Now don't get me wrong, sometimes simple can be easy. And that's great. And sometimes there is a place for complexity as well. But the simple, the simple is available. Accessible. And when noticed and practiced regularly, the simple can support us in coming back to center. Back to what's true.
We all come to yoga for many different reasons, yet there is also no denying that our yoga practice has a way of influencing and enhancing every aspect of our lives. Here are a few ways that my yoga practice supports my cross-training, beyond flexibility & range of motion.
Space for you to check in & recalibrate along with a practice of loving-kindness to carry with you into your day. This is a 10-minute, guided, and seated practice that includes some really gentle movement, a few rounds of breath work, and closes with a metta meditation.
Anchor your attention into the ebb & flow of the eternal now and open your mind to the vastness of sensations encompassed in the breath by using this foundational pranayama practice. Cultivate curiosity and embrace an attitude of open awareness.
I think that one of the most common, modern-day misconceptions of yoga is that it’s only about the poses we practice on the mat, when really, well at least the way I see it is, yoga is more so a practice of choosing to show up for life. Yoga is a practice that reaches far beyond these four corners with the capacity to stretch into each + every corner of our lives.
A quick (like under-10-minute quick) sequence for those days, or those seasons of life, when you just don’t have a whole lot of time. I consider this to be more of an ‘active mobility’ flow, so it’s nice to do in the mornings or during a midday slump — It could also serve as a warmup before surfing or a workout! Check it out and enjoy!
Proprioception is a big word that refers to our ability to sense our body as it moves through space. Essentially, it’s body awareness, and it’s mostly subconscious as it’s happening all the time. And while there are many factors that can influence our proprioception, I find it helpful to also think of it as a skill that can be consciously strengthened…
Like many, I’ve found myself working at a desk and over a computer more than I ever have in the past. And, although I really love what I’m doing — so much so that I can get lost in it for hours without taking a break — I also know that my body + my brain don’t really dig all the sitting… And I’ve got to really remind myself to stop and take some movement breaks! Enter Yoga for Humans that work at desks…
Are your vinyasa flows getting a little too repetitive?? In this Practice Notes I share 5 alternatives for chaturanga to help you bring a little more variety into those vinyasa flows! While our bodies learn through repetition, our bodies also crave variety, and training the shoulders in different ways will only make them stronger and more resilient.
Do you practice some kind of Vinyasa Yoga? If so, then there’s a chance that you probably move through, or at least hear the teacher call for, a chaturanga or two (or 20!) each time you flow. And whether you love it or could leave it, it’s a pose that can help build strength + confidence, but it’s also a pose that’s all too often rushed through and, sometimes, even feared!
