It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood today! Take your practice outdoors! Here's a few practices you can to do take advantage of the sun and nourish your spirit at the same time.
Go for a walk. Here's a few walking practices for you to try:
Option 1- Be mindful of your breath. Don't try to change it necessarily but just be present with it as it is. As you continue walking you may notice it gets more rushed as you exert yourself more. At this point just try to make it smooth and steady, not longer, not more relaxed but meet yourself and your breath where you are and aim to create smooth steadiness and ease with your stride and your breath.
Option 2- Be mindful of your surroundings. Become aware of the sun on your skin, the birds chirping, the sounds around you, the sounds of your shoes hitting the pavement, the dirt or the track. Check out all that's newly blooming around you. What do you hear? What do you feel? What do you see? What do you smell? What do you taste? Try to use all of your senses to take it all in. Not trying to change things but to be present with what is right now.
Option 3- Counting meditation. Begin your walk and establish a walking speed that feels right for you. Notice your breath and make sure it's smooth and steady (not panting or pushing too hard). Begin timing your steps to your breath; as in: I am breathing in one (take a step, take a step). I am breathing out one (step, step). Or try this: inhale step, exhale step. This isn't a race but a practice in mindfulness of being present remember.
All options can be practiced seated as well. You can sit in the sun looking out a window. My favorite is to practice savasana in the sunlight on my living room floor. Getting as relaxed as I can and focusing on nothing but what is as my body melts into the warmth.
Our theme in all classes this week is
Blasting thru the shit that no longer serves you. Bring this theme into your outdoor practice. As you inhale say silently to yourself - I breathe in light, (love, abundance, clarity, health, ease whatever you want to cultivate in your life) and as you exhale say silently to yourself- I release that which no longer serves me (or I blast through the shit that no longer serves me). You can do this walking, in asana, in meditation or even lying down in the sunlight. Hell- even add some Warrior arms or Warrior postures every once in a while to get extra saucy!
Don't have time? Oh yes, you do! Walking from your work to your car (practice!), walking to the restroom (practice!), walking, standing, sitting you're already breathing- just shift your awareness to your breath and to what you are doing right then. Yoga on!!!
Get creative!
This is your Yoga Practice!
Rock it!
^o^
