Relax

In the crazy, up-tempo life of most people with jobs, kids, and relationships, it’s important to take time for rest and rejuvenation. Sometimes all we have are 10 minutes to spare, and even that time can be enough to relax and reset with a few restorative yoga poses.

I myself am an athlete with a busy life and family, so the need for rest is extra important for my body. I’ve dug deep to find the very best restorative poses to maximize both time and relaxation; here are five simple yoga poses for anytime practice:

Frying an egg while standing on your head in a bathtub is virtually impossible; it’s certainly not the best posture or venue for cooking. Similarly, there are practical considerations for physical space and posture to enhance all levels of meditation experiences.

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that yoga has infiltrated mainstream pop culture.  One could find a yoga studio in virtually every large city in the world. Yet the way yoga is practiced can vary widely from place to place.

4-7-8 breathing is the kegel of mindfulness cultivation. You can do it quickly, any time, anywhere, with great results, and without anyone even noticing (okay, unless you’re in the middle of a conversation and decide to practice deep breathing—you got me there). As an added bonus, its practice isn’t limited to beings of the female variety. In fact, it’s not limited to anyone at all. You don’t have to be female, crunchy, green, hip, square, a yogi, a hippie, or an MD. You just have to breathe.

Life is often hectic, and that can affect the way people meditate. If you are focusing on other things, you’re not really getting the most out of your meditation. When preparing for your daily routine of reflection, it is helpful to get yourself into the right mindset so that you can have a relaxing session that is free of stress and worry. As stated by Zen Master So Sahn, “The point of practicing is simply to cut off worldly thought.” So, by really focusing on your meditation, you are helping yourself cut off worldly thoughts, and truly relax.

I dearly love the British-English term “ablutions,” which refers to washing yourself, brushing your teeth and other personal grooming habits to get ready for the day. Unfortunately, we may sometimes give ablutions for mental hygiene the short shrift.

Down the stairs of my condominium and across Campus Drive, I walk along Leona Canyon Open Space Preserve. I encounter an expanse of wild radish and California golden poppies. Below, there’s a culvert and a pond lined in cattails, home to a family of mallards whose ducklings hide behind the rushes. I continue down a slope alongside a stream flowing out toward Mills College, and eventually, to the bay.

Martial arts training is considered amongst the healthiest and most comprehensive forms of exercise today, and when used properly, can do wonders for one’s physical and mental state. Here are five unique reasons to practice martial arts:

Recently, I’ve sustained an injury to my back and neck.  Luckily, nothing serious, but it has hindered my daily yoga practice, and frustratingly so.  Just as any avid yogi or yogini would tell you, the time I spend on the mat each day is immensely important to my sanity.  It’s my exercise and my moment of

Breathing. You might say it’s important.

Sure, we know it is life juice – a necessity to think, do, speak, say, move about our ways. But what is the real deal behind breathing? Why do yogis and mindfulness practitioners believe in the power of the breath?