“Life doesn’t always resemble a clear blue sky.
I practice Yoga for the daily challenges and upheavals.”
You have probably heard me say this during class or mutter it to myself.
What a cliche!
I woke up this morning, like most mornings, early and before the sun rose.
This is my most treasured time.
It is that time of the day that can offer so much promise of the new day ahead.
A “clean slate”.
This morning I woke with a very heavy heart.
As I rolled out my mat, boiled myself some warm water, I had a sinking feeling that my practice was going to look very different.
And it did.
As I reached the end of my practice, I began to settle into a Pranayama practice (Breath Exercise).
But I didn’t quite make it, instead I burst into tears.
It can be revealing to share our weak moments with others, but today I hope this can simply offer you some hope.
You see, practicing Yoga Asanas (Poses) has a wonderful way of, quite literally, shifting emotions and bringing them “to the surface”. Just like confiding in a dear friend, Yoga Asanas can aid in releasing and letting go. Just like Elsa from Frozen sings “LET IT GO!”
In this case, it was in the way of tears, but at other times it is far less noticeable. (Thank goodness because I don’t think we would keep returning to our mats otherwise!)
Physician, Doctor and author, Timothy McCall, clearly details other, less noticeable effects [1]
– Improves Immune Function
– Improves Lung Function
– Increases Oxygenation of Tissues
– Nourishes Intervertebral Disks
– Improves Return of Venous Blood
– Increases Circulation of Lymph
– Improves Proprioception
– Increases Control of Bodily Functions
– Relaxes the Nervous System
Back to my teary eyes, I allowed the emotion to pass and tried my best not to overthink it too much. I grabbed my journal, wrote and within an hour I felt I had begun to “re-set”.
Each and every one of us have so much to process, manage and adjust during our lifetime.
Now the two weeks break has arrived, we won’t be practicing with each other,
I hope this offers you some inspiration to consider taking mini pockets in your days,
Mini pockets to explore your own Yoga Practice,
no matter how short or long it is.
(It certainly doesn’t have to be at dawn!)
3 mins is better than nothing.
Our Yoga Practice can be one of many in our little “tool-boxes” for life.
Stay safe and breathe.
Reference:
(1) Yoga As Medicine- The Yogic Prescription For Health and Healing, (p31-45)
