Yoga classes or DVDs all end in a similar way, with relaxation poses, breathing and awareness of the body and the release of tension. When people say they feel great after yoga class, it is this relaxation and awareness that creates that feeling. Too often, that feeling is lost soon after leaving the yoga studio or switching off the television.
This doesn’t have to be the case, and in fact, should not be the case. It is both possible and desirable to take that feeling off the mat and into your daily life. Even in stressful situations, such as a big deadline at work or a problem at home, bringing your yoga practice into your daily life offers many benefits.
Taking your yoga practice with you throughout the day becomes easier with regular practice. The best way to do this is to begin each day with a short practice. Most of us don’t have time for a full hour, or even a half hour, in the midst of getting the kids off to school or getting ready for work, but shorter practices are available.
There are a few AM yoga practice DVDs with a practice for each morning of the week. Later this week, I’ll review one that I use and enjoy. If you have cable with On Demand service, check the fitness section of the free content. My On Demand service has an AM yoga workout available that costs nothing more than my regular cable bill.
Most AM yoga practices are short segments, usually no more than ten or fifteen minutes. Begin the practice with setting your intention for the day. This could be a specific issue, such as a big meeting, interview or presentation. It can also be a general intention to bring awareness into your daily life or how you will react, or not react, to setbacks or frustration in the day ahead.
Starting off the day in this way is very helpful for keeping the calm that you feel at the end of your practice with you throughout the day. When problems or crises arise, you will be better able to bring the awareness of your yoga practice to the situation. You may find you pay attention to the breath and are able to release the tension that builds in the body in response to a stressful situation.
When necessary, you will be able to relax, release tension, quiet the mind and improve focus, using the same techniques you use in class to master a difficult or new asana. Over time, this can really change your outlook on life and have a positive effect on relationships and your response to the stressful situations we all experience in life.