What is yoga? It is a mediation that allows time for your mind and body to connect to your spirit through movement and utilizing your breath. Yoga allows you to quiet the chatter and focus with deep breathing.
If you find yourself tense and filled with worry, you may find that stress will take its toll and manifest itself as a host of health issues in your body. As a caregiver, we often hold on to a lot because we are responsible for many things. As a result, we sacrifice our own wellbeing to be in service to others. I want to you ask yourself is it really worth it? To be honest, I don’t think so. Relax, I know firsthand that it’s easy to say and not always easy to do. For me, yoga allows me to intentionally slow down. There’s a lot on my plate and I can’t afford to be taken out of commission. One thing that I’ve come to know for sure is that if you don’t slow down, you may be forced to do so either temporarily or permanently. Constantly focusing on things we can’t change or in essence affect can be a heavy burden. For me, yoga helps me to release that energy and encourages me to have a quiet stillness through focused movement and deep breathing which is a big stress reliever. Not only does yoga help relieve stress, but The American Osteopathic Association also boasts that some physical benefits of yoga include reducing chronic pain, such as lower back pain, arthritis, in addition to lowering blood pressure and reducing insomnia.
Trust me, if you are going through a challenge, I know just how you feel. At one point both of my parents were hospitalized simultaneously and were staying at different facilities. That meant that I was running back and forth from one place to another. Looking back on that situation, I can say that was a crazy time especially since I’m an only child!! It was at that time that I decided to start a daily practice of yoga. It helped me to stay centered and able to handle the challenges that I faced. There’s nothing like juggling having to deal with doctors and learning about varying conditions and diagnoses in multiple facilities for two people. Sheesh.. calgon take me away!!
I know that you are saying #aintnobodygottimeforthat! But really.. it doesn’t take much time. It only takes 5-10 minutes to get started and it can positively affect your day and attitude. I began to think of my yoga time as a piece of heaven – a space in time that was carved out just for me. I granted myself permission to do something completely centered on myself. And no.. this time is not selfish but very necessary. You also are probably saying, “I’ve never done yoga; I don’t know what to do.” Go to YouTube, it’s a great place to start. There are tons of beginner videos and it just takes a few minutes of deep breathing to get your mind quiet to focus on your breath and your pose. It’s like a piece of peace. You have to just start doing it. Your local cable station may also have some morning shows. I usually record them on my DVR and then I can replay them anytime that I want, especially when I need a quick pick me up. You’ll find that over time the poses will get easier and you’ll be calmer and more focused. Strive for 5 minutes and gradually increase to 10 and then 15 minutes and so on. Feel free to adapt the time to fit your schedule. You can also search for bedtime routines that feature poses geared toward relaxation so you can rest with ease.
Some helpful items to have on hand include a towel, yoga mat, yoga block, and a yoga strap. The towel, block and strap can be used to modify poses if you need to. Or you can start with a beginner’s yoga dvd to test the waters.
Recently, I found myself on edge and I realized that I have been choosing to sleep in instead of getting up and doing yoga. In the past, I found that yoga was energizing for me in the morning versus me snoozing for that extra 10 minutes. So I am intentionally starting my daily practice again. I want you to know that you can start wherever you are and watch the benefits flow. Do you want to join me? Let me know if you’ve tried yoga and how it has helped you.
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