About Tanya Markul

http://rebellotus.blogspot.com/

Self-proclaimed existential detective, writer and yogini. B.S. in Journalism. Has lived in the U.S., England, Norway, and Denmark. Co-founder of nobaii.com, a website for offering free services and used items. Visit me at rebellotus.blogspot.com or on Elephant Journal.

Posts by Tanya Markul:

Teaching Yoga To Athletes.

Tanya Lee Markul / Reflections / / 0 Comment

ath·lete/ˈaTHlēt/ Noun: A person who is proficient in sports and other forms of physical exercise.

Yoga can be a companion for the guys and girls that make physical fitness an integral part of their lives especially when it comes to improving things like balance, breathing, conditioning, core strength, flexibility and injury prevention. But how does the yoga mind set translate to an athlete.  

Athletes typically have trained bodies, are disciplined, self-motivated and are probably used to pushing themselves beyond their limits. And sure, these things show up on the yoga mat as well, but how does yoga (a non-performance based sport) appeal to an athlete’s competitive nature? I believe one answer is ‘focus’.

One thing that is important to translate and remind athletes of is the yogi’s ‘internal focus’. Instead of focusing or comparing our selves to others, it is important that we focus on our self. Because athletes are so used to being competitive with others and themselves, a reminder to internally focus is key and to not overly compete with our selves either.

Another area of focus is to ‘focus on the present’ and not a future goal. Athletes are used to visualizing and thinking about the ‘end’ achievement, which isn’t a horrible thing, but yoga is the practice of ‘now’. Remind athletes to bring focus back to the present breath and to be in the moment versus crossing the finish line.

Yoga can help athletes to connect to their bodies on a deeper level. Instead of living in a win-lose frame of mind, the athlete can integrate Zen-ness with their athletic-ness.

Improve Your Yoga Practice With Food.

Tanya Lee Markul / Tips / / 1 Comment

Practicing yoga helps to promote a mind and body connection. We can improve our yoga practice (and elevate our consciousness) with the types of food we consume. Yoga combined with a well-balanced diet of pure, light and mineral rich foods can help us to re-create our bodies and minds to achieve optimal health and emotional balance.

Watch: David Wolfe – Yoga and Food

Eat to live instead of living to eat.

Most of us have experienced emotional eating. When we eat more than we need to (or convince ourselves that we need that extra piece of chocolate cake), we are usually trying to push emotions that we don’t want to deal with deep down inside us. Learn to observe your cravings when you are tired, upset or angry and although you are feeling at your best, still try to make decisions that are best for your body and mind.

When we practice yoga (detoxification), we allow these deep emotions to come up so we can deal with them, accept them and then release them. An imbalanced diet is counteractive to this process. An indicator of this is if you find yourself constantly in emotional circles or if you feel your practice isn’t going anywhere.

Most of us have also experienced a sore head. Headaches seem to be the number one symptom of toxins being released from the body. A diet that consists of processed foods, caffeine, sugar and meats are working even harder to get rid of ingested toxic elements. These types of diets often make us want to eat more as they don’t have much nutritional value – the body will incessantly crave more trying to find it.

So, what is the yogic diet?

Well, there really isn’t one, aside from a zillion recommendations to do this or that. The real method is learning to follow our instincts.

There is a natural instinct within all of us to follow a healthy balanced diet. If we want to live optimally, we must learn to listen to our mind and body from deep within. Practicing yoga often and with sincerity helps us to stimulate these amazing natural instincts. Yoga helps us to break old bad habits and replace them with balance. Yoga is a process of normalization that brings us back to our truest selves.

Why do we eat?

We eat to give the body and mind energy. Choosing foods that are fresh, organic, raw and pure helps to optimize our nutrient and mineral intake. Stopping when we first feel the slightest bit full leaves us with a sense of lightness and control. We should not feel sluggish and heavy after a meal. Eating a vegetarian diet may help us to feel calm, as it is easier on the digestive system. And, drinking lots of pure water, herbal tea and fresh vegetable juices hydrate us and often quench false hunger pains.

Yoga is about purification and transformation. It is a process that brings us back to union. When we live lighter, cleaner and happier, our consciousness and yoga practice grows.

