Building Secure Foundations
Finding Balance for Growth and Transformation.
A place of safety opens up a space for transformation, creative and trust. A theme for creating a safe place to transform is recurring lately in writing class, in a yoga course and inspirational books. Taking on intense work related to training, business or building habits means transformations, creativity and growth.
The first limb of yoga is Yamas (non harming, non greedy, routine, clarity and truth). In the athletic cycle, the first phase is base training. This is the foundation to build form and maintain support to meet a goal. It is a time to set the stage for the training journey while finding a way to keep life in balance. A time to build strength, eat nutritious food, and practice self-care. When we have a strong foundation, then we can feel safe and secure to lift up toward our goals and dreams.
Foundation, base or Yamas is also support from loved ones. If your family is onboard with your goals and training fits into your current lifestyle, then you have a base set to execute. As a bonus include family on cross training days. This can boost training and your support system. Something like a Sunday family hike might be a great bonding activity to include everyone in on goal.
Recently, a yoga teacher suggested to practice for one week three poses that I like and three poses that I don’t like. That sounds easy, but if I am truthful then the poses I don’t like are the ones I avoid. What I discovered in doing this practice, was the poses that I like give me a good stretch, breath is comfortable and easeful. On the other hand, poses that I can physically do but do not like because they are hard for me. So why are they hard? Because they require more strength to hold the pose and my breathing is labored. I noticed that the discomfort is what I don’t like. This brought about awareness in how I want to use yoga to compliment my running. My resolution is that my run training is intense, so my yoga will be for nourishment and body/mind awareness. This is experiment of practicing 3 favorite poses and 3 undesirable poses is good for anyone as a way to find out what actually works best for an individual on the yoga mat.
There are a few activities that keep me grounded which is basically my foundation. Breaking from routine due to a lull, a vacation or holiday. These are a few events that can change daily routines. Last month was filled with vacation and holidays. I took breaks from all my routines and this is what I learned. There are some things I can’t not do. Running, yoga and writing. A new addition to this list is strength training.
The Lull
Missing a sense of purpose
Run for health
Yoga for self check in
Writing for expression
A break in routine
Week off routine
Body rebels
Feels stagnate
Shake it off
Ok to take a break
No lingering here
Back in the groove.
A week off the yoga mat happens on travel more times than I care to admit. The feeling is a loss of being in touch with my intuition, my spiritual life and overall body awareness. The flow below is perfect for travel as it can be done in a tight space without getting on the floor. Yoga for 10 minutes or 10 breaths is beneficial.
A week off writing goes along with yoga as it falls away on travel. I get grumpy and feel disconnected. I need to express. An idea for travel is to note great lines heard along the way and describe changing locations.
This reminds me of a newsletter by
asking the question…“Do you have similar experiences where what you did was not a choice but a calling?” Check out her interesting newsletter on “calling or choice”.Yoga flow to ground down and lift up:
Mountain Pose
Tree Pose
Warrior II
Triangle
Back to Mountain Pose repeat on opposite side.
Security can take on various meanings such as self care, contentment, basic needs met and stability. In yoga class, the focus is to join together structure and ease. Find structure with the pose and ease with the breath. To be able to let go, one must feel supported. To be creative or excel, one must feel secure.
Your turn in the comments below, let us know your favorite grounding pose.
Keep moving forward!
Disclaimer: Please consult with your medical professional before starting any workout program. Yoga is not a substitute for medical attention or treatment.
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Fave grounding pose is dancer. Also - letting you know in your second sentence, the word should be "course".
I used to go off-plan when travelling because for some reason I thought I needed a yoga mat to do yoga. Now I just go outside and do it on the sand or grass if there is any, or on a tile floor with a bath towel if there is no outside spot available. It isn’t as convenient and obvious, but the key ingredients are body and soul and I always have those!