Yoga off the Mat

Yoga means union and while it may seem easy to unite body, mind and spirit during class, what happens after your class when you step off your mat into the world? Here’s how to apply the lessons you learn from your practice to your everyday life.

Slow down

Busyness is not the goal. Take a breath – it doesn’t need to be ujjayi breath but consciously slowing down your breath helps manage anxiety.

Practice mindfulness

Be present. Clear your thoughts of all outside concerns and be focused on what you are doing at the moment. In our fast paced, multi-tasking lives, being present in the moment can be difficult. While you are practicing yoga, allow yourself to truly be practicing yoga. Listen to your breath, your body, and your intuition. Being present in the moment is simple, but it is not easy. With time and practice, one can learn to be present in all moments, allowing for mindfulness and consciousness in every situation.

No judgement

Just as it doesn’t matter if you can hold handstand for a minute or if you need to come into child’s pose every other minute, it doesn’t matter what others do and do not do. Be kind to those around you, show some compassion… and extend that to yourself too.

Be grateful

Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. Sometimes it’s so easy to get caught up in where you want to be that you forget to stop and take a minute to be thankful for all the things you have going on in your life right now.

Face challenges

Surrendering to the posture is about finding comfort within discomfort, learning ways in which to deal with difficult situations. Yes, yoga makes us feel good, but it also shows us what we’re made of when things get tough like in showing us how strong our bodies can be when the mind says no to holding chair pose for a minute.