Not only is bringing your practice outside totally freeing, it is also incredibly revitalizing and liberating.

If you’re ready to leave the comforts of the studio behind, here are some simple ways to safely connect with nature to achieve bliss no matter where you om.

1 – Be Open to the Idea of Losing Your Mat

The thought of letting your yoga mat go can be scary because it can be like leaving a part of your practice behind. But, if you ever want to take your om outdoors, you simply have to learn to lose it. Most mats weren’t created for an outdoor environment. Place your mat on the grass or sand and you’ll find it much more difficult to navigate through the asanas because of creases and folds.

Yoga blankets and beach towels aren’t exactly your allies when it comes to practicing yoga outdoors as sand and dirt tend to stick on them. Why not take advantage of grass, nature’s version of a yoga mat? The foot-to-earth contact is grounding and playful, bringing a free-spirited energy into the practice.

2 – Treat the Local Landscape as Your Prop Closet

Just as you bring your practice into nature, so should you bring nature into your practice. There are park benches, boulders, tree stumps to monuments, fallen logs and slopes. The outside world is full of things you can use to elevate your yoga practice. You only need to put your creative mind at work in order to put these natural props to good use.

Doing Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon pose)?

Make use of a small boulder as your hand’s landing pad. If you’re in the wilderness, you can utilise a sturdy tree while you practice an inversion to avoid flipping all the way over.

3 – Embrace the Elements

Doing yoga outside presents a number of factors including dirt and the weather, which you need to embrace in order to have a more gratifying experience.

Rather than battling against the outdoor conditions, shift your thinking and try to enjoy each tactile feeling. Part of taking your practice outdoors is grounding into the Earth, feeling its surface with your bare hands, knees, feet and even your back. Don’t worry about getting a little dirty and just give it a try. Let the sensation of the elements resonate through your body–it is an incredibly powerful feeling.

4 – Gaze at Something

Take a look at the flower in bloom. Simply setting your gaze can already inspire you to reach further, breathe deeply, and hold a posture longer. This can stimulate meditation during your yoga practice, so do set your drishti or point of gaze.

Also, according to a Swedish study, staring at nature’s organic fractals induces an inward attention and a wakeful, relaxed state. If you’re wondering, fractals are groups of similar figures combined in a way so they look one and whole. The outdoors are teeming with fractals – mountains, trees, rocks, leaves to enumerate a few.

5 – Apply Sunscreen

As with any outdoor activity, you should never forget your sunscreen. You’ll be outside where the sun is shining and bright, so slather some sunscreen on to avoid ending up looking like a raisin in the years to come.

Also, bring an insect repellent while you’re at it. Whether you’re in the woods or in your backyard, it’s a good idea to use repellent to keep those critters at bay.

6 – Join an Outdoor Class

If you need more guidance or simply prefer a company, consider taking an outdoor yoga class. See if your local studio offers classes during this season.

7 – Seek the Perfect Spot

Your location affects your mood, so pick an area where you’ll be comfortable to practice. Stretching out in a warrior pose while in direct sunlight may seem invigorating but may also be quite tiring.

Practice in a place with shade while opting for a beautiful view. Remember, the goal is to unwind and escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. Find a natural view and orient your practice towards it.

Outdoor yoga allows you to sink into your surroundings and feel at ease with nature while also enabling you to deepen your practice. Yoga is such an organic practice that it makes total sense to practice outdoors. If you’re a budding outdoor yogi, make sure to keep an eye out for new locations. Remember, the place where you om soothes body, mind and soul.

References:

http://materialscience.uoregon.edu/taylor/art/art1901-1LITE.pdf

Take this advanced yoga pose outdoors!  A tortoise loves the grass!!

Tortoise Pose – Kurmasana

Benefits: In this movement, the body takes on the shape of a tortoise with its limbs drawn in, symbolizing withdrawal of the senses, or pratyahara. When one draws the senses inward towards silence, the mind becomes calm and composed and the practitioner develops a sense of equanimity in all of life’s situations. On a purely physical level, the muscles that run the entire length of the spine receive a delicious stretch, while the abdominal organs receive a deep massage.

