Are you showing yourself love ?
February is known to be a month when we celebrate LOVE because of Valentines Day. A day of showering your significant other or persons you love with LOVE . In the middle of winter here on the east coast of the USA we are in the middle of winter so what better time but the whole month of February to show yourself a little love as well. How can you do that? Here’s a few easy ways: If you typically are a person who pushes their body to the limits or is constantly a go go go type of person always on the run, start ot return to your yoga practice, but for this month maybe instead of your typical yoga practice which is maybe hot power yoga or a vigorous flow you slow it down. Take care of your body and try out a restorative or a very gentle yoga class. Give your body some tlc, warm comfortable clothes and roll out your mat, moving through gentle poses holding them and allowing those tired muscles to stretch release and relax. Allow your mind to slow down and your breath to flow. Other ways to show your body some love … cook warm healthy meals at home, add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. Add in some vitamin D by spending some time outside even if it is only a few minutes, most of us are low in Vitamin D , Sunlight is a great source of Vitamin D. Stay hydrated drink warm water and lemon. Water keeps our bodies hydrated and we forget to drink as much in the winter because it is cold outside so starting your day with warm lemon water helps to get things going in the morning but also helps to remind us to keep hydrating throughout the day. Indulge in something that makes you feel good, maybe that is a hobby that you have stopped & would like to start up again, maybe that is going for a massage or even taking care of your feet that have been in boots all winter and heavy socks doing a self massage of your feet with some cbd oil or salve from Clearly Balanced Days will help them feel less achy and relax them. You could even be taking time out of the day & reading a good book or watching a movie. Use this month as a reminder to LOVE YOURSELF as well as those around you.
Happy Valentines Day- Enjoy the end of Winter !
Why Yoga and Meditation is for everyone
Yoga helps with all aspects of life from stress management, improving circulation, balance, relaxation and more. Our main focus is help you slow down from your everyday busy life and find a sense of calm within. You will be relaxing your mind and body as you move thru your yoga practice in a peaceful setting at Serene Yoga.
Meditation is a great way to slow down and really tune in to your body and your breathe. It helps reduce stress and anxiety. It can help bring balance, a deeper sense of self and a overall feeling of happiness and gratitude into life. It allows us to slow down our thought process and begin to let go of stress and negative thoughts which increases the overall feeling of peace. Meditation will help you to lead a more fluid and joyous life.
Incorporating both practices of yoga and meditation into your life can help ease stress from the everyday busy schedules we all have. Group classes and individualized sessions are available on a weekly basis. I hope you can roll out your mat with me sometime soon!!
Happy Holidays & New Year!
I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful yet busy time of the year. Holidays can be wonderful but also stressful, it is important to take some time out for yourself during the busyness of it all to slow down breathe , relax and reflect. There will be some changes to the schedule for the holidays and going forward. First all classes will be in person. Monday at 5:30 PM VIRTUAL CLASS has been taken off the schedule. New Years Day class has been canceled as well. This week and the next classes will be as follows. Wednesday 6:30pm, and Thursday 12pm. Please remember face coverings are always optional, and class sizes will continue to be limited so pre registration is still necessary for all classes. I look forward to seeing you in a class soon!
Wishing Everyone a Very Merry Christmas ! Happy Holidays!! Happy Healthy New Year!!
Gratitude Journaling & Serene Yoga Studios Anniversary ..
November is an extra special month for the studio it is our second anniversary at our location in Hanover MA, Novmeber is already a month of gratitude, which we will be celebrating! Each day we will be journaling, and On November 27th for members of the studio we will be holding a gratitude yoga class, please reach out to hold your spot in this class as in person space is limited. If you would like to attend online that is also an available option!
For the month of November Serene Yoga Studio will be posting daily Gratitude prompts here & on instagram if you are not already following the studio on instagram follow us there at @serene_ yoga_
All you need to follow along with us is yourself a pen and paper or a notebook or if you want t o be paper conscious use the notes app in your phone .
Daily Gratitude Prompts
November 1st - Today I am grateful for ……
November 2nd- Write down something good that happened to you today.
November 3rd- Do something kind for someone today, write about it here ( what was your act of kindness how did it make you feel)
November 4th- Write about a time that someone has done something kind for you to help you out or to make your life easier, when you were going through a challenging time. How did it make you feel?