10 Words That Will Set You Free!

Tanya Lee Markul / Reflections, Thoughts / , , , / 0 Comment

Break free from the grind and from your mind prison! Work out whatever holds you back and make the effort to break patterns because you can!

Infinite. You are an infinite being having a human experience. Make life an adventure – every step is consciousness. We don’t have to live in a world that is at war. Believe.

Believe. Believe in the inner connectivity with each other, with nature, with all life forms. Believe in yourself and trust the inner process. You exist now. Understand why. Believe in the greater goodness.

Goodness. Refuse to see anything but the goodness in anyone and in life. The majority of us want to live in peace with each other, with nature, with Mother Earth. If you want to be unhappy, think of only yourself. If you want to be happy, think of everyone.

Courage. Have the courage to be YOU and don’t ever be ashamed of who you are or were. Make the effort and have the discipline to break patterns and to break yourself free.

Energy. Make living a meaningful life a priority. Do not squander your life! Your role is important. Go beyond limited ways of seeing to feel the underlying energy of things. It is up to us!

Change. A small amount of consciousness can improve the quality of life for everyone on the planet. There’s enough for everybody. Life right now is a journey of self-investigation. It is up to us to dig deeper to see the deeper meaning of life.

Forgiveness. Don’t be a prisoner of the past. Let it go and set it all free. Forgive our selves for everything. We can forgive and we can accept that each and every one of us is at a point where we can no longer cover our eyes or ears.

Acceptance. Know that you are special and unique. Learn to empower yourself by simply accepting who you are and the things that make you different. We are each infinite and unique geniuses – accept it.

Peace. Bliss is not limited to only our physical bodies! We are right now on a path of transformational consciousness. You are a part of it.

Love. When you offer your heart and compassion to the world, the entire world is uplifted! One love.

xoxox

My Favorite Little Mantras.

Tanya Lee Markul / Meditation, Reflections / , , , , , / 0 Comment

The word “mantra” is a Sanskrit word consisting of two syllables: “man” (mind) and “tra” (deliverance).

Mantras are energy-based sounds that can have great psychological, spiritual and transformational effects. Mantras help to manifest intent, overcome obstacles (and remove inhibitions), instigate energy (prana), create awareness, relieve stress, help calm the mind and eventually elevate our consciousness. They can be written down, thought, whispered chanted, sung and breathed. 

I think it’s also important to mention that there are several interpretations and translations, but that it is possible that through practice, we all can gain an understanding that goes beyond words.

Here is a little bit about my personal favorites.

SAT NAM (sut nahm)

This mantra is widely used in the practice of Kundalini Yoga. Sat means the Truth while Nam means to call upon or to identify with. The meaning of the mantra is something like this: I recall upon the eternal Truth that resides within all of us. It is said that chanting this mantra awakens the soul.

SOHAM (soo hum)

This mantra is said to be a universal mantra vibration that identifies oneself with the Universe or ultimate reality. In Sanskrit, it means ‘I myself’ or ‘It is I’. This mantra is said to act as a ‘natural’ mantra to control ones breathing to achieve deep breath and to gain concentration – Soo the sound of inhalation and Hum the sound of exhalation.

OM NAMA SHIVAYA (aum num-ha shi-why)
Also called the five-syllable mantra is known to be a powerful redeeming mantra, it means ’I bow to Shiva.’ Shiva being the supreme reality, or inner self, is the name given to the consciousness that dwells in us all. This mantra is said to lead to self-realization. The five syllables are said to represent the five elements of earth, water, fire, air and space.

OM MANI PADME HUM (aum  ma-nee pahd-may hum)

This mantra means something like ‘aum to the jewel within the lotus.’ It is said to bring you joy and peaceful vibrations, invoke wisdom and compassion and to free us from the negative emotions of the mind and speech.

OM (aum)

A mantra that is often used in yoga is a symbol of the deep realities of the Universe and the individual human being. It is also said to be a roadmap to Self-realization.

What is your favorite?

What Type of Yoga Is For Me?

