Hi Y’all ! I am back to posting on the regular now. I wanted to kickoff my first post of the new year with a guest post by my sister, Tracy. She is a certified yoga teacher and has gotten me into health as well as yoga. Yoga and improving my overall health has helped reduce my anxiety. Hope this article helps you on your journey and look forward to hearing from y’all.
I started practicing yoga in 2010, after an ankle injury. I was not able to run during this time, and carry out my normal routine routine. At the time I was living in Pacific Beach in San Diego, and happened to walk by a sign at CorePower Yoga that said “One Week Free Yoga”; so I decided to check it out. After that things started to just fall into place. I found myself attending class multiple days a week, and in the fall of 2013 enrolled in CorePower’s Power Yoga Teacher Training Program. I found myself seeing signs ( actual signs and moments pointing toward trying this out), and wanting a new challenge in my life. I had been in the same job for about 5 years at this point in time, and felt myself craving more. The experience of teacher training was something I could not prepare myself for, and had no idea what was to come; and I have to admit I was definetely nervous! This was something that was going to take me out of my comfort zone; from not knowing anyone, to public speaking, and becoming a student all over again.
After a 12 week journey, of long days and weekends I had completed my training. This process gave me something I will forever be grateful for. I learned to be vulnerable, open, receptive, scared, uncomfortable, nervous, insecure and take all those emotions and turn it into an insightful learning experience. It wasn’t until this past year that I left my previous job for a new one with much more flexibility, and allowed myself to accept where I was being drawn to more deeply; teaching yoga. I have gained this view of myself that has allowed me to find this voice that is more confident and positive. There is something truly life changing about learning to speak from your heart, and to do so in a way that is true to yourself; and seeing that carry over into a yoga practice that is received by your students. I have learned that there is absolutely truth to learning to love yourself. It is from there that everything you say and do comes from a more loving place. “ And the Universe said: Everything you need is within you. You are stronger than you know. You are the daylight. You are the night. The darkness you fight it within you. The light you seek is within you. You are not alone..I love you because you are love.” ~Unknown.
Benefits of Yoga:
Yoga is practice for both our mental and physical bodies. I first started yoga as a physical form of exercise. Over the years I have seen a huge difference in my flexibility and my body grow stronger in ways that were completely different than I had experienced before. More significantly though, I saw a shift in my mental state. This sense of leaving class on this “yoga high” where I would feel more relaxed yet invigorated. I started to crave this feeling so I found myself “ needing” yoga. I learned to really allow myself to let go for an hour with no cell phone and no distractions. I had been dealing with anxiety, which would turn into panic attacks from all the stress manifesting in my body. Yoga became this tool to learn how to become more connected with my body, and this idea of focusing on my breathing helped significantly. Now I am not saying that any underlying issues just disappeared; but the fact that I could take this tool of breathing off my mat to help me throughout my day was liberating.
Over the years through my own personal readings, research, learning and personal experiences, I have come across the many benefits of yoga. Here are some just to name a few:
- Potential to relieve stress
- Decreased hyper-tension ( high blood pressure)
- Decreased high cholesterol
- Decreased pain for arthritis
- Relieving Neck Pain
- Reduced Headaches
- Relieving Lower Back Pain
- Used As A Method For Relief for Autoimmune Conditions, Asthman, COPD, Irritable Bowel Syndome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,
- Decreased Diabetic Symptoms
- Improvement in Symptoms of those with Multiple Scelorisis, Cancer
- Improve Quality of Sleep
http://www.bgracebullock.com/single-post/2017/03/31/The-Many-Health-Benefits-of-Yoga-New-Comprehensive-Research-Review
Favorite Poses
Half Pigeon
-opens hip joint
-lengthens hip flexors
-stretches quadriceps and glutes
-can decrease sciatica pain
-can decrease lower back tightness and stiffness
Hurdlers Pose
-strengthens arms and wrists
-tones stomach and spine
-increases sense of balance
-stretches hamstrings and groin muscles
Tree Pose
-strengthens thighs, calves, ankles, spine
-stretches groin, inner thighs, chest and shoulders
-improves sense of balance
-can relieve sciatica
-reduce flat feet
Favorite Clothing
Teeki : cute, made out of water bottles; https://teeki.com
Lululemon: durable; https://shop.lululemon.com/
Alo: soft, thick www.aloyoga.com
Spiritual Gangster: cute, donate a portion of sales to charities; www.spiritualgangster.com/yoga-inspired/clothing
Iced Tea and Top Knots 