November 5th- What place, and activity (ties) make you feel the most energized & alive?
November 6th- What place, and activity (ties) make you feel the most at peace and relaxed?
November 7th- Write about something that you are looking forward to and why.
November 8th- What is a skill or talent that you have? How has it helped you or helped others?
November 9th- List a few qualities about yourself that you like.
November 10th- Do you have a favorite holiday or non holiday tradition? Write about it here.
November 11th- What is something that makes you smile or cheers you up when you have had a tough day?
November 12th- What do you do for self care? How does it make you feel?
November 13th- Write down all the things you are doing well.
November 14th- Write about your best friend (s) and your favorite memories with that person(s).
November 15th- Write about the things that always make you smile, even when you are feeling down.
November 16th- What were some good things that happened today, write about them.
November 17th- Spend 20 minutes outdoors today, you could go for a walk at a leisurely pace, or just sit outside and take in the fresh air enjoy what surrounds you, How do you feel after?
November 18th-Nature gives us so much that we often take for granted, what are the things that you are grateful for in nature.
November 19th- At this point in your life last year where were you? What was different in your life? What has changed from them to now? What positive changes have you made? what challenges have you overcome?
November 20th- When do you or have you felt completely at peace? Where were you? What were you doing? Were you alone or with friends?
November 21st- Find a comfortable seat let your eyes shut as long as you feel safe doing so or let your eyes soften their gaze, take a minute here to slow down. Maybe you set a timer for 1 minute to keep you Become aware if your breath notice how it is moving through your body is it slow and steady or rapid and shallow? Can you smooth it out by starting to inhale through your nose for a count of 3 hold for a count of 1 and exhale through your mouth for a count of 3. How do you feel after s minute of doing this practice ? Maybe more relaxed and calm? More focused? Write about how you felt before and how you feel now.
November 22nd- Write about a difficult time in your life that has created a positive impact in your life now.
November 23rd- Write about someone who has impacted your life in a positive way. It could be anyone, a friend, a parent, a teacher or a mentor ect.
November 24th- Describe your perfect day.
November 25th- Today is thanksgiving, Write about all that your are thankful for from people in your life, to things you have, to changes you have made or are making, even for things you may have let go of like old habits, the big as well as the small things. Is there a way you can extend gratitude to others today ?
November 26th- Write about the best things that have happened to you over the past few weeks.
November 27th-Did someone help you today or show you an act of kindness? how can you extend that to someone else today?
November 28th- What is your favorite place that you have traveled? it can be anywhere.. from a local day trip to a camping trip to a foreign country really anywhere. Write about your experience.
November 29th- Write your favorite quote or saying, reflect on it. How does it make you feel? inspired, peaceful, happy?
November 30th- How can you continue to extend gratitude to others and yourself daily?
Share Serene Yoga Studio With Your Friends & Family!
Hi Serene Yoga Community!
Help to grow and develop Serene Yoga studio! All funds help to continue to grow our beautiful yoga community, and share The Studio with others!
Other ways to help us to grow..
Share the studio on social media @serene_ yoga_ on instagram
Tell your friends and family about us, bring someone to class with you!
Add reviews so that others can see how you enjoyed your classes at the studio
As always, Thank you for all of your continued Support!
As a thank you Serene Yoga is having a free class to members on November 27th at 12pm reach out in person or by email to sign up ahead of time.
Thank You To Our Community!
I wanted to say thank you to all of the Serene Yoga community. Thank you for your continued support without you Serene Yoga Studio would never have been a reality.
Our Natural State Of Being Is Peace
Why is it so challenging to be still when our natural state of being is peace?
In today’s world we have been conditioned from a young age to keep constantly busy. Being busy with school, work , errands. With everything so accessible to us on our phones and devices multi-tasking is simple so we can get as much done in a day as possible with just a touch of a finger to a screen.
The thought of slowing down and taking time to focus on one thing at a time seems difficult & incomprehensible to some. Ultimately this type of lifestyle leads to burn out, stress, anxiety and worry.
Our lifestyle choices have made us forget how to be fully present, comfortable with stillness, and have distracted us from our natural state of being which is that of Peace.
