Being kind goes a long way

“Sometimes the hardest thing to do is just to stay human.” Michael Franti

Having a beautiful balance of flexibility and strength takes practice. Tuning deep into our own sensations and releasing pressure to have to get somewhere is truly a gift and starting with where we truly are is fundamental.

How this works on the mat:

When you feel something to be hard or strenuous, this is the moment to insert the kindest interpretation of what you think about that pose. If you’re struggling in a lunge, where can you soften and be sweet to yourself? Oftentimes in ‘Wheel Pose’ or Urdhva Dhanurasana you’ll notice teachers talk about making a dedicating to someone you love, your one last upward bow to someone in need, this intention is the balance of sweetness (toward someone else as it can be easier to do it for others) mixed with strength and determination.

The breath will always tell the truth. Deep flowy breaths will help us discover where we are withholding, where we can breathe deeper and where our fullest expression is exactly where we are, The balance of our postures is then guided by the breath. When we let our breath lead, we can release control of the end of the shape and experience what it’s like to be in it, to grow and to flow.

Our practice can then evolve, today we may not be able to touch our toes and in a month with ongoing commitment and practice we can. We have the ability to evolve! If our minds are closed and we see no growth, we won’t practice daily and the chance for improvement is slim to none.

As we close this week with flexibility and strength, here are some mantras to support our way forward:

“I Am Free”

“I am Present”

“I am Committed”

Here’s an extra tip to motivate you to keep in your beautiful practice. Beautiful can be sweaty, challenging with a lot of fierce determination. Write a list of what motivates you to keep going, to show up and to be free on your mat and then off your mat into the world. You deserve to be your fully expressed incredible human being that you are. The practice of yoga is a reminder of that everyday. Just show up and be you.

“Music has the power to bring people together like no other art form.” - Michael Franti

Music can be our greatest teacher. When we let the music integrate with our breath, and we let ourselves flow freely to the lyrics and beat it can be a magical experience. Let’s let the music take our practice to the next level this week.

Cecily