Tanya Lee Markul / Styles, Thoughts, Tips / , , , , , , , / 2 Comments

Yoga is a tool to bring us closer to who we really are.

At first, the type of yoga we start with usually depends on our preference for being physically challenged versus a more gentle and relaxing meditative practice. I have found that the more you do yoga, the better understanding you will gain of the type (or types) of yoga that work for you.

There are many different styles and types of yoga taught today and although all of them practice the same asanas (postures), each have its own focus or emphasis.

Here are some of the types of yoga that I think are pretty popular today – perhaps an inspiration for you to keep going or to try something new!

Anusara: Founded in 1997 by John Friend, Anusara yoga focuses on the physical alignment along with the positive philosophy derived from Tantra. These classes are typically focused on opening the heart. There is a lot of Vinyasa flow. These classes can typically be done at different physical levels hence props are sometimes used.

Ashtanga: Popularized by Sri Pattabhi Jois, Ashtanga yoga is a strong and dynamic flowing sequence of sun salutations and postures. The Ashtanga method stresses daily practice using uijayi breathing, mula bandha, iddiyana bandha and drishti. There are six series to this practice. The first series focuses on realigning the body, building strength, detoxification, flexibility and stamina. Classes can be led or self-led. Ashtanga is a vigorous and disciplined practice where the student progresses at his or her own pace.

Hatha: Dating back to the 15th century, Hatha yoga is typically slow paced with an emphasis on Pranayama (breath work), deep stretching, relaxation and instruction.

Iyengar: Developed by living yoga master BKS Iyengar, this physical form of yoga focuses on the precise alignment within postures using blocks, belts, chairs and other props to help the practitioner open more into the posture based on their own physical strength and weaknesses.

Kundalini: Kundalini is an ancient form of practice that involves combing strong breathing practices with asana and can range in difficulty. This type of yoga goes beyond the physical practice and emphasizes breathing, meditation and sometimes chanting.

Vinyasa: This type of yoga covers a broad range of yoga asanas. The word ‘Vinyasa’ literally means ‘linking movement with breath’ where each movement is linked to an inhalation or exhalation. Classes typically involve Ashtanga asanas and can range in difficulty and style depending on the teacher.

Always remember to listen to your own inner teacher. No matter what type of yoga you choose, it help you to establish optimal mental and physical health.

Namaste.

Image credit-yoga girl: http://free-online-yoga.us/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Power-Yoga.jpg

What The Neck About Yoga

Tanya Lee Markul / Reflections, Tips / , , / 1 Comment

We store stress throughout our entire body, but for most of us, our neck takes the brunt of it. Fortunately, yoga can do wonders for neck pain and not only because it helps build strength and flexibility, but also because it helps us to develop better posture habits, even if we have a sedentary lifestyle.

The average human head weights between 15 and 21 pounds, so, as you can imagine, when we have poor posture, have bad head-neck alignment or are stressed, it makes the muscles of the neck and back work and compensate more than they should – it actually makes the muscles short and weak. This can lead to pain and tightness in the neck and upper back region, headaches, even arthritis and other not so pleasant muscle injuries.

Forcing your body to do anything in yoga that it is not ready for can result in serious injury. All it takes is a few centimeters the wrong way.

Chances are that if have (or have had) a desk job or stress in your life, you are going to show up to yoga with tight neck muscles (most of us do). You may not be able to bring the chin to the chest, bend the head back to look up or even turn the head from right to left to a great degree. These limitations are OK, you just have to learn to work with them.

Releasing tension and stress in the jaw, neck, shoulders and down the back is as important as sitting up straight. All we need to do is to take a few deep breathes and remind ourselves to relax and sit up right (remember strong, but soft). This goes for when we are doing yoga and in our everyday life.

Here are only a few exercises that could help. Remember to move slowly and deliberately and not beyond your boundaries.

Easy Pose: helps to balance the head evenly on top of the neck. Sit in comfortable cross-legged position with a straight spine, balancing the head evenly on top the neck.

Chin-to-chest: creates a long gentle stretch of the back of the neck. Inhale and as you exhale slowly lower your chin to your chest, creating a long, gentle stretch along the back of the neck. Take several slow, deep breaths with the chin down. Lift the head back up on an inhale. Repeat.

