ONE-MINUTE YOGA
BUSY. Everyone's busy these days. "Busy" is a four-letter word.
It seems that we are all "too busy". Life is too stressful when we are 'busy' and do not take time for what is important for our well-being and our 'inner' world, i.e. inside our mind, heart and body.
Are you too busy to:
- Smell the roses?
- Be aware of our breathing and slow down the breath?
- Relax and take care of the most important person:
yourself and your Self? - Eat slowly and savour the food?
- Have a 'home practice' (practice yoga at home)?
One-minute yoga is a great way to 'trick the mind' and make it mindful (aware) even for one minute. Soon enough, you will spend a bit more time doing these practices. The result? You may just feel happier!
Here is something you can do for ONE MINUTE. Who knows, you may find yourself doing more.
Choose any one practice from the ONE-MINUTE YOGA "menu". There are choices for the mind, body and soul, also described as PIES: Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Spiritual.
Suggestion:
Practice one of the ideas for a week or even a month before choosing a new one. Or just one each day. You choose.
Note:
More "One-Minute" yoga menu items will be added each month.
MINDFUL APPETIZERS MENU:
1. Attitude of Gratitude:
Being thankful is the closest feeling to bliss.
Start the day writing, thinking or even telling someone 25 things you are grateful for.
You might be thankful for your health, partner, family, car, job. Or you might be thankful that you can see, walk, and taste food, or that you woke up this morning.
The cool thing about this is that the more you thank the Universe, the more of these things the Universe gives you. It's the "Law of Attraction". Ready?
"Thank you for___" or "I am grateful for___"
2. "Red Light" Breathing:
If you drive a car, stopping at red lights doesn't have to be stressful, especially if you are in a hurry.
- At every red light, stop and notice how you are breathing.
- Is the breath fast or slow?
- Then SLOW down your breath.
- Inhale long and slow.
- Exhale long and slow.
- Repeat until you see the green light!
- Notice how you feel.
3. OM-ing:
While driving, you can chant (exhale and voice) "OM" (sounds like hOMe). The longer the OM, the calmer you may feel. You may even rest your hands on your chest to feel the vibration throughout your body. The body cells LOVE this OM vibration. Very healing.
4. One Step at a Time:
When you walk, notice each foot touching the ground. Bring 100 % attention and awareness to each step you take. Feel the foot touch heel to toe. Then again on the other foot, heel to toe.
You may notice that you become very "in the moment" or "here and now."
See how that feels. Try it at home first. Maybe in the kitchen while you are preparing breakfast.
Eventually, see how it feels to be aware of your step when walking outside.
5. Be Of the world, but not in the world:
(Also known as little "s" and big "S")
This is a more challenging practice.
Imagine yourself three inches tall standing, or sitting, on your shoulder observing yourself living your life and doing whatever you are doing.
When you talk to yourself, instead of using "I am__" or "I feel__" use your name and the 'third person' pronoun "he" or "she."
Example: Leonarda is walking to her car. She is opening the door and getting into the car. Now, she is putting her key into the ignition to start the car. She is feeling good about going to her new job. She loves her job. And so forth.
It's like being the narrator or producer of your own "movie."
The purpose of this practice is to better understand the difference of the egoic self and the superconscious Self. Notice the little "s" for self and big "S" for Self.
Note: some knowledge of Yoga philosophy is needed to appreciate the deeper meaning of this 'One-Minute' Yoga practice.
PHYSICAL (HATHA) YOGA
Menu to be added. (e.g. the poses or asanas)