Yoga … have you ever taken a class? There was a time when I’d get so bored in a yoga class. That’s because I could not come out of my head. My mind would wonder and I’d be giving attention to all kind of things.
I thought I needed a more fast paced type of exercise. And maybe I did at the time. It could also have been me racing and running away from a few of life’s challenges.
My workouts are still pretty much fast paced. I walk a mile three/four times a week, that’s focused exercise. It doesn’t include all the steps taken in working the business and moving about the floor to get orders packed, labeled and shipped.
To slow things down, I take long hot baths. They’re relaxing, calming and provide me with an environment of complete solitude.
Yoga has come back into my mental space. It’s yet another way to slow my pace, relax and focus. It will also help to strengthen my body. As maturing bodies, we need a type of exercise that will help strengthen without putting unnecessary stress on our joints.
Yoga and of course Tai Chi are two excellent ways to accomplish this.
Yoga. What is it? While many of you want to use yoga to tighten abs, loose weight, relieve back pain and minimize stress, that’s not why it was created. It was created to tame the beast that sets you out on a tangent everyday. Who or what is the beast? It’s your mind. Yoga was created to quiet the mind. Have you ever tried to quiet your mind?
Have you ever sat down and looked at all of the different types and styles of yoga?Hatha, , Kundalini, Bikram and dare we say Laughter Yoga. There are many more, yet for the fun of it let’s take a look at the ones mentioned above.
Hatha is the catch all phrase for yoga. It’s often referred to as a generic term for yoga that teaches physical postures, meditation and breathing techniques that are practiced slowly. Hatha means force.
Kundalini uses breath-work, rhythmic movements and sounds that move energy throughout your body.
Bikram is often referred to as hot yoga. If you like to sweat and find ease with movement, this is the class for you. The heat helps improve your circulation as well as helping in detoxifying your body.
Laughter is a combination of deep breathing and laughter exercises. This form of yoga is said to release endorphins and reduce stress.
Done right, yoga will help strengthen your body, provide calm to your psyche and fill you with energy beyond your imagination.
You will not rush the process. Your body won’t let you. Once you decide what works best for you, you’ll gain of the benefits it has to offer. Energy, strength, calm and focus represent the beginning benefits of a great yoga practice.
That’s it for this week. As always,..
Dedicated To Your Beauty,
Juliette Samuel
Esthetician/Author/Publisher,