We have to do the inner work to get back to our natural state of being, but that is not the type of work we are use to. Therefore taking time to practice yoga or meditate to be in stillness can be challenging and make a lot of people cringe, and doubt they can even do it.
In the Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali- Yoga is defined as a “multifaceted method of bringing consciousness to a state of stillness”.
Yoga and Meditation can help slow down your thoughts and quiet “ the turbulence of the mind or citta vritti “ that is brought to us from our exterior worlds, as they both bring attention inward and help to remove the outside noise and distractions bringing us back to home or Our Natural State of Peace.
-Serena
Serene Yoga
Renovations Complete!!
The studio is back up and running thank you for your patience and support during this time! We can’t wait to see you roll out your yoga mat in the studio again in one of our classes!
Don’t miss the recent Redfin article we were featured in: Create a More Peaceful Home: 13 Zen Ideas to Design an Empty Corner
Your home is the space where you start and end each day, where you can escape the stress of work and leave all your worries at the door. Sometimes, however, your home has the opposite effect and may even drain your energy and negatively affect your mood.
In today’s world, creating a more peaceful home that allows you to recharge is more important than ever – and sometimes it starts with just the corner of a room. Redfin asked us to share our best idea to design an empty corner and create a more peaceful home. So whether you’re living in a two-story home in Knoxville, TN, or a condo in Vancouver, CA, these 13 ideas will bring you one step closer to a peaceful home. Check out what we had to say!
Create a More Peaceful Home: 13 Zen Ideas to Design an Empty Corner
Create a More Peaceful Home: 13 Zen Ideas to Design an Empty Corner
July 6, 2021 by Julia Weaver
Your home is the space where you start and end each day, where you can escape the stress of work and leave all your worries at the door. Sometimes, however, your home has the opposite effect and may even drain your energy and negatively affect your mood.
In today’s world, creating a more peaceful home that allows you to recharge is more important than ever – and sometimes it starts with just the corner of a room. So whether you’re living in a two-story home in Knoxville, TN, or a condo in Vancouver, CA, these 13 ideas will bring you one step closer to a peaceful home.
Create a meditation space for a more peaceful home
Your meditation space doesn’t necessarily need to be in a completely quiet room. Ambient sounds such as those from traffic or air conditioning can be useful in some types of meditation practices. Even being outdoors can enhance your meditation experience. Make sure there is space for a comfortable chair where you can put your feet flat on the floor and that the space provides you with the opportunity to store things you need to “prime” the relaxation response. These items may be candles, incense, crystals, or a meditation bowl. And, don’t let the lack of an “ideal” space keep you from your practice. Almost any location can work as long as the space allows you to feel comfortable and safe. – Levelhead
Incorporate handwoven rugs on the floor or walls
Being an antique property in a historic district, our trick to finding the perfect balance between old and new are antique hand-woven rugs, which, in our (and The Dude’s) humble opinion, make a room. You can put them on the floor, or better yet, on the wall as tapestry art. Sure you could buy something online, but why would you when you can build around a piece that is unique, handmade of natural fibers, and has so much history and character? – Addison Choate
Introduce a plant or bouquet to the space to create a more peaceful home
Instantly bring vitality and life to any room or empty corner by introducing a plant or bouquet of fresh flowers. If the space feels incomplete try adding a freestanding pedestal for a potted plant or vase arrangement to be displaced like a sculptural work of art. Another option for a smaller space is to get a special vase designed to hang on the wall. That way you are still able to bring flower-power energy without adding any clutter. – Atelier Ashley Flowers
Stick with a color theme to unite the space
I choose to decorate corners to create a more peaceful home with a variety of sizes and shapes, but have a unifying color or set of colors to unite or create a connection between them all. Layering within the space either horizontally or vertically can create symbiosis and a feeling of depth. Art, found objects, and antiques placed within proximity to each other become a whole, united by the space of the corner. – Happigal Art
Make the most of your wall space
A corner is a perfect canvas for a seating area, but don’t forget about using your wall space, too. Add a wall of floating shelves or hooks and add décor, potted plants, or hanging plants to make the most of the entire corner space. – Furniture Pipeline
Create a mindfulness corner to spend time in each day
To create a “mindfulness corner” start by dedicating a spot in your home that is going to be just for you and your meditation or yoga practice. Once you have your dedicated spot, keep your yoga mat or meditation cushion out at all times. Studies show that seeing your mat will actually increase how often you use it. Dedicate time every day to visit your mindfulness corner and watch as the space begins to grow with energy and power over time. – Tribe