For Step by Step Instructions, Go Here.

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Hair:                                                 

Do: Keep your hair back and out of your face with a headband, pins or ponytail. Two braids, a French braid or a high ponytail are best for long hair.

Don’t: Let long, sweaty hair drape or drip on others, and clean up any shedding around your mat after class.

Jewelry:

Do: Remove dangling earrings and necklaces. Even rings can pinch. Take off your watch – so you won’t be looking at it!

Don’t: Wear metal bracelets to class; the sound of bangles sliding up and down your arms is distracting. Also remove your glasses, if you can move safely without them.

Tops:

Do: Wear soft, moveable tops that are comfortable and breathable. Be aware that you will be bending over a lot, and dress accordingly. Bring an extra layer for savasana. Also, be conscientious of the logos and messages on your shirt and be respectful of your classmates’ emotional comfort.

Don’t: Wear a regular bra – opt for a sports bra, as the clasps on regular bras can be painful to roll around on.

Bottoms:

Do: Wear comfortable shorts, leggings or yoga pants.

Don’t: Wear jeans! Avoid zippers, drawstrings, and buttons.

Feet:

Do: Bare feet are best. Yoga socks are a special type of sock for the hands and feet that help grip the mat to help with slipping.

Don’t: Wear shoes into the studio – the floor is for socks and bare feet only. Shoes will also damage your mat.

Make-up:

Do: A clean face is best; things are bound to get sweaty. Deodorant is kind to your fellow classmates. Eco safe nail polish is a yoga-friendly flair.

Don’t: Wear strong perfume or fragrances to a stuffy studio. Clean up your sweat if it’s on the floor after class. And in general, don’t worry if your face is red, your pits are a little smelly and your body is covered in sweat by the end of class – yoga is a work out, and the exercising body is beautiful!

Yogasync Me!  Yoga for Beauty?  It comes from the inside out, so practice yoga as often as you can, and eat a diet that your body can easily process and get heaps of nutrients from:

Gentle Yoga for Radiant Skin

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So, has yoga become challenging and not in a good way? You might want to follow these fine tips to ensure that you’ll be totally justified in just staying home and selling your mat on eBay.

1. You Ditch it for the Gym

Decide you can get the same or better exercise at your local gym. Disregard the fact that yoga does involve weight lifting, your own body weight. But you want to get toned all over? Darn, it’s a pity that yoga will do that, working both small and large muscle groups – in a balanced way.

2. You Feel conflicted about Yoga and Religion.

Ask yourself, “If I perform a Sun Salutation does that mean I’m worshiping the sun and isn’t that leaning towards Paganism?” Forget that major religions teach respect not only for the Creator, but for what has been created. And what about learning those scary foreign words in Sanskrit or Hindi? Be warned, don’t say Jai Bhagwan, Namaste, or assume the Virabhadrasana pose or else, “Instant Karma’s gonna get you/gonna knock you right on the head.”* Don’t forget to ignore the fact that your instructor actively practices her Christian faith.

3.  You Believe You Have To Sweat, Dehydrate and Pass Out

Confuse Bikram yoga with other kinds of yoga and make the following assumption, “if I wanted to work out in a sweatbox, I’d go to my gym.” Bikram yoga is the hot stuff, done for 90 minutes, 26 poses, at 105°F. Most other yoga practices are done at normal room temperatures. Be assured that neither kind is good for you, especially if you sweat, even just a little.

4.  You Prefer Painkillers and Booze to Ease Your Pain

Be sure to keep your breathing meek and quiet. All that loud inhaling and exhaling is bound exchange germs. Your immune system must be strong enough without yoga, right? Oh, and if something hurts or a muscle feels too tight, breath rapidly, or better yet, hold your breath entirely. Your muscles will expand somehow. Get home and knock back some pain meds. Follow with copious amounts of alcohol.

