RELAX and Flow

RELAX and Flow

It's been a long week. I pushed myself hard in my workouts, maybe more than usual, and worked my physically taxing job. Well, it's my rest day from my job and working out, besides the trail walk I did earlier. So, active rest day, shall I say. Been enjoying a beautiful day with sunshine and relaxing on my porch and not a lot else, which I needed today.

On these days I do yoga/ mobility work, yet I do incorporate them into my intense days as well. When I don't make time for stretches beyond my cool down (after a workout) I feel tenser and it takes my body more time to recover from hard workouts. So when I make time for at least a bit (even 5-10 minutes) I feel better than before I did it. I feel more energized, less stressed in my body and mind and less tense; like I gave my body a big hug.

One definition of yoga is "a Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which, including breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is widely practiced for health and relaxation."

Mobility means "the ability to move or be moved freely and easily."

Who doesn't want to practice breathing meditation and smoother movements?

To me yoga stretches and mobility work are interchangeable. They are like one unit with movements of stretching muscles, calming your mind, strengthening your body and increasing flexibility. Achieving a greater range of motion and reducing tension are also benefits of this breathing movement I speak about. The stretching and moving of your body in a flow like way or static postures of poses for greater awareness of yourself, mind, body, and spirit. All while breathing through the stretch to achieve the strength of mind or release of an emotional block with deep breaths. Take that last part for what you will but I believe our body's hold our emotions in a way that only you can feel and know.

All I'm trying to say is give it a try. Lay on a clean floor or mat and shake off the tension with a few deep breaths and then move your body to your heart's desire with whatever feels good. Breathe through your movements, if you find something that's tense, imagine yourself with your breath massaging that spot and take a few deep breaths and then release. I'll leave a couple of video links here to some flows I've found helpful.

So whether you are sore, or stiff, or tight from the tension of stress or working yourself physically hard, even 5-10 minutes of yoga stretches, "mobility work" can ease your body's "tweaks" and pains and relieve some of that with movements.

I'm all about movements. For me moving gets my heart to open and lets love flow more easily. Movements are my therapy, my way to connect with myself and God on a different level than if I didn't move at all. It helps me focus, clear racing thoughts and keeps me moving forward with my purpose on this earth.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6