful time as you tap into spirituality and physical
development. If your goal is to receive all that you can from your practice, then
leave as much as you can at the door. If your mind is busy before class. Breathe
in “my mind is still”, breathe out “my mind is still” and repeat. If your mind is so
busy that you are not able to let go of those thoughts with breath, write those
thoughts down. Leave them on that piece of paper and you can return to them
after class.
2) Stay on your mat.
Your mat is your place of retreat for 75 minutes, soak it up! I
don’t mean literally stay on your mat, I mean mentally stay with your practice.
This will require mindfulness. It can be as simple as focusing on breathing in and
breathing out. Literally saying this to yourself as you breathe will encourage a
focus of awareness of the present moment.
3) Hold the feeling.
As your practice comes to a close and you are ready to head
back out to your life, carrying the feeling of accomplishing a class with you as
long as possible. This will require you to really acknowledge how you feel as the
class is coming to a close. Use your time in savasana to feel from top to bottom
this state of conscious bliss. Feel it in your heart, feel it in your tummy, feel in in
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your breath……and then away you go taking on the rest of your day with mental
and physical strength to draw on.
Om
Inhale: 1-2-3-4-5. Exhale: 1-2-3-4-5. If you’ve been doing breathing exercises to feel calmer, happier, and more focused, you know how soothing yoga is.
Despite being an ancient practice, yoga has become increasingly popular, and for good reason. It is suitable for people of all ages and effective for treating chronic conditions.
Interestingly, scientists have discovered that this practice has several mental health benefits. Let’s explore the relationship between yoga and well-being, as well as the evidence-based benefits of yoga.
Winter is here, it is that time of the year again when waking up early and practicing yoga becomes a difficult task and mostly ends up compromising it for an hour of extra sleep. But there are lesser-known facts about why we should practice yoga during winters and how it benefits us.
Spring is nature’s rebirth. Every year, when the soft green buds and the delicate pink blossoms appear on the cherry trees, we are given the opportunity to renew ourselves. In our yoga practice, this can be through a physical detox, a mental reboot or both.
So, it’s THAT time of year again. The cards are out, flowers and chocolates in the shops, and the candlelit tables are all booked up weeks in advance. With good reason, many of us find it all rather superficial and insincere. Perhaps some of us might join the cynical chorus asking why we need a specific day to express our affection for someone else. We may even go as far as to accuse the the forces of capitalism of driving demand for “stuff”. But I’m not here to monologue on the meaningfulness of St. Valentine’s Day, and I’m certainly not here to criticise anyone for wanting to express themselves or to show affection for someone else (we all need to be doing this more, not less).
Can yoga reduce anxiety?Yes! Many studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of yoga in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. In one study, women who participated in a three-month yoga program experienced significant improvements in perceived stress, anxiety, and depression. In another study, ten weeks of yoga helped reduce stress and anxiety for participants.
Happy New Year yogis! I’ve often found this time of year to be especially powerful in enhancing my yoga practice. Of course, yoga is always a powerful practice, but the gift of the new year brings deep reflection and introspection that can amplify processes of self-inquiry, expanding our spiritual awareness and commitment to yogic living.
