Spring has officially arrived. With all the barrage of negativity still beating down around us, can’t we just simplify our well-being into an all-inclusive package?
While much of our population worldwide seems to be caught up in the latest “discoveries” and trendy new fads of fitness, the foundation of all fitness regimens remains the go-to remedy which still outperforms and outlasts all others combined. Yoga!
There is nothing else quite like it, and nothing else quite as good. That’s why every great workout in the universe uses yoga, yoga techniques, yoga breathing, concentration, focus, balance, speed, flexibility, heart rate control, breath control, overall strength, diet choices, weight control, and the ever popular “mind/body connection”.
If you’ve ever heard any of those words or phrases used to describe your workout routine, you are witnessing yoga on a regular basis and feeling what yoga can do for you… even if used in smaller doses. Everyone practices yoga to a certain degree. Most people simply are not aware they are doing so.
The primary difference between true yoga practitioners and the general fitness populace is awareness. Movement becomes intentional, not simply routine. Body and mind work together with purpose, not simply through automatic response. Breathing becomes an experience, not a mindless necessity. Reaction becomes calm and more pleasant, even in the most challenging situations… whether physical or emotional. These results can take time and patience to acquire, but that’s the beauty of yoga. It isn’t a race or a competition, and it isn’t about who is better or cooler, or who is “yogi-er than thou”. It’s about achieving individual excellence by balancing your body, mind, and breath to the best of your unique ability. Yoga is supremely subjective. It is a journey, and it is exciting as you advance at your own pace. In this author’s practice, first and foremost comes my faith in God Almighty… and then the positive aspects of yoga practice are secondary and for His glory, not mine.
Springing into fitness doesn’t have to be too deep or complex. You can enjoy great fitness levels by establishing your own habits and employing yoga intentionally, and just adding yoga to your existing regimen. So whether you have never practiced, or have occasionally tried some beginning yoga with a Rodney Yee, Sean Corne or Kathryn Budig video, you can begin now and feel better, look better and BE better almost immediately. Let’s spring into this together:
Start with water in the early morning. Drink 32 ounces or more of fresh water every morning, and take some slow, deep breaths. Deep, deep breaths. This gives you a jumpstart for physical and mental well-being. Pray.
Read some calming and stress reducing literature every day. I prefer the Holy Bible. You may also read some inspiring poetry and listen to some uplifting and soft, de-stressing music. Establish the habit of this every day and notice a positive impact on your entire life.
Eat with low gluten and low processed food (especially sugar). Lots of water every day.
Practice asana. Yoga postures (poses). This is the aspect of practice with which most people are concerned, because it is the most physical element of yoga. This is the part of yoga which makes you leaner, lighter, stronger, more flexible, confident, agile, and youthful… for life.
Move slowly and carefully, move with your breathing (inhaling upon preparation, exhaling upon execution) during asana practice. Engage the muscles and keep joints slightly soft. Stay aligned… with joints, bone structure and tendons & ligaments safely stacked in proper form. Attend organized classes and take some private instruction from a reliable yoga studio and yoga instructor in order to maintain safety and healthful habits while practicing. Seek out an instructor and studio which have good feedback and following from many satisfied practitioners. That is the ultimate testimonial. Prepare with mental clarity, and then spring forward…
Begin with this example “flow” in the morning, along with continuous breathing:
Mountain (tadasana) to forward fold, to garland (malasana), step back or spring back to lifted supine dandasana (plank), transition to downward dog, to upward dog, back to downward dog, three-legged down dog to forward lunge, warrior I, warrior II and warrior III, step into mountain pose and repeat other side. After finishing at least two to three full flows on each side, go back to downward dog or child’s pose and hold there for two minutes or longer. Relax deeply into the final pose and breathe. Use engagement of the abdominals throughout the flow and learn how to incorporate the bandhas of the body from a reliable yoga teacher.
From there, the fitness possibilities are limitless!
And now here it is, friends… our April 2020 “Pause for a Pose” – The Awkward Chair (utkatasana advancement)
This posture is outstanding for overall body strength-building, balance, breath control and confidence. Begin in standing position with feet together. Lift arms out in front of the body, fully extended and shoulder height. Step one foot out from the other, laterally about six inches. Inhale, stacking the back vertically and then exhale as you float down and back into a chair position, hips toward the back wall and legs (thighs) coming parallel to the floor. Important to engage every muscle possible including the abdominals and gluteals, keeping weight in the heels and locking toes to the floor. Hold for ten count, inhale, then exhale up to standing and lift up high onto the toes, heels straight up. Lock toes, inhale and then exhale as you float back into chair position with the heels remaining up… weight in the heels and arms still out, spine as straight as possible. Hold for another ten count and then exhale up and release. Now, enjoy perfecting this posture all month and we will see you at Hot Yoga, the place for real yoga and real people! God bless and namaste’…
-by Tony Bishop, E-RYT
About the author: Tony Bishop, E-RYT/RYT/CYT,is director and chief instructor with Hot Yoga Bowling Green, Kentucky. He is certified and trained in a myriad of health and fitness disciplines including Hatha Yoga, Yoga Personal Training, Yoga Coaching, Yoga Teacher Training, Sil lum Kung Fu, Tai Chi exercise, Spinning/indoor cycling, PowerHouse Pilates instruction, core conditioning, self defense programs and boot camp variations. He has some 6,000+ hours of yoga teaching experience and is an avid researcher and proponent of progressive yoga movement and development of more effective, deeper and meaningful training methodology. He is now director of Revelation School of Yoga, RYS and lead trainer in this Yoga Alliance registered 200-hour training organization. Contact: 730 Fairview Avenue Suite C-2, Bowling Green. 270-793-0011, email hotyogabg@yahoo.com, website www.hotyogabg.com.
