Lots of things change this time of year. The weather gets cooler, the leaves change color, our sweaters and jackets come out of storage. Even our internal clocks have to shift to get accustomed to Daylight Savings Time.
Change is exciting--but it can also be stressful and disorienting. On top of the usual seasonal changes, I've also been getting used to a new city and a new way of life, too! In fact, there have been so many changes in my life lately, I think of myself as kind of an expert. Yoga is my secret weapon.
Here are a few ways yoga can help us all cope with change.
1. Practice poses that ground you. Standing poses that root your feet into the Earth are a good choice on days you feel energetic. I also recommend lots of Child's Pose, Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose, and forward bends that keep you close to the ground.
2. Do your yoga practice at the same time every day. Go to the same class every week. Let your asana be a steady and reliable source of comfort.
3. Stay connected to your breath. Take comfort in the one thing that has always been constant: Your breath.
4. Know that little shifts will ultimately bring you closer to center. You know that wobbly feeling you get when you're about to lose your balance in Tree Pose? If you're like most practitioners the wobbling has gotten less pronounced with practice. You have to experience the shakiness to learn how to stand more steadily. In life, there have to be uncomfortable shifts so that we can learn how to be strong and find our balance.
5. Take rest. Even when everything around you feels like it's spinning out of control, a nice, long Savasana is sometimes all you need to remind you that everything is going to be OK.
Erica Rodefer is a writer and yoga practitioner in Charleston, SC. Visit her blog, Spoiledyogi.com, follow her on Twitter, or like her on Facebook.
Lots of things change this time of year. The weather gets cooler, the leaves change color, our sweaters and jackets come out of storage. Even our internal clocks have to shift to get accustomed to Daylight Savings Time.
ReplyDeleteChange is exciting--but it can also be stressful and disorienting. On top of the usual seasonal changes, I've also been getting used to a new city and a new way of life, too! In fact, there have been so many changes in my life lately, I think of myself as kind of an expert. Yoga is my secret weapon.
Here are a few ways yoga can help us all cope with change.
1. Practice poses that ground you. Standing poses that root your feet into the Earth are a good choice on days you feel energetic. I also recommend lots of Child's Pose, Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose, and forward bends that keep you close to the ground.
2. Do your yoga practice at the same time every day. Go to the same class every week. Let your asana be a steady and reliable source of comfort.
3. Stay connected to your breath. Take comfort in the one thing that has always been constant: Your breath.
4. Know that little shifts will ultimately bring you closer to center. You know that wobbly feeling you get when you're about to lose your balance in Tree Pose? If you're like most practitioners the wobbling has gotten less pronounced with practice. You have to experience the shakiness to learn how to stand more steadily. In life, there have to be uncomfortable shifts so that we can learn how to be strong and find our balance.
5. Take rest. Even when everything around you feels like it's spinning out of control, a nice, long Savasana is sometimes all you need to remind you that everything is going to be OK.
Erica Rodefer is a writer and yoga practitioner in Charleston, SC. Visit her blog, Spoiledyogi.com, follow her on Twitter, or like her on Facebook.