Finding Strength Within Surrender

/

"If you don't push yourself, how do you grow?"

I first practiced yoga for the physical workout. The more challenging the class, the better. This mindset changed however after I completed my Yoga Teacher Training with Frog Lotus Yoga International (FLY).

The FLY teaching manual included a list of words to avoid saying in class - push being one of them. At first it seemed silly that a single word could have such an impact on a student's experience, however, the more I taught, the more I realized how wrong I was.

Just as I once did myself, I witness students push themselves to do more, to keep moving, even though they clearly need to rest. One class, without thinking about it, I blurted: 'Yoga is not about pushing yourself. Yoga is about exploring your Self.'

Discovering Your Edge

A student's edge varies every practice depending on what they bring with them onto the mat: their experiences, emotions, mindset, physical strains, etc. This edge is not always connected to the body and may simply be releasing or acknowledging certain thoughts.

Every practice, remain open to possibility and embrace whatever you discover on your mat - physically, mentally and emotionally.

Just as without darkness, there would be no light, there is no strength without surrender.

Find a balance between challenging yourself and being gentle with your Self and you will absolutely grow in your practice - and will continue to do so as you leave the mat.

xx

3 Steps to a More a Mindful Practice

/
"By fighting you never get enough, but by yielding you get more than you expected" - Dale Carnegie

When I first started practicing yoga, I would only attend power classes as I thought I needed to push myself to become 'better' at yoga.

It wasn’t until I discovered a more mindful practice that I truly fell in love with yoga. I found myself moving freely without thoughts of judgement - from myself or others - and letting go of any expectations - of the practice and of my body.

As a teacher, my goal is to create a balance between strength and surrender, with the goal being a more mindful practice.

3 Steps to a More Mindful Practice

  1. Acknowledge
    • Every time you step on your mat, you are bringing a different bag of mental and emotional goodies: your experiences, curiosities, fears, desires. Rather reject them, acknowledge them - even those you don't necessarily want to hear.
  2. Reflect
    • Become understanding of these different emotions when you first arrive on your mat and create an intention based upon this reflection.
  3. Commit
    • With so much going on in the mind and the heart, it can be easy to lose sight of what matters to you in the moment. Commit to the intention you set. In every posture, with every breath.

With practice, mindfulness becomes easier and you start to apply these same steps in your everyday life. And from there, well, the possibilities are endless.

xx

Is It Time for a New Routine?

/

Having a routine invites a sense of comfort and ease, but could your routine be creating or supporting unhealthy habits?

Wake up. Check email. Drink coffee. Drink more coffee. Workout. Shower. Eat. Lesson plan. Teach. Crash and watch TV. Browse the web. Watch more TV. Teach. Run. Eat. Check phone. Brush teeth. Sleep. Repeat.

This was my routine for the past few months as I adjusted to teaching yoga 'full-time'. I wasn't able to fill my schedule with teaching and had a lot of spare time which I felt I was wasting sitting around on my computer or watching TV. I was recently offered a minimum wage job working at a cafe 30 minutes away from where I live. I haven't worked in customer service in years and am already tired of driving around to teach, but I jumped on the opportunity. Why? Because I knew it would force a change in my routine and would help me let go of some not-so-great habits.

Time for a Change

Is time passing you by yet you feel you are moving in circles? Every day seeming to be the same as the last? 

If you are feeling uninspired or unmotivated, it is time for a new routine.

Switch Things Up

Changing a routine can definitely feel a little scary. You're no longer functioning on auto pilot and are faced with challenges as you adjust to change.

Switching up your routine doesn't need to be big and scary. It could be as small of a change as going for a walk instead of having coffee when you start to crash at 3pm; taking a different route to work; packing a lunch instead of buying takeout. Or perhaps, you need a bigger change - such as a new job or hobby to explore.

Enjoy the Ride

New routines invite new energy and new experiences. They can open your eyes to bad habits, as well as to future opportunities.

I only just started the new job this week, so I am still figuring out how to best manage my time. However, even though I technically have less free time in my day, I feel more productive and focused than before. I have met some amazing people and started baking again - a passion I gave up a long time ago because I claimed I had 'no time'; I've also replaced my hours of being hunched over a computer with being up on my feet.

So give it a go. Switch things up and see what happens...

xx

Breath as Medicine: 3 Pranayama Exercises to Try

/

What Does Pranayama Mean?

Pranayama is a Sanskrit word which translates to extension of life force energy, or, 'control of breath'.

Here are three pranayama exercises to try and the medicine they provide - no yoga mat required!

1. 3 Part Breath - Love

The benefit of this pranayama is listed as love because it invites a sense of gratitude. This is due to the expansion of the breath: feeling your breath fill different spaces in the body reminds you what a gift it is to be alive, to be able to breathe.

Begin by laying on your back or finding a comfortable seat. Place one hand on your low belly, the other up towards your chest. Close down your eyes and begin with simply observing every inhale and exhale, as you breathe in and out through your nose.

Start a 3 Part Breath:

Take a breath in through your nose filling the low belly, followed by a second inhale filling the space between the ribs, take a final inhale filling all the way up to the collarbone; hold in the breath; exhale out the nose from the collarbone, to the ribs, to the low belly. Continue for a couple minutes. Return to a natural breath; marinating in the pranayama and soaking in a moment of gratitude before opening the eyes.

2. Nadi Shodhana - Peace

Nadi Shodhana, or Alternate Nostril Breathing, has a calming effect on the body and mind. This sense of peace arises due to the balancing of both sides of the brain by sending the breath, or prana, through different nadis in the body.

Begin by sitting up tall, grounding your palms to your knees and closing down the eyes. Take a few rounds of a natural breath, breathing in and out through your nose. Observe the inhales and exhales, as well as the space around your heart - how are you feeling emotionally?

Start Nadi Shodhana:

Open your eyes and place your right index finger and middle finger on your third eye. Lengthen the spine and close down your eyes. Follow the following sequence:

  1. Close right nostril with your thumb
  2. Breathe in through the left nostril
  3. Close left nostril with your ring finger, hold in the breath
  4. Release thumb and breathe out right nostril
  5. Breathe in through the right nostril
  6. Close right nostril with your thumb, hold in the breath
  7. Release ring finger and breathe out left nostril

Adjust the counts for your inhales, exhales and breath retention as needed. Continue Nadi Shodhana for a few minutes. Keep the eyes closed as you return the breath to normal and observe any subtle effects to your energy and emotions. 

3. Kapala Bhati - Energy

Kapala Bhati, or Breath of Fire, is a powerful and stimulating breath which clears the lungs of any stale air and pumps oxygen into the blood stream. This breath can also have a dizzying effect as it is quite powerful. If this happens, return the breath to normal.

Begin by sitting up tall, ground your palms to your knees, close down your eyes and observe your natural breath. 

Start Kapala Bhati:

Take a deep inhale through the nose followed by short and forceful exhales out the nose as you contract the lower abdomen. An inhale through the nose occurs naturally between each exhale. Maintain your focus on the exhales. After your final round, retain the breath for a few counts and release with a slow + long exhale through the nose. Take a moment to observe how you are feeling before beginning another round of Kapala Bhati. Begin with one round of 10 exhales, eventually building up to a cycle of 50.

What is your favourite pranayama exercise?

xx