If you had more hours in the day, there’s no question that some of them would go towards your yoga practice.
You and your besties are basically a yoga tribe (what are those Warriors for anyway?). Rather than separating your laundry into whites and darks, you have separated it into yoga clothes and everything else. Your
Sanskrit is on point (eka pada what?). You love your asana and it loves you back.
Bring more yoga into your day, even without a single pose. Check out our five favourite ways to incorporate the teachings of yoga into your everyday life.
We love the saying, “the way you do one thing is how you do everything.” When we are disciplined with
our yoga practice, this often carries over into our everyday life. Same goes if we're a little lazy and decide to skip our favourite class for
The Bachelorette.
Ask yourself: what other practices in my life could use a little discipline? Do you back away from a challenge, spend too much time on Facebook at work or break plans with friends too often? What do these habits tell you about yourself? Do these patterns crop up in other places in your life? Yoga philosophy shines a light on who we are.
2. Compassion
We hear it all the time from our yoga teachers: "Practice
kindness towards yourself – physically and mentally!" In the yoga room it may feel easy to do, but try to take the message of these words to the rest of your life (like the drive on the way home).
Love yourself if you make a mistake. Recognize that you are human when things don't go according to your plans.
Then go one step further: the next time you have a challenging interaction or conversation, remember that everyone is doing their best with what they've got. When we recognize our own
imperfections we can cultivate more compassion for others (even if that person has cut you off in traffic).
3. Equanimity.
Yogis
love this word. One of the blessings of a dedicated yoga practice is a steady and equanimous mind. You might be aware of this mind when you're able to react equally to a pose you love, like child's pose, and
one that challenges you, like headstand.
Taking this concept off the mat is life changing. When life feels topsy-turvy and you’re clinging to the past, try repeating this
mantra:
Everything changes. These two simple words remind us that nothing is permanent and things are constantly shifting in and out of our favour. This simple observation cultivates steadiness of the mind, instead of agitation with, or attachment to, one's bad or good circumstances.
4. Self-Study.
Yoga is synonymous with self-awareness. Your monkey mind is pretty set on keeping you engaged with your "to do" list ("Have you made lunch? Called your mother? Answered that email?"). Finding moments of soothing our inner monkey can help us to listen to what is really going on.
When you aren't your calm, lululemon-wearing self, what are your thought patterns, habits and emotional triggers? Ask yourself: do I know my crazy?
Maybe you have type A-itis, a fear of commitment or success, or maybe you're a little lazy. We use self-study to get to know ourselves deeper so that we can continue to grow and learn.
5. Contentment.
Life is happening now. Not when you achieve that yoga posture,
or when you get a raise
or when you meet
the man or lady of your dreams or when you have a baby. Learning to appreciate what we have NOW is key to happiness.
Do yourself a favour and list 25 things that you want in your life (goals, experiences, material items, etc.) The catch? Half of those items must be things you already have right NOW. Imagine if you had written that list ten years ago: you have accomplished so much!
If we keep moving forward, we can't revel in what is. Tell us you don't feel more content and grateful after that.
A yogi points to a practitioner of yoga, sure, but it also indicates a high level of
spiritual insight. The latter comes when you come off the mat and notice who you really are in the world.
Soon you can say you "do yoga" 24 hours a day!
What's better for your mind & body than a daily yoga practice? How about a daily yoga practice outside in nature? Join tuja & Lole for our Take Your Yoga Outside Photo Contest. Starting June 1, snap a pic of yourself outdoors in our "pose of the day", post to Instagram, and you could win amazing Lole prizes, including gift cards & yoga mats. Grab all the details here.
Trish Huston from Banff, Alberta
Yoga teacher, amateur cook/baker extraordinaire and all around health and wellness lover, Trish Huston loves connecting over a great recipe or healthy tip. You'll also find her with her nose in a good book, hiking the backcountry of Banff National Park or planning her next travel adventure.
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