Ear-to-shoulder: creates a gentle stretch along the top of the shoulder and side of the neck. Inhale and exhale your head to toward one shoulder – eyes forward. Inhale and raise your head back up. Repeat on the other side.

Draw-a-necklace with your chin: creates a gentle stretch along the top of the shoulder and side of the neck. Inhale and draw a necklace with your chin from the middle of your chest toward right shoulder. Exhale come back to center. Repeat on the other side.

Before you know it you’ll be looking up at your fingertips while in triangle pose.

My Top 5 Favorite Vancouver Yoga Review Articles

Tanya Lee Markul / Reflections, Thoughts, Writers / , , , / 2 Comments

This was tough! But, here are some of the articles that have lately spoken to me and have stuck to my heart. Hope you enjoy! I would love to hear your fave!

1.  Memory Dredging by James Liang. Time traveling through the senses – how smell, sight, taste, sound and touch can revert us back to a time that was significant in our lives. We hold onto these moments (both good and bad). Sometimes we may not even be able to remember the entire instance, but select pieces and parts of it, but for whatever reason, a particular sense captured its imprint. I believe that perhaps a reason we record this instance is for energy. In those places (memories) we experienced something profound, memorable, a particular feeling or emotion. Perhaps they are also places for us to return to learn from and use the experience and its energy for strength to keep going.

2.  Coming Back To You by Leeana Anaka. Yoga helps us to reconnect with our bodies in a way that we become more in tune with it and, in a way, we become better at listening to what it’s telling us. Yoga also helps us to take control of the mind, especially when it comes to dictating unrealistic expectations or negativity. As Leeana has written, yoga cultivates a calmness that allows you to believe that you are exactly where you are supposed to be.

3.  Browse with Moderation by Sophie Legrand. In this article, Sophie talks about not squandering our energy and exercising our will-power in a modern world of cyberspace. We often resort to things like the television and endless hours of Internet surfing when we are bored, lonely or in need of stimulation. Sophie has some great recommendations for nurturing ourselves instead of giving in to mindless surfing.

4.  How to Start Your Day Calm & Relaxed – Without Yoga by Taya Ng. An article from Vancouver Yoga Review’s founder, Taya describes some very nice ways to start the day without yoga. Not everyone can or chooses to start the day with asana practice, and that there are other ways to capture and manifest a sense of relaxation and calmness upon waking up. Yoga can be done at any time of that works best for you.

5.   21 Beautiful Benefits of Yoga by me. One of my self-written faves, this article covers some of the benefits of yoga practice. Perhaps it’s a bit weird to choose one of my own, but I constantly come back to this. It’s important we believe and trust in the process of yoga, surrender ourselves to it and know that the more we do yoga, the more we believe and dedicate ourselves to discovering our true selves, the more will be revealed.

Namaste.

The Neti Pot How-To

Tanya Lee Markul / Props, Reflections, Thoughts, Tips / , , , , / 12 Comments

If you get sinus headaches, pressure or pain, or have allergies, you know just how agonizing it can be. Here’s something that might help.

Using a Neti Pot is a very old cleansing technique and tradition of India. There it is referred to as Jala Neti. The literal translation means ‘water cleansing’ or ‘water irrigation’. It is a flushing out of the nasal cavity. Our nasal cavity is full of fine hairs called cilia. This flushing helps them to move faster and thus push irritants, bacteria etc, to back of the throat where it can be spit out or to the nose where it can be blown out.

Some people use a Neti Pot to help with sinus congestion, sinusitis, allergies, and sinus infections or as a preventative measure. It’s also a more cost-effective form of treatment and, in addition, doesn’t have all the side effects of prescription medication.

The way it works is that the Neti Pot is filled with a body-warm solution of water and salt (it is recommended to use Iodine-free salt or natural sea salt. Also, remember to use a fresh solution every time). The solution is then poured into the nostrils one at a time while breathing through the mouth. You then switch sides. Remember to learn forward and tilt your head to the opposite side of the Neti Pot. Also, when finished, it’s good to first sniff in gently a couple of times to help return the nasal passages back to normal (sometimes referred to as ‘helping them dry’) and then gently blow your nose – do this oh so gently. If any gets into your mouth, don’t worry, just spit it out. If you accidentally swallow it, it’s OK too. It is also important to note that there should be no pain or uncomfortable feeling involved. If there is, stop immediately and reassess.

