5 Ways to Practice Yoga Off The Mat
- By Yoga Studio Calgary
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- 05 Jun, 2017
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Yoga isn’t all about showing up to class, rolling out your mat, and reaching for your
toes. Yoga is so much more than. The amazing news is; if yoga is so much more,
then we have so much more to gain and benefit from yoga.
Here are 5 ways you can be yoga when you’re not just doing yoga.
Try these out and see how you begin to feel. Yoga is for everyday. Yoga is for life. www.theyogastudiocalgary.com
- Start thinking about all the things you have already accomplished in your day,
your year, your career….instead of thinking about all the things you still have to
do. You’re running up a checklist in your mind already why not make it one that
makes you feel good.
- When you feel uneasy about something or you are pushing yourself further than
before….pause….ask yourself; am I ok now? Will I pay for this later (either
physical soreness or mentally over analyzing everything)?…..if you answer yes
and then no then carrying on, friend, use your breath if you need it. If you
answered no and then yes stop and come back to honouring your soul.
- Breathe……Breathe……Breathe……I know you have heard it before. Maybe
even many many times. Here it is one more time….nothing is more powerful at
reducing the stress hormones surging through your body during tense times than
your very own breath.
- Realize that every choice you make matters. This isn’t to overwhelm you, but
simply show you how easy it is to create the life you want to live. You are in
control of your thoughts and choices. Therefore you are in control of creating
your life.
- As often as you can keep your mouth ever so slightly open. This reduces
subvocalization, the very subtle jaw movements that are created during mental
chatter, therefore reducing that mental chatter.
Try these out and see how you begin to feel. Yoga is for everyday. Yoga is for life. www.theyogastudiocalgary.com
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.
