Tag Archives: exhale

All Together Now….A Long, Steady Exhale

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Michelle wrote an excellent piece about breathing called Epidemic Inhale. Please go read it.

No, really.

Go.

Read.

It.

Ok, while you were there did you follow her directions for a long, slow, steady exhale?

Feels good, doesn’t it?

+++++

This is what yoga is for me now: one giant exhale.

A time and a place to just LET.IT.BE.

Reminders to pause, yawn, and be conscious of my breathing and how my body feels.

+++++

It hasn’t always been this way.

I’m pretty sure most people are thinking I’m making funny shapes with my body when I’m “at yoga” and for a long time that is exactly what I did. The more difficult the class, the better.

I was ‘doing’ yoga, damnit.

But now, I’m focusing on the not doing. Letting things go. Asking myself what my body really needs in this moment.

More often than not, my body is craving rest.

And exhaling.

As a culture we spend so much going, going, going. Always pushing forward and racing from one project, meeting, soccer game to the next.  I am totally do this too. Even as I sit here with seven open tabs on my computer – including three email accounts, Twitter and Facebook.

So I rest.

You can too.

Ready?

All together now:

A long, steady exhale.

BTSA – Yoga Sequence #2

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Welcome New Teachers and anyone else looking for a relaxing easy-to-do-at-work yoga sequence!

Inspired by: Office Yoga: Simple Stretches for Busy People 

Constructive rest – laying on your back, feet hip width, knees bent, feet flat on the floor, knees leaning toward each other.

Breathe.

{From now on, know that I’m only reminding you to EXHALE. That’s the part we all seem to have trouble with!}

Knees to chest.

Roll to one side, use your arm as a pillow and pause before you use the strength of your arms to come to a seat.

Breathe.

Foot massage!

Leg massage!

Supta P (Supta Padangusthasana) with strap – both legs.

Come to stand in Mountain. Close your eyes and breathe.

Downward dog with hands on the desk.

Come back to stand in Mountain pose. Close your eyes and breathe.

Come down to the floor by the wall for Legs Up the Wall Pose.

Stay put for a few breath cycles.

Release  by bending the knees, rolling to one side and pausing on your side using your arm as a pillow.

Pause.

Breathe.

Come to lie flat on your back, soles of feet together – Reclining Bound Angle Pose tucking rolled towels under the knees for support.

Breathe.

Bring the hands to the outside of the legs and help them together. Pausing for a moment with your feet on the floor.

Final relaxation!

Corpse/Savasana