Moving Meditation

You can bring mindfulness to everything you do, which is what it means to “live in the moment” and “be present”. Any solo exercise can be transformed into a moving meditation. For example, with exercise, try focusing on how good it feels to move your body rather than the number of calories you are burning to transform exercise from a punishment to a gift and to help increase your motivation. Or try focusing on your breathing or the feeling of your feet hitting the ground while running. This focus on the breath can also create rhythm which can help your momentum and endurance. Any individual activity you enjoy can be a moving meditation. Practicing this is what has drawn athletes to practice yoga over the past number of years, as this same focus can be utilized in competition and can be of great benefit. However, you don’t need to be a competitive athlete to benefit from this form of mindful meditation.

Here I have included a 12 minute yoga-inspired practice of moving meditation or mindful movement. It is not about executing the poses but more about the rhythm as you flow from one pose to the next (like a dance) and the rhythm of your breath while you hold each pose. As long as you are focusing squarely on your breathing and the position of your body in space, you can gain the benefits of mindfulness and meditation in your yoga practice. 

Some of the benefits of practicing yoga regularly:

• Yoga improves strength, balance and flexibility. A well-rounded yoga practice will work on all three of these.
• Yoga helps with back pain relief. Disclaimer: this is only if you respect your own body’s limitations. You can injure yourself if you push too far too fast. Always listen to your body and if anything hurts, discontinue or look for adaptations. I will offer adaptations and progression in my sessions.
• Yoga can ease arthritis symptoms. This may depend on the type of yoga -- there are many forms for many different personality and body types. Gentle yoga practices can help relieve inflammation.
• Yoga benefits heart health. Like any physical activity, yoga benefits the health of the cardiovascular system. However, regular yoga practice may also reduce levels of stress and body-wide inflammation, contributing to healthier hearts.
• Yoga relaxes you, to help you sleep better. Yoga can be both energizing and relaxing, depending on the style practiced. Research shows that a consistent gentle bedtime yoga routine can help you get in the right mindset and prepare your body to fall asleep and stay asleep. The practice here will be focused on reducing stress and therefore should help you sleep.
• Yoga can mean more energy and brighter moods. While yoga is relaxing, it can leave you feeling energized and rejuvenated following a restful practice.
• Yoga helps you manage stress. Scientific evidence shows that yoga supports stress management, mental health, mindfulness, healthy eating, weight loss and quality sleep.
• Yoga promotes better self-care and can connect you to a supportive community if you practice regularly in your local community.

Try out this relaxing mindful practice.Be sure to listen to your body; none of these poses should hurt. If you have specific injuries that require accommodation, feel free to contact me for adaptations and adjustments.

As with any new physical activity, it is recommended that you consult your doctor prior to starting.

 Tips for Busy People.

• Mindful movement can be done with any physical activity -- you don’t need to add anything new to your schedule. Try focusing on your breathing or the sensations in your muscles while you go for your daily run or workout at the gym or even while cleaning the house.
• Desk yoga. Working a desk job? Sitting is considered the “new smoking” as studies show it can be just as bad for your overall health. Check out my post offering some poses you can do right from your desk!