Sometimes I really have to just sit down and laugh at myself! The interesting thing about this phenomenon is it usually comes when I feel like crying! All of these tools I advise others to use can be as elusive to me at times as the squirrel yakking in the tree is to my dog sitting in frustration at the base of the trunk. Is that to help me empathize with my students and clients?
For the last hour I’ve clicked between email, Facebook, and websites trying to find focus and inspiration for writing content for my website. This process has been ongoing since last summer, but tomorrow brings the last call of the Web Presence Academy Website Development Program. Wondering why I’m doing everything but attending to these tasks, sabotaging my success… tears really do start to creep down my face.
WHAT WERE THOSE FOCUS POSES?
Just that little release opens something. I’m reminded of an email I received yesterday about a morning yoga ritual including poses for focus. Tree Pose and Eagle Pose. I knew that!!! Duh!
However, prior to the tears I had argued myself out of taking the time for a short yoga practice or a relaxing 10-minute meditation or a Yoga Nidra recording that my heart and body yearned to do. My ego had abruptly reminded me, you don’t have time for that!
With the tears something shifted, though. I stood up, walked into another room, and shifted my weight to my right leg, lifting my left and bending my knee turning it out to a 90-degree angle (standing close to a wingback chair in case balance failed me). I placed the left foot on the inside of my right thigh, and softened my eyes on a focal point. My hands came to my heart in Tree Pose. Feeling engaged at the core, my breath softened and slowed. I held the pose for about a minute; then switched sides. My thoughts slowed considerably. The tight muscles around my neck and shoulders settled some, allowing my shoulders to come away from my ears.
A NEW WAY OF LOOKING
Encouraged I shifted my weight once again to the right foot, found a focal point, engaged the core muscles, bent the right knee, and wrapped the left lower leg around my right calf. Holding steady I wrapped my arms into eagle arms in front of my face. After a minute or so, I repeated Eagle Pose on the opposite leg.
To relax the muscles of my lower back after the intense balance poses, I walked my feet apart and hinged forward into Wide-Legged Forward Fold. With the crown of my head toward the floor, I peaked through my legs to see an upside down world. Looking at my living room from a new perspective, an inspiration for a blog about the benefits of a yoga break popped into my head? Excitedly, I returned to my desk, and the words for this blog began to flow!
Amazing actually!!! What I teach really works!!!
TAKING THE TOOLS OFF THE MAT INTO OUR LIVES
I passionately share the ancient wisdom teachings of yoga, meditation, and Ayurveda, chock full of healthy lifestyle habits. But, why is it so hard to take the tools of yoga off the mat into our daily life? Why can’t I take a five-minute movement break or a 15 -minute "meditation latte"? I don’t have a problem taking 20 minutes to run into a coffee shop and pick up a warm drink or surf the net for 10 minutes that morphs into a full half hour. Why is it so easy to skip a yoga class or put meditation at the bottom of the daily “To Do” list?
These moments of mindfulness are really NOT optional. They are not only essential to our wellbeing by reducing lots of stress that accumulates throughout the day… but to do our most productive work.
Research is showing that for those of us who work at a computer for the greater part of the day, we are much healthier and more productive IF we take ten minutes to move every hour. The movement could look like a few yoga poses or a short walk around your office building. Receiving a few minutes of the sun’s rays cleans the energy body of harmful EMF’s. So take a natural break and go outside to listen to the birds or watch the clouds.
And, a few moments of meditation helps the mind and body to become more centered and less reactive. A few minutes of Alternate Nostril Breathing helps to integrate the right and left hemispheres of the brain so you can maximize your brain power. And, Rhythmic Breathing can energize us as effectively as a cup of java!
I would love to know what mindfulness practices work for you? Please share them in the comments.
Want to learn more about these beautiful ancient wisdom teachings?
Check out my Journey Back to Balance: Ayurveda Lifestyle Package or my One on One online program, Journey to Your Inner Wisdom.
Sign up for my eBook Dian’s Daily A.M. Detox Rituals BELOW!