5 Acts of Self Care That Will Make Your Week Great!
- By Yoga Studio Calgary
- •
- 15 Jan, 2018
- •
All that is expected of you, is this right now.
Begin first by not setting unreasonable expectations for yourself. It is far better to give yourself fewer tasks, accomplish them and feel that
success and the sense of "being on top of it"....than giving yourself too many tasks and not fully accomplishing any one of them. This just
leaves you feeling inadequate and as if you are dragging behind, not a loving feeling to experience.
Here are 5 ways to set up a mindset of success, happiness, and contentment.
1) Morning Rituals; never underestimate the power of setting your day up right from the beginning. As painful as it can be to drag yourself out
of bed early in the morning, the benefits will very soon far out-weigh the struggle. There is a peace first thing in the morning that will not
exist any other time of the day, draw from it. Set your alarm even just 15 minutes earlier than you typically would. Using a stimulant such as
inhaling peppermint and orange essential oils will bring a feeling of being awake as well as bring on the happy feelings. Take these 15 minutes to do something routine such as a meditation, a short yoga asana sequence, a extra long shower.
2) Journaling; journaling your thoughts, desires, accomplishments, goals, things you need to release is a beautiful balance of letting go and bringing in. Be free, be creative, just write. It doesn't even need to make sense. Putting words to paper removes the holding onto what no longer serves you, as well as the craving for desires not yet received.
3) Creative Visualization; go ahead and daydream throughout your day. Do this often, without judgement. These thoughts are yours and only yours, think of whatever sets your soul on fire, and don't forget to savour how you feel when you create these adventures, these accomplishments, these wonderful things in your mind.
4) Meditation; even a simple breath in and breath out is a meditation. If you can find 3 minutes in your day to scroll through Facebook, you can find 3 minutes to close your eyes and do nothing but breathe in and breathe out. Take refuge, take it daily. This simple task will begin to re- wire your brain, your neuron network to establish greater resilience and a sense of peace.
5) Gratitude; bringing along gratitude throughout your day really will be your best friend. With gratitude there is no need for striving. When you are able to focus on what you already have, that energy will draw in like energy....more of it. If you are striving to accomplish something, stop working so hard, stop striving. There is a lot of struggle energy with this. Simply think about how great it feels to have the things you already have. To have accomplished the things you already have. They don't need to be the same as what it is you desire, it is simply the energy of having what you need that will bring more of that in.
success and the sense of "being on top of it"....than giving yourself too many tasks and not fully accomplishing any one of them. This just
leaves you feeling inadequate and as if you are dragging behind, not a loving feeling to experience.
Here are 5 ways to set up a mindset of success, happiness, and contentment.
1) Morning Rituals; never underestimate the power of setting your day up right from the beginning. As painful as it can be to drag yourself out
of bed early in the morning, the benefits will very soon far out-weigh the struggle. There is a peace first thing in the morning that will not
exist any other time of the day, draw from it. Set your alarm even just 15 minutes earlier than you typically would. Using a stimulant such as
inhaling peppermint and orange essential oils will bring a feeling of being awake as well as bring on the happy feelings. Take these 15 minutes to do something routine such as a meditation, a short yoga asana sequence, a extra long shower.
2) Journaling; journaling your thoughts, desires, accomplishments, goals, things you need to release is a beautiful balance of letting go and bringing in. Be free, be creative, just write. It doesn't even need to make sense. Putting words to paper removes the holding onto what no longer serves you, as well as the craving for desires not yet received.
3) Creative Visualization; go ahead and daydream throughout your day. Do this often, without judgement. These thoughts are yours and only yours, think of whatever sets your soul on fire, and don't forget to savour how you feel when you create these adventures, these accomplishments, these wonderful things in your mind.
4) Meditation; even a simple breath in and breath out is a meditation. If you can find 3 minutes in your day to scroll through Facebook, you can find 3 minutes to close your eyes and do nothing but breathe in and breathe out. Take refuge, take it daily. This simple task will begin to re- wire your brain, your neuron network to establish greater resilience and a sense of peace.
5) Gratitude; bringing along gratitude throughout your day really will be your best friend. With gratitude there is no need for striving. When you are able to focus on what you already have, that energy will draw in like energy....more of it. If you are striving to accomplish something, stop working so hard, stop striving. There is a lot of struggle energy with this. Simply think about how great it feels to have the things you already have. To have accomplished the things you already have. They don't need to be the same as what it is you desire, it is simply the energy of having what you need that will bring more of that in.
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.
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