Notice The Difference
Michelle and Cathryn in Wheel Pose
In no time at all
We begin each day with a body just waking up. This is the perfect time to get fresh oxygen flowing with yoga practice. It doesn't take but just a few minutes in the morning for the habit to take hold. And the reason this habit becomes so easy to establish is because we feel so good afterwards. Our day begins with a good dose of healthy self esteem, especially if we've practiced backbends. Now, we all don't necessarily wake up with the desire to pop up into a full extension of Wheel Pose. However, Cobra, Upward Facing Dog, Bridge, Camel, or Warrior I serve the purpose of relieving back pain that can be most noticeable in the morning. Gently, reawaken a healthy spine with any one of these postures. A simple way to start each day might begin with Down Dog, one of the more gentle backbends and a slow, deep breath. Repeat a few times, then finish with Child's Pose.
Within a very short time of consistent yoga practice, nagging aches and pains can be relieved or eliminated. When we take the time to care for ourselves, we can prevent serious health issues that arise from subtle messages our bodies send out, like muscle soreness and stiffness. These seemingly insignificant complaints can lead to joint and skeletal damage in our hips, knees, ankles, neck and spine. Our bodies let us know what's going on with us if we take the time to be aware. Yoga practice is the perfect opportunity to notice where we are tight, sore or weak; many times we are caught unaware of existing muscle tension or weakness during posture flow. We can preempt the event of many common health problems through body awareness. Weekly yoga classes in conjunction with a consistent personal home practice encourages proactive self-care, the best form of preventive medicine.