The solution helps to remove anything that may be ‘stuck’ up there – dust, pollen, bacteria, excess mucus, pollutants, etc. It is typically eight ounces of water and a fourth teaspoon of salt. The salt should be dissolved completely. If you use too much salt, your nasal cavities will be sure to inform you with a nice burning sensation. Also, the water must not be too hot. Test the water both for temperature and salt before using. Also, it is very important to take the time to ensure all of the water has drained from your nasal cavities. Take your time and it will be a worthwhile, healthy experience.

Click here for a  short how-to video that could be helpful. I have not purchased my Neti Pot from this company, but I feel the video is helpful and has some really good tips.

And, as you may already know, yogis, as cool as they are, do some pretty weird things, but these weird things usually pay off in the end. Enjoy and try something new!

4 Things You May Not Know About Yoga Teacher Training

Tanya Lee Markul / Reflections, Thoughts, Tips, Yogis / , , , / 2 Comments

1. For some of us, it may be our first yoga-type training…

Typically practitioners at all levels and ages show up to yoga teacher training. I attended with students who had been practicing and studying for several years in addition to others, whom like myself, had been practicing for less. The important thing to remember is that it’s not a competition and no one is going to judge you – if you feel a little unsure about where you are, you can always contact the teacher(s) hosting the training to get their opinion. Most schools seem to accept all levels, but there are also some who suggest a recommended amount of experience. The training will most likely be challenging both physically and mentally, so some experience and preparation will indeed be helpful.

2. It’s not always about learning to teach…

Not everyone may attend yoga teacher training to learn how to teach, but to deepen his or her knowledge and practice. Typically yoga teacher training offers comprehensive and invaluable information. Areas of study can include meditation, chanting, philosophy, Asana practice, Pranayama (breathing techniques), anatomy, physiology, diet and nutrition, in addition to how to start teaching and setting up logistics. Training to become an effective yoga teacher typically takes many years of dedicated practice and not everyone who graduates may immediately start to teach. Instead they may be inspired to go even deeper into the exploration of yoga, broaden their expertise within different aspects or specialties or continue to develop and evolve their personal daily practice.

3. Be prepared for the unexpected…

As the time becomes nearer, you may be both anticipating the experience and feeling a little anxiety. This is natural. It is important to get plenty of rest and to try and arrive with an open mind and ready to be teachable. It is also a good idea to prepare for not only the physical challenge, but also for the mental. Yoga training can be intense and detoxifying. Along with it can come moments of bliss, but also strong sensations and feelings. You may find yourself asking quite significant questions or wanting to deal with a certain issue. There may also be elements of resistance, even confusion. One of the best things you can do during this time is to simply trust in the process of yoga. Know that the experience is worth it and that all the effort it may take to deal with it is too. And, most importantly, know that you already have what it takes to get through it.

If you are taking a residential intensive, may not be able to return home or  to your family or friends. Don’t be afraid to seek the support from other willing students or teachers around you.

4. The changes are continuous…

You may experience both subtle and dramatic changes during your yoga teacher training. It will most likely not stop there. The transformation may happen all at once or gradually over time. Either way, you will more than likely start to grow a clearer understanding about who you are. Yoga brings us to places within ourselves where changes need to occur. Doing yoga everyday will definitely bring a dramatic change as it will relieve stress, release negativity and promote awareness and a positive outlook on life.

I would love to hear your experiences.

Who Are You? Do You Really Wanna Know?

Tanya Lee Markul / Reflections, Tips / , , , , , / 3 Comments

Click here for some inspirational music: Who Are You?

Yoga can help build self-confidence, self-awareness and help us to take a more proactive approach to life. Yoga can be one of the biggest gifts you can give yourself, but it takes patience and the courage and willingness to make life-altering changes. Yoga can transform your life.

