This is a blog post written by Positive Balance student, busy mum of 4, and part-time Positive Balance admin fairy Jo! Jo is easily one of the nicest people I have ever met and I am thrilled that she is going to be doing her Yoga Teacher Training in 2012 to take her practice to the next level. Below is her thoroughly inspirational blog post on how she keeps focused to keep up her yoga practice during the summer break which I loved so much I wanted to post for you all to share. Let’s face it, if Jo can make time to practice with four small children we all can! On that note, if any of you have a yoga/wellbeing blog that you would like to share just let me know. The sense of community and sharing is a really important part of what makes Positive Balance special.
Jo’s Sun Salutations Meditation:
I love the routine of my weekly term-time yoga classes. I get into a real groove of attending my Monday and Thursday class… I anticipate them, I look forward to them, I save my energy and focus for them… But what happens when we enter the big, long summer break? Well, if you’re anything like me then self-discipline goes straight out of the window as other things, demands, people distract my attention away from my good intentions! How many times have I left my yoga mat out on the sitting room floor, promising myself that I will do at least 6 rounds of sun salutations every day, or every other day, only to find that the mat sees more action from my children than it does from me as they turn it into a pirate ship, sailing off to the seven seas, or a stage before which thousands of screaming fans are idolising my crooning seven-year-old pop princess.
But keeping up with my yoga practice during holidays is not so much about keeping my muscles limber so that it won’t hurt so much when I return to class in the new term, it is also really important for helping me to stay sane – especially during the holiday season where relatives descend and children are home from school all day every day… this particular holiday season can place additional demands so it is especially important to make sure that my wellbeing doesn’t suffer as a consequence.
In order to motivate and inspire myself to give the gift of 10 minutes every day just for me, I have a little meditation that I repeat in my mind as I perform my 6 rounds of sun salutations. I find that as well as all the physical benefits that 6 rounds of sun salutations brings, the meditation leaves me feeling so calm and peaceful afterwards – I feel like I can take on the world and anything that it cares to throw at me. It is so restorative and the beauty of it is that it only requires 10 minutes out of your entire day! What a bargain!! All that mental and physical gain for just 10 minutes worth of commitment! Surely you can’t argue with that?!
So here it is: Jo’s Sun Salutation Meditation to Restore, Motivate and Inspire you to be the very best that you can be!
Position 1: Palms together at my chest in prayer position –
Inhale : I connect with the loving energy inside my heart
Position 2: Stretching my arms up and back
Exhale : I envision the warmth of the sun and indeed the entire Universe dancing on my face
Position 3: Folding forward bend towards the ground
Inhale: I extend my appreciation to all of Mother Earth
Position 4: Right/Left leg back, looking up to the sun
Exhale: I remember that even when I feel low, I am always connected to the loving energy of the Universe
Position 5: Both legs back into Plank position
Retain: I get in touch with the inner strength that never leaves me
Position 6: Lowering knees, chest and chin to the ground
Exhale: I remember to be humble around other people as they too are extensions of the Universal energy
Position 7: Roll forward into Cobra position
Inhale : I extend my sense of oneness with all the living things in the world
Position 8: Stretch back into an Inverted V
Exhale: I feel abundant energy and joy flow through me from my fingertips to my toes
Position 9: Right/Left leg back, looking up to the sun
Inhale: I open myself up to my full potential
Position 10: Folding forward bend towards the ground
Exhale: I remember to pause to gather my inner resources before taking action
Position 11: Stretching my arms up and back
Inhale: I open myself up to the full power of Universal energy once more
Position 12: Hands into prayer position at my chest
Exhale : I express my gratitude for all the wonderful people and things that I have in my life.
I do hope that this meditation will inspire you to not only keep up with your yoga practice during this break from class, but I also hope that it will inspire you to connect with the very best of your beautiful self. It works for me!
Go on and try it… it only takes 10 minutes but the benefits are infinite!
Jo x
