Fan the Natural Fire

Agni Sara or "essence of fire" is the focus of this practice.  Instructor Greg guides the awareness and activation-relaxation of each the muladhara pelvic floor (Chakra 1 - root), svadhisthana (Chakra 2 - sacral), and manipura abdomen (Chakra 3 - solar plexus).

Day 28: Activate the Solar Plexus: "Fan the natural fire of the solar plexus."

Modifications for me today:

• light-headedness - pause, move into a pose without many bends, breathe
• right knee pain (still from fall) - stand for the right side of pose rather than kneel

Words that resonated:

• cultivate
• mechanics
• over time

I am physically exhausted by mid-day and am grateful to have the time to rest and breathe over a long lunch break as I return to the 30 for 30 challenge not only to seeking to complete my commitment but also knowing how beneficial to my central nervous system, muscular and fascial tissues, and likely my immune system a daily yoga practice can be.  Although I haven't attended a yoga class or blogged about a yoga video for several days, I have been tuning in to other opportunities to practice yoga every day: While watching a movie with the kids; between clients; in the pool before, during, and after a swim for a few poses; at the doctor's office.  The concept of mindful movement, purposeful awareness, and open eyes and heart can be implemented anywhere; for example, the 'adventure' of taking particular note of what we saw during the 1 mile walk to-and-from a doctor appointment yesterday turned out to be a highlight of the kids' day!

@CoachBurow #30for30 #yogachallenge #yogaeveryday #mindbodyhealth 

Yoga Before Work - best idea all day!

Well, and really, it isn't a new idea - to anyone and certainly not to me.  However, today I woke with juuuuust enough energy to roll out of bed and complete another day of the 30 for 30 challenge prior to heading in to work.  It definitely helps that I didn't begin my shift until 10am - although, sometimes strangely, that seems to give me license to either sleep later or do other tasks rather than exercise.  (And hold your tongue about sleeping later! I practice a fairly consistent sleep-wake schedule for my own sanity and well-being, but sometimes laying in bed or snoozing a little extra makes a difference for everyone's benefit!)

Class today was Day 21: Yoga for the Elements (Fire).  "The fire element governs our digestion on all levels: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual." Alrighty then. (Actually, I have a minute knowledge of this from reading about chakras and practicing Healing Touch, as well as from tuning in to my own body and how it acts/reacts to various stimuli.)

ANYway! In going through this 30 for 30 yoga challenge, a validation or refocus on how vital the breath is to every movement, every thought process, every aspect of living. 

(Well DUH, right? Breathing is vital to living. Don't have to do yoga to know that.) 

Right, yoga isn't necessary. But practicing purposeful movement along with mindful breathing has reminded me of how our breathing (or lack of, or imbalanced, or compromised breathing) can have an immediate and lasting impact on what is happening physiologically and  mentally. I'm not explaining this very expertly right now - point is, I'm literally feeling physical and mental and emotional benefit from this daily practice.  I am not 'healed' or 'all better' or 'without pain' or any of the like; I am calming my central nervous system, giving myself opportunity to practice self-compassion and maybe modify poses or let go of feelings of guilt or self-disgust.  I am tuning in with my body and what is going on within that I can articulate (or at least feel/feel the effects of) and recognizing that further ability to heal could be occurring at a cellular level (and likely is, according to research, which I would have to find if someone asked me about it).

Enough blah-blah-blah.  Yoga in the morning (+ 9 hours of sleep + hydration + taking my nutritional support + eating mostly well + decent weather) has contributed to an overall more relaxed/peaceful and 'happy' day.  I understand this will not always be the case; however, how much could I benefit from practicing yoga most mornings, whether for 5 minutes or 25 minutes? Likely mucho benefit - not only for me - for those around me! ;)


@CoachBurow #30for30 #yogachallenge  #dynamicwellness #mindbodyhealth #breath