Yoga Challenge Week 3
3 poses 3 breaths for 3 weeks.
Look at you go! You have established two weeks of a daily yoga practice. How has it affected you off the mat? Is there a difference in stress levels?
Final week of the challenge is focused on Somatic Yoga. Choose 3 poses you love and add movement to them. Flow between the three or take each one slowly and add natural type movements to make them your own. Linking breath with movement is a way to escape into the moment and be totally present in your practice. Being in moment with yoga increases body awareness and allows you to go inward. This is self care and nourishment for the body and mind.
A few examples are Cat Cow, Sufi Grind and Knees to Chest (low back massage). In Cat Cow, look over each shoulder or alternate bending elbows or add hip circles. Sufi Grind, sit in easy seat with torso rotations in each direction, then as you warm up add intuitive motions or allow the pelvis to lead the movements. Knees to Chest, lie supine and pull your knees up, place your hands on the knee caps and using your arm strength move the knees around. This works as a great low back massage. Find the gentle easy movements that feel good for you. These examples are therapeutic and give you a good sense of body awareness for fatigue, tight hips or a stiff back.
Embody the poses. Make them fluid and enjoyable rather than working on perfect alignment. Be free to be You in the pose.
Another of my favorites for Somatic Yoga is Tree pose and using the arms to sway as if in the wind like a palm tree.
Movement is free therapy and processing emotions is a daily activity for humans. Using the tools of Somatic Yoga can help. The point is to drop the script and listen to your body. There are so many ways to move and heal with yoga, Qigong, Tai Chi, dance, swimming, running and so much more. Find your style of movement that allows you to get out of the thinking or spinning brain and into your body to find your magic.
Disclaimer: Please consult with your medical professional before starting any workout program. Yoga is not a substitute for medical attention or treatment.
Love this gift of tuning into your body. xx
I hope you inspire a ton of people to do yoga daily! Keep up the great posts.
I always add a butt wiggle to cat/ cow. Of course, this is at 5:00 AM by myself, so no one around to see my antics! But it just helps loosen up my hips and back so much.