There is a yoga style for everyone and there are no rules that say you have to stick to just one style. Take your time to find what best suits you and your personality. Styles range with technique and focus, but whatever path you choose, keep going and keep an open mind. Even if at first you find yourself practicing simply to become more physically fit or more relaxed (both will happen), over time you may just find yourself going back more and more for the clarity that yoga brings.

It is important to know that there may be elements of confusion, resistance and even intimidation that arise (I have experienced all of them personally), especially during the early stages of your practice, and of course later on too. Don’t let these things stop you. Take these sensations as signs that you are doing the necessary ‘work’ to uncover deeper truths within you.

Despite yoga’s popularity, some people see yoga as only for the trendy, flexible or religious. Well, none are true. Yoga is thousands of years old, it’s for anyone who’s interested and it’s non-competitive. It is, however, what you make it.

Yoga encourages us to take on kindness toward others and ourselves. Creating awareness and appreciating oneself and others goes a very long way in improving the quality of life for everyone and every living thing on our planet. And, yoga because helps us to feel better both physically and mentally, chances are when we feel good in both of these areas, we feel good in our lives and we want others to feel this way as well.

Yoga helps to reduce stress and tension and helps us open to clarity. When we are thinking clearly, we can start to get in contact with our deepest passions and to what we want to achieve in this life. This clarity, even if not understood at first, often instigates us to ask ourselves more profound questions (What am I doing here? What do I want to do?). And, perhaps it even encourages us to formulate a plan, develop a routine (i.e. practice every day) and to stay on track.

The changes that take place could be massive or subtle. Some find themselves changing careers completely while others find themselves improving the situation they are currently in. Everyone has the possibility to work with the potential they have no matter what it is or has been.

How we practice yoga can also tell us a lot about how we feel in other areas of our lives. Our practice is often a true reflection of our own individual struggles. For example, pushing to hard, not enough, having difficulty relaxing, troubles with the breath, doubting, not enough motivation or belief, no discipline, etc.

Yoga can be a tool to help whatever we do in life, to do it better. It is a journey and the more time we spend on it (on the mat), the more will be revealed. Take a chance. Discover yoga, stick to it and discover who you are.

21 Beautiful Benefits of Yoga

Tanya Lee Markul / Reflections, Tips, Yogis / , , , / 23 Comments

There are many positive and wonderful benefits that we can gain from the practice of yoga. On a physical level, yoga cleanses and strengthens the body. However, these physical benefits are simply a side effect of this powerful practice. Yoga also harmonizes the mind and body making them work in sync. When this happens this opens up the opportunity for us to attain what we thought were unattainable feats. We are so often unable to perform optimally due to stress, confusion, negative emotions, self-doubt and other conflicts of the mind. Yoga can help to correct this.

Here are just some of the tangible benefits that can be achieved through the practice of yoga.

Yoga can help to…

  1. relieve anxiety, depression and stress
  2. increase self-confidence
  3. improve your mood
  4. alleviate anger and hostility
  5. improve concentration and motivation
  6. improve memory
  7. improve reactions times
  8. improve metabolism
  9. improve posture
  10. improve your sleep
  11. improve balance
  12. prevent migraines
  13. delay aging by stimulating detoxification
  14. relieve constipation
  15. alleviate allergy symptoms
  16. reduce blood pressure and pulse rate
  17. help prevent disease by massaging internal organs
  18. help improve your immune system
  19. heal the body and prevent injuries
  20. make you more flexible and strong
  21. enhance a sense of awareness, overall consciousness and gradually lead us toward self-realization

What have you experienced?

5 Fundamental Yoga Diet Principles

Tanya Lee Markul / Food, Reflections, Tips / , , , , , , , , , / 1 Comment

We are what we eat! The quality and types of food we consume affects us both mentally and physically. Here are some fundamental diet principles for everyone, especially yogis.

Prefer nutritious value versus going for taste – sure, there may be days when a chocolate covered donut sounds better than an apple, but if you really don’t have to (really, really) then don’t do it. You’ll end up feeling better about the apple. Learn to overcome your cravings and make awesome food choices.

