Just Breathe

Breathing is a very important part of yoga. I've heard an instructor say that if you do nothing else for the next hour, but breathe you have done more than most. So, before you read on take a minute to breathe. Take a big inhale and then slowly exhale. Doesn't that feel good? Do it again if you like and read on.

In yoga the poses, postures and movements are not as important as your breath. I really took that into consideration during my yoga practice. The instructor started us with our vinyassa for the class and then let us go. The challenge was moving with your own breath. It is a conscious effort for me to do this has at some points I find myself holding my breathe. Just let it out, I think. What are you holding onto?

The meditation part of yoga (savasana) is something we do at the end of each class. We take 5 minutes for ourselves with no agenda, no expectations and just breathe. Another instructors really has us think about our breath, the inhale and exhale. How we feel as we breathe, the cooler air of the inhale and warmth of the exhale. The air cycling through our body. This normal, every day act that most of us take for granted, is very powerful.

So the next time you are having a bad day, stressed and not sure what to do...breathe, just breathe.

Yoga

I joined a new gym in June and have been keeping busy with yoga classes. I also like the fact that they have an indoor and outdoor swimming pool where I can swim laps and get some sun! I'm also enjoying a yoga class on Monday nights at a different yoga studio. I feel like I am more challenged in that class and it is more than just a form of exercise. So 2-3 days during the week, I can be found at yoga class after work and on the weekends more yoga and some pool time. That's a pretty nice summer to me.

My company has a wellness program, where employees get points for eating their fruits and veggies, working out, getting check-ups and not smoking. With enough points you get a free day off work. I've started leading a yoga class at work every other Thursday over the lunch hour and really enjoy it. I just did my third class last week and have had about 4-6 co-workers attending each class. It's nice to share what I know and also practice my yoga. I've been told a couple times that I should get certified. This is something that was in the back of my mind (I put the project management certification on hold, don't think it's right for me). So, I emailed my first yoga instructor (who inspired me when I first started) and asked what she thought. She recommended a certification in Colorado Springs next February. I'm planning to get some more information and see what this would all entail. Might be a nice second income for me one of these days.

And since I put my new car and new roof on hold, I decided I am going to make my next dream vacation a reality. I'm going to Hawaii!!! Next March there is a yoga retreat I found through an adventure-vacation company. Each retreat they do has some sort of activity associated with it. Yoga and Hawaii – what a perfect match! I'm planning to sign up in the next couple weeks and I've already talked to my boss about taking the time off from work. I hope to learn a lot about myself and yoga and Hawaii!