You would think, because breathing is so fundamental to survival, that most (if not all) of us would be born instinctually knowing how to do it effectively. The truth is otherwise. The good news: breathing is driven by the brain. The brain closely (and quickly) monitors data from the tissues about oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. …
Repetition becomes boring. It’s probably what makes exercise easy to dread: it usually involves repetition (sometimes aka “reps”). As a competitive swimmer from age 8 – 13, then a professional dancer from 20 until 41, I’ve had a lifetime’s share of repetitive movement. Knowing what’s coming next is drudgery – but that’s me. I believe …
According to an ancient text on Yoga*, there are five types of giving and taking. If you take one hundred percent and don’t give anything in return, you can be called a thief. If you take one hundred percent and give fifty percent, you’re a debtor. If you take one hundred percent and give one …
We do it to ourselves. The ancient yogis identified “inclinations” that we have as humans – we incline, or lean, towards distraction. Yoga came about as a method to end the suffering that distraction causes. Technology may have sped up our ability to get tasks done more efficiently, but we’re really no different than the …
Move the spine in all 6 key directions, move every joint of the body to retain mobility and ease and develop effective and deeper breathing – all from the security of a chair.
Movement – specifically, yoga – serves bone health by keeping bones strong (i.e., tough, hard, solid with elasticity) through the application of non-threatening weight-bearing. This results in BMD, or Bone Mineral Density. (Healthy adult bones will exhibit a ratio of 33.3% organic matter to 66.7% inorganic matter. The organic parts provide elasticity and toughness – …
Build neck strength in all 4-directions (front, side, side & back) in this free 4-minute video you can do either standing or sitting. See more of the world and breathe deeper at the same time.
Images such as this make the news and, now, seemingly represent Yoga. Many tell me, upon seeing these types of images, this is what goes through their minds: “Well, obviously I can’t do Yoga: I’m not…. thin enough strong enough flexible enough able to balance!” Interesting – those are exactly the results it creates. If you have a similar …
I’m done striving for a chiseled chest, amazing abs and a tight butt, thinking these will make me happy. I can honestly say I did it just to attract someone else. According to Yoga philosophy, that’s a form of attachment, even grasping. Vanity to get a result. Oh, it’s great to look one’s best, but …
If this sounds familiar to you, we’re like-minded. Note: this is quite the opposite of scatter-brain, which is the subject of another post. When I sit in meditation to approach yoga (a sustained single-pointed focus, free of interruption), I’m astounded by the amount of mental chatter going on inside. I’ve been taught to treat the …