351/365 Pantless Yoga

Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,

Okay that was a trick, welcome to today's post! My point is just that you can be a yogi without the yoga pants (though, let's be real, yoga pants are just the best). Yoga means union; it's a union of the mind, body, spirit, and breath. There are a 196 yogi-isms known as Yoga Sutras (threads). I've been practicing yoga for about 3 years but I never learned about these until about 3 months ago. The meaning of my practice has definitely changed since I have a better understanding of the fundamentals. I'm going to try to do the same for you.

The main principals of yoga are the practice of maintaining a state of tranquility and non-attachment to fears, insecurities, etc. So what does that have to do with the up dogs, down dogs, and holding Warrior 2 for what feels like eternity? We do those yoga poses to bring awareness to our bodies and how our breath moves us through each pose. By focusing on our bodies, we can let go of all the chatter in our minds and anything weighing on our hearts. The goal is for your mind to be clear and to focus only on your breathing by the time you get to shavasana. This is a difficult task especially after just one session; that's why it's called a practice. You are constantly trying to get yourself to that state of ease and peace. With diligence, it's possible!

Back to the title, you don't need to wear yoga pants or be in a yoga studio to achieve a yogi state of mind. Breathing is at the very heart of yoga and you can (and should) do it everywhere. Here's a breathing exercise you can do to clear your mind and burn some calories (breathing deeply burns calories!):

1. Put one hand on your belly and one hand at the base of your ribs.
2. When you inhale, fill your belly first with air, then your ribs, then your chest.
3. When you exhale, release from your chest, ribs, and belly.
4. Repeat until you feel zen-ed out

Move your hand from your belly to your chest then back to your belly so you can feel your breath move within you as you inhale and exhale. It may help to close your eyes to focus. You can literally do this anywhere and practice your yoga. I was in the shower and felt really stressed out. I did my three-part breath, taking in the scent of my soap and letting the hot water wash away my troubles. After a few rounds I felt better and ready to step out into the real world again.

I understand that yoga classes aren't for everyone but I do think that everyone can benefit from taking time for yourself to breathe deeply. There are so many beautiful aspects to yoga. As I grow deeper in my practice, I'll be sure to share them with you. Please share any questions or comments you have!

In health,
Lauren

148/365 The Calming Sensation of Meditation

Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,

After letting me beat him up with a personal training session, my cousin Jasper gave me a lesson in meditation.

I can't articulate how to meditate as well as this video or my cousin does. So, check out this video. It teaches you how to sleep consciously, to meditate!



You could watch it once a day to have a mini meditation session. You could watch it once and try to repeat it. Whatever you decide, I hope that you can make meditation a part of your day. It could be done after your workout, as soon as you wake up, in the middle of the day, or whenever you need a boost of energy.

Start out with five minutes. I believe that the more you do it, the more you'll want to do it longer. If you can't pick up this whole meditation thing, don't worry about it. Setting aside quiet time for yourself is important for us all. It helps reduce stress and increases your awareness of your body and your surroundings.

In health,

Lauren