Showing posts with label Benefits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Benefits. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Yoga for the Soul

What does that mean?


I don't know...

Dona Anderson

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photo & message by Dona Anderson
I have been using these four words many times over the years I've been practicing and teaching Yoga. 

Yoga for the Soul

I said I didn't know what it means above because I think it could be something different for each of us.

And, now there are so many different kinds of Yoga.

There's the old traditional types and new ones pop up all the time.  Whatever style it is there's always things to learn and try out, which helps to keep us coming back.

For me, I'm happy I grew up in times where nothing much changed for years so we were more relaxed and knew what tomorrow was about.  That well used response to what have you been doing, "same old" was kind of like a nice deep breath.

Yoga and I finally came together 20 years ago and I decided to put teacher training on my to do list to learn more after we moved here.

I love sharing what I can with others in my age group that like me need a gentle class because we usually hurt in various places.

Lucky for me, I have a small room in our home and lots of props and things to entertain us.

Through the years I have had the privilege to share and be part of some pretty special changes on the mat that also flowed off the mat into ones life as well.

In Yoga we talk about the purpose of our poses, and how they help us build connection, awareness, presence, gratitude, acceptance, focus and so much more.

What I got to witness over the years was "My Ladies" learning about their bodies, their breath, that they had toes, how the body feels with a smile rather than a frown, that we just do what we can that day and letting go, resting and  looking after ourselves is not doing nothing. 

In the classes we grew in strength of
body, mind & soul. 

We all grew in knowing our body and being grateful for the gains and understanding the days we needed to nourish and nurture. 

We grew to recognize and pause for past hurts in our lives that maybe went unnoticed and needed to be resolved.

We grew in compassion for ourselves that enables us to pass it on to others.

We learned to appreciate our differences and not try to do something someone else could do better that we didn't want to do or couldn't. There were no prizes for perfect poses, or that long list of what I did that day before I got to class.

We learned to relax and look forward to resting on the floor and take that feeling out into our days that we can relax and just breathe almost anywhere.

We learned to listen to different kinds of music and hear unfamiliar words and not be uncomfortable with them.

We used drums, singing bowls, rang bells and used kids toys to make music, have fun, laugh and relax. 

We learned that our differences do not hold us back, they help us learn.

We learned about paying attention to our whole body, being present, and pausing in between things.

We laughed and supported each other through changes in health, life and any other topic that needed 2 or 3 minutes or more that day. 

OK, I guess I answered my Question.

Whatever draws You to the mat -
Whatever kind of Yoga you choose,
Thank You for making a difference in your life & World.


Have a wonderful day.  

I'll be back here again next week.

Until then you can Visit my 
Facebook Wellness Page 
for lots more ...






Tuesday, February 12, 2019

What is Relaxation? This photo helps, so... Peaceful.

Don't be like ME - I wasted years 

Get started before it's too late! 


Dona Anderson
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Finding Relaxation ...            

                                         What is relaxation?


Yoga introduced me to Guided Relaxation and Meditation.

At the end of each class we were asked lay down and be still, to breathe and relax our body.  

At first I fell asleep, when I was able to stay awake I was usually restless, replayed conversations, or was reminded of all the things I had to do.  


     Is this relaxation? 
I think I need more practice.



I guess that's why they call this the hardest Yoga pose to do. 

Real relaxation does require practice, patience and it has an intention.

But you don't have to do Yoga or lay down.

It can just be a walk, sitting in the garden, a few minutes in the morning or before bed, a lunch time break, sitting on the bus or waiting for the tea to steep. 


Any time that suits YOU.


There are many styles of Guided Relaxation and it might be like a story that asks you to follow along and notice what's happening as you slowly relax different areas of the body and deepen your breath. 

You may hear words like release, soften let go calm slow feel open allow and breathe.


They may seem like a foreign language.


Or, it may be about focusing on an object, a scent or a visualization. 

Whatever it is, it takes you on an adventure and invites you to follow along, to focus on the breath, an area of your body, a place, a thought, nature or perhaps it's as simple as a smile. 

While you follow along and breathe, you slowly start to let go of all those other thoughts and begin to clear and open the mind. You start to move into the present moment.

What you discover can be a very precious gift. 

I found a time to soften and breathe,

a time to feel comfortable with who you are,  

a time to remove obstacles, release tension 

 and I found a place to notice the difference, to feel it, to be with it.   