Convert a corner into a personal zen retreat
If you have an empty corner space in your house you can quickly and easily convert it into your own personal zen retreat in the form of a meditation area/altar. Adorn this soon to be sacred space with as much or as little “ceremonial” decor as you like such as plants, candles, crystals, deities/statues, incense and holder, rocks from the local area, feathers you may find taking a walk, oracle cards, sound bowls, meditation pad and/or cushion, etc. Just don’t forget, what you put in your meditation space to set that zen retreat vibe for yourself isn’t nearly as important as actually sitting down and practicing the art of awareness on a regular basis. – The Meditation Station
Raise the bar in your unused corner
Your “corner bar” takes on a whole new meaning when you take that unused corner and make it into the best part of your home. The right bar cabinet can help you keep things neat and provide a functional spot for you and your guests to mix up your favorite drinks. Storage for wine, glasses, and more makes it easy to stay organized and be the calm, collected host or hostess. – Twin Star Home
Find locally-made ceramic pots for your plants
Of course, we love a sweet houseplant as a companion in a quiet corner to create a peaceful home. Even better if it’s potted in a locally made ceramic and has the soil topped off with some stone from a favorite beach. An inspiring or moving print from a local artist can be a reminder that both the work and the rest that you do in this quiet space affect your relationships and the greater community. After all, an empty corner doesn’t need to be empty if it’s filled with ideas and objects that ground and connect you. – The Portland Yoga Project
Design reading nook catered to your tastes
Consider a reading nook lined with artwork, a chair, and other essentials, like a lamp or small table. Plant lovers could add a traveling vine. The really ambitious could envelop it all with a canopy. – Rooster’s Crow Farm Art Studio
Enhance your corner with a round rug
Give your corner an elevated feel by using a round rug to anchor the space. A custom-sized round rug allows you to perfectly fit the room and furniture arrangement. – Sisal Rugs Direct
Choose a sacred space for yoga and meditation
First, find a quiet space, maybe that’s a spare room or a corner of your home where you feel like you could relax. It doesn’t have to be big, just big enough that you can roll out your yoga mat and a few yoga props for practice or a meditation cushion. You may have a small table for candles, incense, or crystals … whatever tools you like to help you feel relaxed and comfortable. A peaceful picture, or a plant, or a window to look at while you are practicing yoga or meditation can help to provide that type of relaxing environment for you, to reflect and practice in. – Serene Yoga
Studio Renovations
Recently there has been a leak in the studio that has caused the need for repairs and renovations. Due to the current situation class sizing is now limited again and there will be some classes that may have to be temporarily canceled. In the event of a class cancelations the class will be removed from the schedule & will also be posted on instagram @serene_yoga_
Thank you for your understanding and co-operation during this time. We hope to have this resolved in the very near future.
COVID-19 Update
Masks are not required, however if you want to wear a mask you of course can. Feel free to come to class masked or unmasked whatever you feel the most comfortable with is what you do. We simply ask that you respect everyone’s decision to do what is best for them, there is no judgment in the studio. Please do not come to class if you have a cold, or flu like symptoms till they have fully resolved. When taking class please bring your own yoga mat with you, we do not have shared mats/ mat rentals in the studio. Please remember to clean all props after use. Be on the lookout for a updated class schedule.
Cant wait to see you on your yoga mat soon!
Yoga Props When You Practice, Should you use them?
Reasons for not using yoga props in your practice?
You think that you should feel extremely uncomfortable or in pain to get a good stretch when practicing yoga. You are comparing your body and how it looks to someone else in the room and they may not be using props at the time so why should you. Maybe you think props are for the inexperienced yogis. Maybe you just haven’t given yoga props a chance.
Whatever your reason I am here to tell you PROPS are a great addition to your yoga practiced for all yogis.
Do you always need to use props - No
Should you incorporate props into your yoga practice - Yes!
Why ?
Accessibility.
Yoga Props will make yoga poses that seem inaccessible more accessible to you. They support your body and when your body feels supported it relaxed and you will actually receive a better stretch. Without support your body tends to tense up because its natural response is to tighten or tenses up when it feels stress being places on it, when your body feels supported your muscles will release & relax. Yoga Props such as - Blocks, Bolsters, Blankets, and Straps can all help support your body during your yoga practice.
