Image via Darkr
I’ve been practicing yoga (though not as often as I probably should) for a few months now. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a guru or anything, in fact I’ve never even been to a yoga studio, but I have tried to incorporate the basics into my life through a home practice.
When I started dabbling in yoga, I was looking for a lot of things. Direction, guidance, acceptance, relief, release and all around health. I’m not going to sit here and preach that yoga has solved all my problems. First of all that’s completely premature and secondly the only one who can solve my problems is me. But there are a few things I have learned through practicing yoga that have helped me in everyday life, and most of them have nothing to do with physical poses.
Thanks to yoga and my incessant urge to design my own life, I have found methods for recharging and accepting life as it comes. I have also learned to relax and have a much better handle on my nerves than I did just a few months ago. I even learned to enjoy physical fitness and have incorporated other fitness methods into my life. While yoga is not a cure all and I am the one responsible for my outlook, I can certainly attest to the fact that my overall wellbeing has improved.
The word wellbeing gets thrown around a lot. Everyone is stressed, everyone is hurting, and everyone wants a solution. While there is no quick fix to finding the proper balance in your life, there are definitely a few things you can try.
1.Sleep
I know this sounds like a given, but we have grown accustomed to seeing sleep as expendable. If we have to sacrifice some sleep to get some work done or go out partying all night then we see it as a necessary evil. Here’s a newsflash, sleep is absolutely essential to our physical and mental wellbeing. Sleep not only allows our minds to rest, it also recharges our bodies through tissue repair, muscle growth, and protein synthesis. For more information on the importance of sleep visit HealthyPeople.gov.
2.Exercise
Whether you prefer yoga or a full blast cardio workout, exercising does the body good. Not only does it get the blood flowing, it also helps us physically ease tension in our minds and bodies. In my own experience, I have begun to do a Crunch Gym workout when I get home from work in order to work out any tension I have from the day. And you know what? It actually works.
3. Alone Time
Although we humans are social beings, sometimes we need some time to ourselves. Try taking a daily mini-retreat by stepping back from the world and just enjoying the solitude. You can do this through meditation or even just sitting outside.
4. Get Outside
If we are always trapped within four concrete walls we tend to get antsy. Going outside for a walk, enjoying a sunset, or even just watching the clouds go buy does some serious good for the mind and body.
5. Try Something New This Week
Sticking to a routine only gets you in a rut. Make it an objective this week to try something out of the your ordinary. Trying new things can really ignite a renewed sense of self and a passion for life.
Yoga Challenge for the Week
If all goes well, then I have a lighter schedule this week. With that being said, this gives me some time to do yoga in the morning before work. As a result, starting tomorrow, I will be doing a daily morning yoga practice from Yoga Journal. I think it will be a nice way start the day off right.
You are welcome to join me and comment on how you are doing. Simply download the short video from Yoga Journal and practice when you wake up in the morning.
Yoga Blog of Note
Great blog for everything that is yoga. There is even an awesome newsletter to go along with it! Some of my favorite posts include Take a Universal Breath, Fresh Start, and Whine Less, Breathe More.
Yoga Video’s on Amanda’s YouTube Channel
Over the course of the last few months I have collected several yoga videos that I use all the time. These quick videos fit easily into anyone’s day and provide for some light practice. Check out my YouTube channel for more!
Tip: I love hip opening poses. They really help relieve tension and feel so damn good. Check out this quick video from Yoga Today’s Sarah Kline.
One Response to “5 Ways to Relax and Recharge”
Read below or add a comment...
Trackbacks
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Amanda Abella, Amanda Abella. Amanda Abella said: 5 Ways to Relax and Recharge: Image via Darkr I’ve been practicing yoga (though not as often as I probably shoul… http://bit.ly/gfm7wG [...]