Yoga is much more than just poses. It is intended to be a way of life, an integral part of our daily routine, thoughts and feelings. Remember that we gain from our yoga practice off our mats as well as on our mats. You can incorporate all the elements of yoga into your everyday life and so continue to enjoy its benefits.
Yoga for your body
Today, why not take time to develop an awareness of where you hold tension in your body. At various times during your day, just stop for a few minutes and scan your body to feel any tight spots or places which have pain. Now try breathing deeply for a few breaths and imagine all that oxygen-rich air going directly into the tight or painful place. Scan again and see if the tension has loosened a little or if the pain has diminished.
Yoga for your mind
Meditation begins with mindfulness. When you're next brushing your teeth, notice your posture: is your back tense or relaxed? Are your arm muscles tense? Is your mouth soft or scrunched up? Focus on the up and down movement of the toothbrush; look at how the toothpaste is frothing; do you like the toothpaste taste? How does the brush feel against your teeth? Do you have any sensitive spots? Watch your arm moving up and down. Is your hand clenched around the toothbrush? Think only of how you are brushing your teeth.
Yoga for your spirit
Select a piece of fruit, preferably obtained from a local farmer or from your own fruit trees or bushes. Using your sense of sight, carefully examine the fruit, noticing its colour, shape and any markings or blemishes. This piece of fruit has 'eaten sunlight' and is full of prana (life force) just waiting for you to bite into it. Eat it slowly and mindfully, and imagine your body absorbing the prana and storing it, ready for you to use.
Chris Lindsay is giving free rein to her creativity by designing mandalas for herself and others to color in. She uses geometric patterns from temari, yantra and kaleidoscope designs as the starting points for her creations.
Whether you want to reduce stress, to quieten your mind, meditate or just to have fun, coloring is a great activity for all ages and all abilities.
Visit http://www.mandalas-to-color.com and set your artistic creativity free.
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