Breakdown: A Few Words about Breathing (Video)

Bring your awareness to your breath.
Nothin foofee frilly or fancy about it!

Notice it-
Become aware of your breath as it enters your body
and as it goes out.
Is it rushed?
Shallow?
A reflection of that moment?
Then... make no judgment
Just be aware of the quality of your breath
Close your eyes (after you've read this of course :0)
On your out breath- open your mouth and blow it out
Three times
Then begin to smooth & even out your breath
Take as long as you need to
Take as long as you can
This is the beginnings of Pranayama
The breath work of yoga if you will.
If you can breathe- You can do yoga.
Start by paying attention to your breath.
See what happens...

Any questions- Ask away!
Rock Your Practice!
Xo- Suz

Monkey Mind

When practicing yoga-
over & over you return your focus and attention
to your smooth even breath and your body's reaction to each posture.
Easier said than done right?!

We're humans.
We think.
Sometimes its too much, sometimes it's overwhelming and
often when you're specifically trying to focus on one thing-
Monkey Mind takes over.

Monkey Mind is when all your thoughts are going every which way-
over here, over there.
Pulling you away over & over from what it is you'd like to focus on.
Thinking about dinner, your hair, your plumbing, your conversation with who's it...
I'm sure it's easy for you to fill in the blanks here!
Then you may get frustrated that you can't focus
then forget it...

Realize we are human-
we think-
there's nothing easy about trying to place our focus
on just our breath or just on yoga.
Notice your thoughts-
Make NO judgment
and then gently lovingly bring your focus & attention
over and over
back to your breath,
back to your yoga
or back to your meditation.

This is simply all you can do.
Over and over again.
Grow to accept & even love your monkey mind.
We tend to fight it-
Notice it- make NO judgment
Accept it for the stinker of a monkey it can be sometimes-
at the same time-
Love it for the stinker of a monkey it can be at times!


Rock YOUR practice
and YOUR monkey mind!
Xo- Suz

Add Yoga to Your Day: Perception

Sometimes there's just too much going on.

Too much in the world, too much on my plate
or too much in my mind.
As human beings we are blessed with thought
and the ability to change that thought.

Remind yourself right now and over and over
(like in YOUR yoga practice by
bringing your awareness to your breath over & over)
of the things you're grateful for in your life.

Especially on days or in moments when you feel overwhelmed, negative or lost.
Write down the things you're grateful for.
Your smile.
Your skin covering your organs & bones.
Your eyes for seeing.
Your ears for hearing.
There is ALWAYS something to be grateful for.

It never ceases to amaze me-
how this simple trick can lift your spirits.

Change your perception- become grateful.
Then lift your heart (your rib cage) &
become aware of your breath.
Often this small change in perception
will smooth & even your breath, your mind & your heart.

It's so simple but as with your yoga practice-
it takes practice.
Some days it happens without your even thinking-
other days it may take more awareness.
Just like some days you can fall right into
YOUR yoga breath & others it
takes more awareness.
Just do it!
Xo- Suz