The practice opened me up to a place where I had tried to reach before but had never quite made it.

The awareness and benefits you gain can also help you use the breath in your everyday life as a tool to support your wellness.

Whether it is for a quick busy day refresher, when you feel out of balance or in times of stress, you can focus on your breath and watch as it gently relaxes and guides you back to the present moment.
Relaxes and guides
you back to the 
present moment

Even a minute can help separate you from a stress, a worry or a busy time and place. 

You’ll be able to experience the feeling of your breath bringing you back to balance and to peaceful thoughts.  

You may even find an open space in your schedule and in your mind.

Let the breath take you where you need to go!



Do a Search for benefits of Relaxation

You may even want to start a Wellness group at work or with your friends.



Check out other posts using the labels below.

Links to share or comment below.

More posts below or in the archives.

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Before it's Too Late

You owe it to yourself to just start.


Dona Anderson

If you're reading this and you want to improve your Health KEEP READING.

Huge Health Benefits when you REDUCE STRESS 

and tune into your body, mind and soul.


This is the first of 73 Meditations in Moving Forward from the Heart.

Easy to Read and Simple Information.

If you're already doing some relaxation practices you'll know what this is all about.

Start Where You Are.

Let's all Live WELL.

SO MUCH MORE
to See

Whether your meditation practice is just getting started or it is an ongoing regular practice, it is there for you to simply breathe, nourish and restore.
         
Meditation is a special time for you to soften and release stress, move out old thoughts that clutter your mind, and to then use the space that remains for mindful presence.
        
Meditation connects you to your body for healing, rejuvenation and to create balance. It opens the mind up to learning and understanding, to listening and dreaming, to reducing and eliminating.
      
As your body and mind both begin to open up to the benefits of guided relaxation and meditation in your life, you will feel yourself gently moving to a familiar place where you are alert, present, and where you know what it is you need to let go of or take away.

As you bring your practice to life, notice your body and mind getting more comfortable. Your body lets go of tension and stress a little more with each new breath, and your mind begins to open up the part of you that observes and discovers…


Softly close your eyes,
there is so much more to see …



Moving Forward from the Heart © 2015 Dona Anderson

My Dream for you is to Feel Better, Live Better & Be Better.



More about Moving Forward from the Heart and other Wellness products here.

Check out the label Moving Forward below for more posts.


Tuesday, April 4, 2017

8 Ways to Say Hello to Spring!

What's Your Favorite Season of the Year.


I hope you picked SPRING!

Enjoy a Meditation about Spring.

Dona Anderson
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Spring time on Vancouver Island, Canada begins early and is a long, gradual rebirth of all that is beautiful.

It's full of color, sounds and life.

I've let go of Fall (Autumn)  being my favorite season because of where we live.

Spring has taken over but both have some similarities. Not too hot & not too cold, and both offers us lots of interest, colors and change.

One comes from winter and the other leads into it. 

One starts to fill in the open spaces, the other again opens up the spaces.

Dona Anderson



Meditation to Celebrate the Treasures of 
Spring 




Find a comfortable place to rest and over the next few minutes just connect with your breath.

Each inhale and exhale ...

Now begin to soften your eyes and ears ... 
soften your face ... 
soften your shoulders ... 

Feel yourself letting go of any tension and stress you may be holding, gently breathe and let it all go ...

Start to let go of old thoughts so you can replace them with the many 
Treasures of Spring ...

As thoughts and stresses leave your body, feel spaces opening up for 
your breath to move gently and freely ...

Bring awareness to this healing breath and to feelings of rejuvenation ... 

Bring awareness to new beginnings, a new season of growth,
change and rewards ...

 Feel your body, mind and breath now all opening and inviting Spring in ...


 This spring, Smile as you wake up to the sun rises filling your home with soft morning light.

 As new flowers bloom, Absorb their beauty, colors and soothing fragrances.

 Listen to the birds joyful songs of celebration as they return to begin again.

 Embrace the blossoms of the trees as their gifts to you and the world.

 Feel the freshness of soft drops of warm rain on your face.

 Notice the ongoing changes as gifts that connect you to new present moments.

 Breathe in and let gratitude fill your whole body with inner peace.

 And this spring instead of old thoughts and stresses, Invite in simplicity, ease, calm and freshness.

Smile. Absorb. Listen. Embrace. Feel. Notice. Breathe. Invite.



Now close our eyes and rest for a few more minutes ...

Namaste.



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