Choose nature – seasonal fruits, vegetables, seeds and whole grains. You can even try the 100-mile diet (eating only produce and food that has been grown and made within 100 miles from where you live).

Don’t over eat. I’ve heard that it’s best to only fill your stomach half way up. It makes it easier for digestion and it also doesn’t leave you feeling lethargic. Taking your time when eating and chewing puts less strain on your digesting system. And wait until after your meal to consume liquids. Remember over eating leads to weight gain!

Drinks. Avoid as much alcohol as possible and limit your intake of caffeine to two cups of Joe or tea per day. Drink at least ten to twelve glasses of water (at least two glasses when you first wake up).

Don’t count calories or stress about vitamin in-take. Don’t be a slave to your taste buds, but focus on what is most healthy. Learn to listen to your body’s needs and remember moderation – do this and you’ll get exactly what your body needs. Yoga is all about self-discipline-you can do it.

Remember to take the time to detox, set goals, find your motivation and make choices that truly optimize your life and those around you.

Namaste!

Photo credit: http://yoga-connection.com

5 Excuses to Skip Yoga And 5 Reasons to Do It Anyways!

Tanya Lee Markul / Reflections, Tips, Yogis / , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , / 10 Comments

Although most of the time I have a lot of motivation I find myself sometimes lacking the discipline that could so nicely compliment it. This lack of discipline can lead me into a lot of trouble, but I’m working out ways to really listen to my body as to when it’s best to simply rest and when I should muster up both the motivation (and discipline) to persevere. As we know, if we want to really reap the benefits of yoga, we have to consistently practice and keep our focus.

1. I’m tired. This is probably the biggest excuse and the most frequently used (and probably the most valid given that a lot of us work a full-time job. Yoga a mere compliment to everything else we do). But, there are ways to get past fatigue. One of those ways is to get moving. Taking a few minutes for sun salutations to simply warm the body up could be all it takes to re-energize and prepare for a full practice (5 Sun Salute A’s and 5 Sun Salute B’s and a nice 5 minute Savasana could do the trick). Another way is restorative poses. Staying in a few restorative poses for 5-10 minutes can help to restore some lost energy (supported backbend for savasana, and a personal fave, supported legs up the wall pose). There are times when it’s best to refrain from practice all together (some refrain during their period, a new moon, full moon or sickness). Given these times, it’s most important to listen to your body and to do what’s best for it. And, let us not forget about meditation! We don’t always need a yoga practice to meditate!

2. I ate too much. This one has sabotage written all over it. You pretty much know when your class time is and if you have a home self-practice, well then, you have no excuse really as you can wait until your belly is ready. If you aren’t eating during the day because your life is too busy, then it’s probably a really good time to bring some balance (and nourishment) back in so as to not miss a class that can be so good for someone who is so busy (and possibly frazzled).

3. I don’t want to leave the house. For whatever reason, we all feel like we want to be hermit (or feeling shy) from time to time. In those instances, and if you don’t have a home self-practice, there are A LOT of great teachers who offer online classes. And, not that the online classes should replace the real thing (as we could miss out on great adjustments, the connectivity, etc), but sometimes online classes are exactly what we need when we don’t feel like going anywhere or perhaps when the weather isn’t great for driving, walking or cycling.

4. Oh I’m a little sore. Perhaps we’ve done a bit too much of this or that that has left us a little bit sore. Well, yoga is just the thing for sore muscles (of course listening to your body in order to not over do it). Yoga helps to relax tight muscles and helps to remove lactic acid build up (the stuff that makes muscles sore). Yoga can actually help the body recover faster from whatever other training sessions we endure.

5. I’m feeling depressed. There’s nothing that can’t turn that frown upside down like some yoga can. Yoga has been proven to help elevate mood and help with temporary phases of depression. Some of my favorite postures for when I’m feeling blue include, all-levels backbends (upward bow pose, bridge pose, camel pose and upward facing dog). Sometimes a good Vinyasa or a sweaty Ashtanga class can also help get you back in the swing of things.

What are your experiences, excuses, and reasons to keep going?

Photo credit: http://www.iyogalife.com/.

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