When you're feeling stuck, move. Some may question how that's possible when we're in the middle of a pandemic. It's what I like to call, the 20-minute reset—a minimum of five minutes of meditation and 15 minutes of yoga, and there's no better time to start than now.
Yoga has the power to shift the mind, body and soul. Sometimes it forces you to move, while other days it urges you to sit still. It opens you up to endless possibilities you never deemed imaginable, but it doesn't happen overnight. In order to transition to the greatest version of yourself, one must do the work.
The busy mind tends to pull us away from what the body is craving. The lack of motion blocks you from receiving. The restless soul refuses to nurture the body or calm the mind. But when you take a moment to sit with the emotions and move through the physical, miracles happen upon the release—vitality improves.
You push yourself to try a new pose, meditation or breathwork when boom: clarity strikes. I always say you haven't truly experienced yoga until you've cried and passed gas. Trust me, no one will notice. It's your practice, and while teachers are there to guide you through a series, it's your job to flow intuitively by tuning into your highest frequency and recognizing your limits.
There's a certain stigma attached to “who” practices yoga. Yogi's aren't stick-thin supermodels, nor the Dalai Lama. Just show up to one class and you'll be amazed to see the beautiful variety of individuals, young and old. No student and no teacher is the same; that's the beauty of the yoga community. But most every class will help you call in what is needed as a collective—whether it be love, joy or peace.
One practice I incorporate into Vinyasa and Yin Yoga sessions is reiki. Reiki is a form of energy healing (hands-on or through distance) by clearing the chakras—the seven wheels of energy from the base of the spine to the crown of the head. In removing blockages, life force energy is properly restored to help ground, energize and flow.
I've always been a believer in a higher power; however, I understand this isn't the case for everyone. I can't make any promises, but I will say that friends of mine who struggled believing in something more have never felt more connected than when they are on the mat.
It's in these glimmering moments that mind, body and soul align. You want to show up to class. You embrace the present moment. You flip negative thinking patterns into positives. You eat healthier while maintaining a balance of indulgent sweets. You see things with compassion, as opposed to anger. You push through fear, awakening change. You gain peace, in surrender. You let go, in acceptance. You feel joy, in love. You wake up to the sun shining upon your face, to live empowered.
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This post is a sponsored collaboration between Empower Nutrition & Wellness and Lehigh Valley Style.
