Connect To The Earth With Yoga

"Yoga is a light, which once lit will never dim. The better your practice, the brighter your flame.” ― B.K.S Iyengar
 
Every body is a yoga body!
 
Being led through a yoga practice with a yoga video is wonderful. In my own time, I create space in my day to put on a video and allow myself to let go and be led. Each word, breath and posture leads me from a busy mind and wound up body, to a place where I embody calmness and peace. It makes it easy to meditate. I feel I've come back to myself. I've united body and mind, mind and heart, the outer me and the inner me. It is wonderful.
 
Mantra: I am connected to the earth.
By using mantra’s when we practice yoga postures, breathwork or when we meditate, we create space to allow the affirmation to take root. Affirmations aren’t self-praise. They are a statement of an energy or mindset that we would like to move towards. Affirmations are about self-belief.
 
Breath: Reach and pull breath
Poses:
1. Extended mountain pose
This pose helps decrease anxiety through increased focus on breath control. It helps enable the body to move more freely as you build a more secure and grounded practice. It promotes stillness in both mind and body. It brings a feeling of strength and confidence. It’s very opening, which frees you from fear.
 
2. Standing wide-legged pose
This pose is accessible for most students with the right modifications in place. Not only is it beneficial for the health of the physical body, but standing wide-legged pose is also great for mental and emotional health, too. As an inversion, this pose can help boost your mood and calm your mind, making it a great pose for everyday practices.
 
3. Downward-facing dog pose
This pose helps to calm the brain and to relieve stress. It energises the body. It stretches the shoulders, hamstrings, calves, arches and hands. It strengthens the arms and legs. Downward-facing dog is a pose that you grow into. You can’t force your body into submission. It’s about gently guiding and practicing the pose. Over time, you experience greater benefits from it.
 
4. Cat-Cow pose
Cat-Cow is a gentle flow between two poses that warms the body and brings flexibility to the spine. It stretches the back torso and neck, and softly stimulates and strengthens the abdominal organs. It also open the chest, encouraging the breath to become slow and deep. The spinal movement of the two poses stimulates the kidneys and adrenal glands. Coordinating this movement with your breathing relieves stress and calms the mind.
 
5. Cobblers pose
This pose is a hip opener.  Cobblers Pose stimulates the internal organs, which improves your digestion and according to traditional yogic texts, can alleviate fatigue.  It stimulates abdominal organs, ovaries and prostate gland, bladder, and kidneys. It stimulates the heart and improves general circulation. It stretches the inner thighs, groins, and knees. It helps relieve fatigue. It soothes menstrual discomfort and sciatica. It helps relieve the symptoms of menopause. It’s therapeutic for flat feet.

Yoga Safety Tips
1. Take your time, it’s not a competition
2. Your body is the expert. Listen to it where it is now, rather than forcing it to where you’d like it to be.
3. Find the sweet spot of challenging yourself rather than pushing and straining yourself
4. Don’t buy into “no pain, no gain”. Yoga is about connecting body and mind for calmness and stillness. Pain is a sign to take it easy.
5. Allow your yoga practice to unfold over time and allow your body time to adjust
6. If pregnant, seek advice from a qualified yoga teacher
7. If injured, seek advice from a qualified yoga teacher
8. Check with your doctor before starting any exercise
9. Participation in yoga videos online are at your own risk.
 
There are many benefits to a gentle yoga practice.  They include:

1. Decreases the stress hormone cortisol
2. Improves sleep, digestion & immunity
3. Releases tense muscles & aching joints
4. Teaches conscious control of relaxation
5. Increases concentration & focus
6. Balances the nervous system
7. Activates the relaxation response

 
Work at your own pace and comfort level.
Allow your practice to build.
Your body changes day-to-day and some poses feel easier one day than the next, and that's ok.
Do not force postures.
Participation in the class is at your own risk.
 
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