Blocks can add length to arms and legs helping to get you into those poses that may seem impossible. You can also use props for core work and for stability. Yoga Straps are great for helping open shoulders and stretching hamstrings. They can even help create a wider range of motion in your body. Blankets are great for helping to cushion your knees or under your head as a pillow and can also be used in place of a bolster when rolled up. Bolsters are wonderful in restorative postures for support, they help aid in relaxation helping to allowing the body to soften. Yoga Props are versatile tools that are incredibly beneficial to your yoga practice.
Clearly Balanced Days, Serene Yoga and Stress Awareness Month
April is Stress Awareness Month. I was honored to be asked to be a guest by Carrie from Clearly Balanced Days on their You Tube channel to talk about Stress and some useful ways we can manage stress. We discuss why I chose Clearly Balanced Days cbd products, stress in the home from work and school, yoga some of my favorite yoga teachers and meditation. I hope you enjoy our conversation and find some useful tips, as a bonus offering there is a link for a free heart centering meditation in the videos notes.
Get Your Strawberry Frosted Pink Donuts For Alec on February 26th, 2021
Pink Donuts for Alec is February 26, 2021
Your probably wondering Who Alec is if you didn’t already know him.
Alec White was a son a brother nephew grandchild a friend, a cousin to many including myself.
“He loved skate boarding, downhill skiing, and any situation where he could do flips in the air or walk a slack line. He was creative, full of ideas, and kind – the sort of person who would see a lonely kid on the edge of the basketball court and ask him to join in the game.”
From the outside looking in you would have seen him and thought he was just like any other 16 year old boy. He had good friends & a good family who loved him so very much. You wouldn’t have known that Internally Alec was battling with depression. Unfortunately, on November 3rd 2017 Alec lost his battle with depression. To keep his memory alive Alecs Family and friends work hard to continue to offer support and help promote the importance of mental health awareness.
They created the The Alec J. White Memorial Scholarship Fund, which gives two $1000 scholarships to be awarded annually to graduating Merrimack Valley High School students who wish to pursue a career in mental health, human services, or the trades. They help raise money through NAMI ( National Alliance On Mental Illness) walks. Alec was the inspiration behind his moms family based CBD company Clearly Balanced Days, which supports NAMI NH, Reach1Teach1Love1, American Foundation For Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Why February 26th and Pink Donuts? February 26, 2021 is Alec’s 20th Birthday he loved Dunk’in Donuts Pink Strawberry Frosted Donuts. Last year his Aunt started #pinkdonutsforalec & #alecsantics to keep Alecs memory alive and help show support for mental health & Suicide awareness. We would love for you to join us in helping spread awareness..
How you can Participate? Purchase a pink frosted donut of any kind and take a picture of you with your donut post to Instagram with the hashtags #pinkdonutsforalec #alecsantics Help us celebrate Alec’s life keeping his memory alive and show support for mental health & suicide awareness.
START CARING FOR YOUR FEET
Sore Tired Feet?
You are not alone. Especially in the Winter months and colder climates this is a common complaint.
From the moment you stood up to take your first steps to walking and running your feet have been working hard for you. They take you from place to place daily. We continually squish our feet into too tight of shoes that “look good” sneakers or Boots with heavy socks. Containing 26 Bones, 30 Joints, and more than 100 Muscles, Tendons, and Ligaments your feet are pretty complex, and made to adapt to many different surfaces. Over the years we have been trained to wear shoes everywhere we go and our feet have adapted to this. Since we have been training our feet to stay stuck in shoes all day everyday of our domestic life our feet suffer from all different problems. Some of the most common are plantar fasciitis, bunions, hammer toes, flat feet collapsed arches, ingrown toe nails, weak ankles and more.
What can you do to help with these issues? YOGA for starters, walk barefoot more, foot massage, and be sure to see your podiatrist if you have any major issues with your feet that need addressing before they get worse.
Get barefoot on your yoga mat. It will allow your feet to breathe and be in their most natural state. Yoga helps stretch your feet and helps with better circulation bringing blood flow to them. Get on your mat, Spread your toes. Take care of your feet they are important and will take you where you need to go.
