Yoga can bring about a sense of relaxation to your day.  You can weave it into your everyday life & not just on your yoga mat.  That sense of peace & calm you feel after your practice you are able to carry with you the rest of the day.  How you may ask?  Let’s discuss a few ways to do this.

Breath

By focusing on your breath, you can release tension & relax your mind & body.  Some great breathing techniques for this are:

·        Deep belly breathing – Think about your inhales inflating your lower abdominal area, then the middle & upper abdominal area, into the ribs & then the chest.  When you exhale, release the air from each of these areas then give a squeeze at the end to rid yourself of any extra air.  You can check out the video on YouTube here.

·        Alternate nostril breathing – This is when you close one nostril, breathe through the other, then switch.  So close the nostril you breathed through & exhale through the nostril that was closed.  You can check out the video on YouTube here.

·        Box breath – Breathe in slowly for a count of 4.  Hold at the top of the breath for a count of 4.  Exhale slowly for a count of 4.  Hold at the bottom of the breath for a count of 4. You can play with the counts on these up to a 6 count. 

Stress Relief at Work

Try some chair yoga & stretches to relieve tension from sitting all day.  Or the stress of your boss or customers 😊 Even simple stretches like reaching your arms overhead, eagle arms (see the YouTube video here), or a forward fold sitting in your chair are great.

Better Sleep

Yoga can help with your sleep as well.  Try some simple poses like Seated Forward Fold, Butterfly, Reclined Butterfly or Savasana. Even a slow Cat Cow can help.  They will all help ease your nervous system releasing stored tension from the day. Or you can try one of these floww on YouTube here or this one here.

Home Environment

You can try things like aromatherapy, soft lighting or soothing colors to use in your home.  By creating a calm, de-cluttered (as much as it needs to be for you) space, it will bring peace & calm into your day.  I know I can tell a difference when my house looks like a tornado went through it or not!

Yoga & Nature

If you’re able to practice outside sometimes that is wonderful!  You will, more than likely, feel a difference in your well being after an outside practice versus an inside practice.  And if you can find somewhere quiet then bonus points.  I love an outside practice.  And if it’s at my Mom & Dad’s that’s even better because I get to hear nature & not cars.

Daily Affirmations

You can pick a new one daily, work with one for a week, whatever makes you happy & works for you.  I do post a new one every Sunday in our Facebook group that you can use or modify to make work for you.  When things are going crazy, & all kinds of tension is building up, stop, breath & say your affirmation a few times to help relax you.  You might even have a few different go-tos depending on the situation you’re in.

Journaling

After your practice, or during it, there are sometimes all kinds of emotions running around in you.  Take a few moments & let them out via pen & paper (or digitally if you prefer).  Getting them out, instead of bottled up, will help you release those thoughts, concerns & tensions in your life.  Go ahead & yell, scream & shout in your journal – use all the capital letters, underlines & exclamation points your want!  Just get it out so you’re able to, hopefully, go about your day a little more relaxed.

These are just a handful of ways that yoga can bring some relaxation into your daily life.  Take these ideas & run with them.  Try them out.  Expand on them to make them your own.  Whatever you may do, remember that yoga is not just for your mat, but your daily life!  I’m here encouraging you to find that relaxation every step you take.

May you always stay true in your intentions, true to your heart’s desires & speak loving truth to those around you.  Love ya!

Jennifer