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Everyday Yoga
How to Incorporate Yoga Techniques into your Daily Life
Eva Kuhlman - Highland
Yoga Co-Founder -
6/21/2005
You have just finished a
sweat-soaked, mind-clearing, spirit-uplifting yoga session to settle in for
a well-deserved final relaxation in savasana. The instructor gently guides
your awareness to the various parts of your body that may need to release
any residual tension. You are fully present in your body and feel
completely at peace.
If only you could bottle
up that feeling to remind yourself of that peaceful place when job deadlines
loom over your head, or you get into an argument with someone close to you,
or the drain clogs up (again)... How you maintain composure when facing
adversity is no different in every day life than when you try to hold a
challenging pose for just one more breath. After all, yoga is not just
about acquiring a toned physique, but about discovering a variety of tools
that allow us to navigate through life’s challenges with a little more poise
and equanimity.
Even if you have been
introduced to yoga only recently and consider yourself a beginner, it’s
never too early to start incorporating these ancient techniques into your
daily routine. Yoga is a practice that will slowly unveil its benefits when
applied on a regular and consistent basis. If your schedule doesn’t allow
for a full practice session in the morning, set your alarm clock for 10-15
minutes earlier, and do a few rounds of Sun Salutations or any other
sequence you have learned in class to get the juices flowing. Finish by
sitting still for a few moments to set your intention for the day ahead.
With your body awakened and your mind focused, set out into the world.
The morning commute
provides a wonderful opportunity to remind yourself of that peaceful
intention that may already be fading into oblivion in the onslaught of
aggressive drivers, red lights, and snail-paced traffic. Can you imagine
how your neighborhood would change if all the drivers transformed their
anger into compassion? And if all the world’s drivers (and non-drivers)
did? As you wait at a red light, take a deep breath into your belly and
with the exhale let go of all the chatter, all the self-imposed disaster
scenarios (“I will never make it on time”) that your mind has so skillfully
created. Instead, focus on your breathing to come back to that peaceful
oasis that is always present within you. Any pranayama techniques work well
– try the ocean-like sounding ujayii breath with emphasis on the exhale for
a calming effect, or perhaps a round of the breath of fire to warm up on a
really cold winter morning. Send loving kindness thoughts to the driver
ahead of you, the one in your rear-view mirror, and even to the one that
just cut you off. “May he/she be safe.” The choice is yours – do you want
to fill your mind with anger and perpetuate what’s going on around you or
can you reach deep within to break the cycle?
During your workday, find
new and creative ways to bring your awareness to whatever situation arises.
Can you observe what makes you tense, and send your breath there to release
the tension – just as you would in a yoga class? Use your lunch break to
experiment with poses that can be done while sitting at a desk, or – if you
are really fortunate to have adequate space available – do a few poses to
feel energized and refreshed for the rest of the afternoon. If you spend
your day hunched over a computer, shoulder stretches (such as Eagle/Garudasana
or Cow/Gomukhasana arms) combined with deep breathing will feel delicious
and relaxing.
As you return home at the
end of the day, stay with the intention to be aware and kind. Despite the
pressure to multitask at all times, observe whether being fully present
doing just one thing at a time may be more satisfying. When you cook,
cook. When you do laundry, do laundry. Breathe. Realize that happiness is
contained in every single moment of awareness. If you have an evening yoga
practice, this may be a good time to explore the deeply relaxing nature of
forward bends as well as reclining and restorative poses. Let go of the
day. Sit for a few minutes to quiet the mind and to give thanks for the
opportunity to practice the ancient discipline of yoga, which simply means
connecting with your true nature.
May your life be peaceful
and happy.
Namaste.
Eva Kuhlman's electic talents complement those of her husband
Jerry, which helps them with running Highland Yoga. A classical
pianist of Eastern European origin, Eva became a US citizen in 1996 and
later earned an MBA to better survive in the US business world. She
currently tries to balance her corporate persona with a yoga practice, her
interests in alternative healing methods, and the quest for truth and
happiness.
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