Seniors: Better Your Mind, And Spirit Through Yoga
Seniors: Better Your Mind, Body, and Spirit Through Yoga
Fitness is not for just the young — it is also for the young at heart. Yoga provides a holistic approach to health. For the body, it strengthens your core, helps with balance, and increases flexibility. For the mind, it helps bring you to the present, battles negative emotions, and provides mental clarity. For the spirit, it relieves stress and helps you to reflect. If you’re looking to reset and re-energize your mind, body, and spirit, yoga is the perfect practice for you.
Before You Begin
Yoga has a wealth of physical and mental health benefits, but before you dive in there are a few considerations you should address beforehand.
First, consult with your healthcare provider and determine whether you have any limitations that will require adaptive yoga. For instance, so as to not aggravate an existing injury, you may need to ask an instructor to show you modified poses.
Second, if movement is initially painful, water yoga would provide you the opportunity to ease into classes by initially providing you with weightless movement.
Third, when it comes to where you choose to practice yoga, you have many options. Nowadays, many studios, such as Serene Yoga, offer both in-person and online yoga sessions. You can also practice outside, either in a class or on your own. If you choose to practice at home solo, and want to follow along on a phone or tablet, make sure your device is capable of streaming yoga videos and apps smoothly. If you're looking to replace your device, you can save money by trading it in for a new one.
Finding Your Groove
A perk of yoga is that there are a variety of types you can try until you find one that suits you. If you’re looking for a basic introduction to poses with a focus on posture, Hatha yoga may be perfect for you. If you struggle with standing for long periods of time or getting up and down off the floor mat, chair yoga may provide you with the support you need. As discussed above, water yoga may help your joints and ease you into other forms of yoga. If you like to sweat it out, however, Bikram yoga will definitely bring the heat.
You can also choose classes that focus on mediation, classes that integrate your pet, as well as classes that incorporate a loved one or caregiver. Don’t get overwhelmed by the many different types of yoga; what’s important is that you find one that you enjoy and that meets your needs. Also, remain open to modifying your practice and allowing it to evolve.
The Benefits
Yoga serves to improve the whole body. All people need flexibility, muscle strength, and balance, which yoga can help improve. It also has the added benefits of improving respiration, causing weight loss, reducing blood pressure, maintaining metabolism, and reducing inflammation and chronic pain. Some commonly unexpected benefits of yoga — when practiced with mindfulness and meditation — are the stimulation of oxytocin (the hormone that promotes feelings of love) and serotonin (the hormone that produces peace and happy feelings).
If you get sick more often than usual, yoga helps to reset your nervous system. Your nervous system can get into an unhealthy pattern, and through breathing techniques and reduced stress, your body can start to rest and heal. This results in a better immune system. Certain types of yoga even prove to promote deeper and longer sleep through the night. All forms of yoga have the added benefit of creating a stronger mind and increasing mental clarity.
It’s important to supplement your yoga practice with overall healthy habits, so be sure you’re getting enough sleep, not drinking too much or smoking, and eating nutritiously. If you think there may be some gaps in your diet, it’s a good idea to take a multivitamin to help build immunity and bone health.
If you’re looking to increase your energy, be in tune with your body, build your health, alleviate pain, increase balance, increase flexibility, improve your mood, and have better mental clarity, then yoga is the right exercise for you. And it doesn’t just provide physical benefits — it also provides the mental benefits that keep your brain sharp, present, and rested. The poses and breathing learned through yoga will increase your overall well-being and give you some extra bounce in your step during your golden years.
By : Sheila Johnson Zenthusiast
Photo Credit: Pixabay
Welcome 2021
Bye 2020 & Welcome 2021! Have you been struggling to keep a healthy lifestyle due to covid-19 and being stuck in the house more frequently? Do you feel overwhelmed about how to start or even just get back into you health and healing journey? We want you to know we totally get it 2020 was hard for all of us, 2021 is an opportunity to reset and learn how to take care of your health and wellness. Please join Lisa of Lisa’s Rustic Pantry for a live ZOOM Event that will give you the information needed to understand plant based nutrition as well as how to improve your gut and immunity health and learn about what quality supplements actually are. If you would like to join us or have questions before signing up please reach out. You can email Lisa - lisa@lisasrusticpantry.com or find her on instagram @lisasrusticpantry
4 Things Can Easily Do To Elevate Your Yoga Practice By Sheila Johnson
4 Things You Can Easily Do to Elevate Your Yoga Practice
For thousands of years, yoga has proven itself to be superior as a form of exercise in more ways than one. Not only does it have a plethora of science-backed benefits—such as reducing chronic pain, inflammation, and the risk of disease—it also has an impressive roster of unexpected ones, too.
