Shea - Yoga for stress relief and forgiveness

Content copyright 2015 by

Lisa Shea / Minerva Webworks LLC

All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form orby any electronic or mechanical means including information storageand retrieval systems, without permission in writing from theauthor. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote shortexcerpts in a review.

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Note: I am not a doctor. Please alwaysconsult with your medical doctor before embarking on any exerciseroutine. Always listen to your body and stop if you feel any painor discomfort.

The word yoga in Sanskrit meanslisten. Listening is the key to what yoga is all about. Itis about listening to your body. Stretching, bending, breathing,and listening. Its about becoming more aware of your body, itsstrengths, where it needs help, and nurturing it.

I am a practitioner of the Kripalu style ofyoga. Named after Swami Kripalu, this style emphasizes gentle,loving kindness to your body, forgiveness to your heart, andlistening to what your body is telling you. You dont have to twistyourself into a pretzel. You dont have to out-do or even match theperson next to you. All you have to do is take care of yourself, inwhatever way is appropriate for you today.

Take it one step at a time.

Yoga is proven, by study after study, to helpwith body health. A 2011 study by the National Institute of Healthfound that yoga alleviated chronic lower back pain. A study done byHarvard found that yoga helped lift depression, even more so thanother gentle forms of exercise like walking. Researchers at thetrauma center of JRI find that yoga helps with post-traumaticstress disorder.

Johns Hopkins University found that yogahelps build balance, even in seniors for whom falling can be aserious issue. A study by the University of South Carolina foundthat yoga reduces blood pressure.

My yoga practice focuses on stress relief andforgiveness. Both are just so important in being able to focus andthrive. Each day we have is a gift. It is a blessing that we shouldtreasure. By having the most focus we can, the least stress, andthe most positive energy to apply to our own tasks and to sharewith the world, we make the most of that gift.

Namaste.

Note: I am not a doctor. Please alwaysconsult with your medical doctor before embarking on any exerciseroutine. Always listen to your body and stop if you feel any painor discomfort.

You can do yoga pretty much anywhere. Sure,when its nice outside, I roll my yoga mat out on the back porch.Im surrounded by my container plants and flowers; I bend andstretch where the birds can chirp at me and the butterflies canflutter by.

But all you need, to do yoga, is an emptyspace to stand. In the winter here are times where I have to pushthings aside in my kitchen to lay out the mat in a spot just bigenough for that mat. Thats fine! You do what you can.

If all you can do is stand in place and usethat one spot, thats fine. Theres always a way to get the taskdone.

You dont even need a mat. You can buy grippysocks that will let your socks have traction on whatever surfaceyou stand on, and go with that.

I do recommend getting a mat at some point,though. It provides a gentle cushion for your hands and feet ifyoure on a hard floor. If youre on a carpet, it prevents rugburn.

So with a yoga mat, a location that lets youlay that yoga mat flat, and a desire to relax, its time tobegin!

Ive done yoga in just about everycombination of clothes imaginable. Yoga tops and pants. Sweats.Jeans. Long dresses. Shorts.

On one hand, it doesnt matter what you wear.You can wear anything. Wear whats comfortable so you do yoga.Dont hold off until you get the right outfit.

On the other hand, it does help to have a topthat stays relatively snug against your body. If you do yoga in aloose top, and you bend at the waist, the top might fall into yourface.

It also helps to have clothes that move withyou. If you are wearing incredibly tight jeans, it could be hard tobend and twist in them.

For your feet, bare feet are best so youdont slip on the mat. If you do wear something on your feet, aimfor something grippy so it doesnt slide.

I strive to do yoga the first thing when Iwake up, before anything else. Otherwise I get sucked into tasksand somehow never make time for it. We are all different, in ourenergy levels and schedules. Whatever works best for you, go forit. Dont worry about best times or what other people do. Theonly thing that matters is that you DO yoga. If its best fittingin your schedule at midnight, thats good. If its best fitting at2pm, thats good too! The most important thing is to do it, notwhen its done.

Im fortunate in that I work from home andset my own schedule. I am able to strive for a full hour of yoga. Ifind it greatly improves my entire day. My focus is such that Imable to get tasks done far more quickly after yoga. So the yogainvestment pays back in increased focus and energy throughout theday. Im not losing time to yoga Im gaining it.

For many people, they have otherresponsibilities and duties and simply dont have a full hour tospare. Thats all right. You can do the full routine more quicklyand have it done in a half hour. Or you can leave out items from mynormal routine. Whatever works for you, find a way to do the yoga.Even if its just fifteen minutes. Its better to do somethingrather than nothing.

Your body will thank you for investing thetime!

Again, always talk with a doctor beforestarting a routine in order to can get advice on your specificmedical situation.

Here are some concepts to keep in mind as youbegin a new exercise routine.

In general, no matter what type of exerciseyou do, avoid bouncing into a pose or stance. That type of motioncan over-stretch a muscle. Move into each pose gently andsmoothly.

Your limbs should not be locked straight andjoints should not be over-bent. Keep a slight curve in your elbows.Be loose and relaxed.

Theres no race. Go slowly, gently, smoothly,and listen to your body.

Drink ample water to keep your body hydratedas you move.

The beginning is always the settling stage ofany exercise routine. You come into it with all sorts of thoughtsbouncing through your head. You endure the typical monkey mindthat all people everywhere have to cope with. The mind leaps fromthought to thought with wild abandon. The yoga practice is, inpart, about quieting and focusing that mind and training it togather its energy.

Stand at the center of your mat, facing oneof the shorter ends, take a deep breath, and set an intention forthis session. It can be releasing stress, forgiving yourself,forgiving someone else, or whatever you wish. It can simply bejoy.

Then we begin.