Yoga Challenge Week 2

3 poses 3 breaths for 3 weeks in September

Photo by Ginny Rose Stewart on Unsplash

Good work getting the first week completed.

How is the practice fitting into your day? Is it crowding out less desirable habits and establishing a good one? It does for me. Turn the TV off or put down the phone and just breath into a few poses. This works well for me to wind down for deeper sleep with more vivid dreams.

My Yin at night is growing in consistency. Some nights I do three poses and some nights I have the energy to do more. I found that I don’t have to wait until the perfect set up is available. Anytime in the evening during relaxing hours work for me.

A week 2 suggestion is to try a couple poses that are not your favorites and one soothing pose at the end.  It might be an interesting journal to see how you feel in the pose at the beginning of the week versus the end after practicing them for five or more days. The less desirable poses may become a favorite.

My week 2 choices will be the ones that I fine challenging because of the strength involved in holding them. Downdog, Plank and Cobra. This is a good flow to link with the breath and work on upper body strength and awareness.

Notice if you gain self awareness.

Notice why you avoid certain poses.

What do your favorite poses bring to your body?  Your mind?

What do the avoided poses bring to your body?  Your mind?

Can you relate this practice to your current goal or project you want to complete?

What feels good and provides progress?

What feels hard and creates blocks?

Finding the best version of a pose for your body can make for a more enjoyable yoga practice. The poses should offer a balance between effort and ease so that you can focus on breath and body awareness. Over time with consistent practice, the body will open up more and range or motion will increase.

Have you noticed that yoga is more about the breath than the pose?

During a yoga practice, inhale when lifting or opening up across the chest and exhale when bending or twisting.  Linking breaths with the movements creates benefits for the mind and body.  It is working with the body and not against it.

Breath is a gift.

Breath is a tool to control emotions.

Breath is directly tied to our well-being.

Control your breath and in turn, you can control your reactions, energy, and emotions. Breath is truly a gift.

Disclaimer:  Please consult with your medical professional before starting any workout program.  Yoga is not a substitute for medical attention or treatment.