Needless to say, yoga is awesome, and you’d do very well to make a regular practice part of your life. Luckily, you can elevate your yoga practice in ways that are as easy as they are non-disruptive to your normal routine. Here’s how.
Set an intention.
Yoga starts with one thing, and that is intention, or “Sankalpa” in Hindu. This intention not only helps you power through a session and practice regularly, but more importantly, it equips you to live more mindfully. Essentially, it is Sankalpa that enables you to really live and breathe yoga, both on and off the mat.
While this is largely a mental exercise, there are tools that you can use to set a powerful intention and even help you stick to your goals. Mantras, or affirmations, are known to be helpful, as are keeping a journal or photo diary. These days, smartphone apps are also among the preferred ways to track yoga progress, so consider one like TrackYoga.
Find a good guru.
Your yoga guru—that is to say, your teacher—can contribute greatly in taking your practice to the next level. While a well-trained teacher like Serena at Serene Yoga is a must, finding the right one actually goes beyond qualifications. Of course, you want a teacher who is knowledgeable and makes classes enjoyable. You also have to take into consideration your impressions, their approachability, what you’re learning from them, etc. Ultimately, finding the right guru to guide you in your practice depends on how well they resonate and connect with you, so make sure not to settle.
On another note, choosing a yoga class is largely similar. Moreover, you also have to choose the right kind of yoga for you out of the many styles available, so try out different disciplines to find the right fit, as well as prepare yourself accordingly.
Take time.
One possible obstacle that you might encounter in the process of elevating your practice is time. Indeed, it’s not rare for someone to get into yoga—then subsequently drop the ball because of a busy schedule.
Well, know that yoga actually doesn’t demand too much of your time, surprisingly. While classes generally take an hour or so, you can opt for self-practice and spend a lot less time. In fact, it’s been said that all it takes is as little as seven minutes to see and feel improvements. So why not give yourself permission to devote seven minutes—or more—of your time each day to practice? You only have yourself to thank for it.
When you’re at home practicing what you’ve learned at your studio, free your house of negative energy by decluttering, deep cleaning, and letting in more light. Once you remove triggers that can cause anxiety and stress, you’ll be able to properly focus on your practice.
Make your journey your own.
Finally, don’t lose sight of the fact that your yoga journey is a personal one. Everyone’s bodies are different, so you likely won’t have the same flexibility, endurance, and strength level as others. There’s no point, therefore, in comparing yourself to others. Yoga is not a competition, after all, but rather, a pilgrimage unto your true self, on a holistic level. So turn off the mind chatter and work on keeping to this mindset so you not only will elevate your practice, but also experience breakthroughs physically and mentally.
Suffice it to say, yoga will serve your self-improvement goals, as well as your life in its entirety. So take these tips to heart to level up your practice. A new and better you awaits.
Serene Yoga You Tube Channel
Please Like and visit Serene Yoga on You Tube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1MrbNkGnT2s2wVh4UkTHUg
What Is Yoga To You ??
Yoga can be simply rolling out your yoga mat and sitting in meditation for a minute or sometimes longer. Yoga could also be getting sweaty during a intense hot yoga practice or a Buti Yoga class. Maybe, it is really relaxing class focusing on lengthening and stretching during a restorative practice or a yin yoga class.. Yoga could even mean rolling out your mat and writing in a journal for a bit or just sitting there.. The point is yoga can be all of this. It can be 1 minute on your mat or a few hours. It is truly a practice of learning about yourself and what your body needs and taking that knowledge with you off your yoga mat. Every person is different and that is what is so great about yoga it There are so many different styles there are so many different ways to practice your yoga, so I encourage you to do just that. Practice your yoga. Don’t feel like your yoga practice has to be the same as your friends’ practice or that you have to do every single pose the same as everyone else. Your Yoga Practice is as Unique as You!
