My So-Called Yoga Life

Well they say that cultivating a mindfulness practice can help make your life more meaningful, your emotional well-being healthier and your ability to be focused and more productive in your life easier. Sounds pretty beeping awesome to me!!

A few years ago, I went away to study yoga and pranayama for a month in Thailand and the following year I returned for two weeks. In the time I spent immersed in the practices, one of the apparent key elements was regularity. In order for something to begin to work it’s magic within you, it needs to be something you can do. Most anyone can do 5 minutes. Another was learning about yourself by doing this mindfulness practice with regularity. With all the other things I was absorbing and learning,  it was very grounding to plug into this. When one travels to a sanctuary to focus on learning these things, as there are no other concerns or worries to compete for the attention of your mind, results are noticeable in a significantly shorter period of time.

I want to share with you this simple exercise that I have done daily for about seven years now. You can do it too! It can be done in the morning when you wake up or when you are preparing to go to sleep in your bed. It also helps to wind your mind down at night, so I like doing it at this time best.

Try this:

Turn off any bright lights in your room, tv and electronic devices off or on vibrate, quietly and comfortably sit or lay down. Maybe diffuse a calming essential oil like Lavender or Frankincense.

Take a few deep breaths to slow your body and close your eyes if it feels right

Find your inner voice and begin by expressing gratitude for something, someone, a situation. Anything you feel especially thankful for that day is great.

Next, think of something that happened that you can forgive yourself for that day. Could be forgetting to hold the door open for someone or something more significant.
Think about someone else you can forgive for something today. Take the time to say the words, I forgive so and so and why.

Finally, ask for guidance. Just out into the universe to help you on life’s path. You may have a specific question or you could ask for general guidance.

Take a few more deep breaths to sit with these thoughts and you are done!

Enjoy this practice and let it help you be a more present and grounded you:)