5. You have the False Perception: “I am Not Worthy!”

Are you feeling intimidated by your teacher or other students? Good! Yoga is a mystical holy practice and you’re probably not really worthy. Please don’t ask questions, just struggle though. And above all else, don’t do any outside research. You’re just not worthy.

6. You’re Too Busy Planning Being Busy

Use the time during Savasana to mentally prepare your daily to-do list. That’s fine, clarity of mind and relaxation are overrated. You don’t need to set any intentions except for wishing the class was over already.

*Lyrics by John Lennon

Yogasync Me!  We suggest that if you are feeling ‘over it’ with Yoga, that you give meditation a chance, or mix things up with a few new postures, or even read a few more articles instead of practice.  And ask yourself….”Have I ever regretted yoga?”

Experiment: Can Yogasync Make Me Feel Better in 20 Minutes?

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Whether you attend class once a week or use Yogasync.tv at home every day, we all come up with a plethora of excuses not to go ahead with our committed Yoga practice!

Let’s not get confused…these are EXCUSES, not reasons!  The difference?  Priorities.  You can’t deny your kids dinner (is fish fingers four nights in a row acceptable?), and yes, you do need sleep, at least occasionally!  Excuses come from the imaginative monkey mind that is operates with the rebellion of a 13 year old, wanting you to slide backwards in your physical and mental health; whereas rational grown up reasons are sensible decisions leading to greater good.

The Sabotaging Monkey Mind Having a Tantrum

Can you relate to these?:

1. “I went to bed too late, I need to sleep”.  (2) You stayed up late doing unessential chores, (3) surfing the net, (4) chatting with friends, (5) watching TV.  The whole time, you kept telling yourself “But I’ll still get up for Yoga at 6am”!

How many times do you have to do this to realize that you and late nights do not equal sustained Yoga practice?  Next time, just go to bed! Simple!

6. “I’m running late for class”.  “(7) Ten minutes more in bed/(8) one more bit of housework/(9) one paragraph of reading…as long as I leave at quarter to, I will make it”.  Next thing you know, you’re telling yourself that you (10) may not get a park, or two minutes late is way too late to be walking in!

Once again the monkey mind has its way with you.  Just who is in control here?  Here’s what you do next time…notice yourself having the thought, ask yourself whether the thought is helpful in the long term, then move your butt! 

11. “I’ll do it tomorrow instead”.  Pick any one of the other excuses and then follow with this one.  What  happens tomorrow?  Pick any one of the excuses!!

Hey you, haven’t you noticed that tomorrow never comes, you feel guilty for not doing Yoga and then monkey mind is full volume giving you a hard time AND making more excuses?  If you’re using Yogasync.tv or have a home practice, then start with 5 minutes of something, anything, and see what happens. 

12“I’ve practiced 15 days in a row, one day won’t hurt!”.  Fantastic, you’ve done really well, 15 days into your 21 day commitment, you’re (13) feeling so great that one day off won’t do harm,  (14) you deserve a rest.

Hello?  Earth to Yogi? Could it be consistent practice that is helping you to feel great?  NOW remind yourself that if you truly love Yoga then why would you want to miss it, even for a day?  You wouldn’t, monkey mind would.  Know who’s talking.

15     “I’ve got too much to do with the kids/(16) work”.  The kids are almost asleep and you still have 5 school reports to read and a birthday to plan.  You work at a 24/7 internationally available company, there is no shutdown and you have a job you want off the desk before tomorrow.

 old Zen saying: “You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day, unless you’re too busy. Then you should sit for an hour”.  Meditation has the beneficial side effects of clarity of thinking, calm mind and settled emotions.  A meditation will give you the space of mind and energy to carry you through, or the wisdom to know what can wait.  Use the guided meditations on Yogasync.tv.  Here’s one that’s only 7 minutes long and gives your hips a release too:

17     “I’m too hungry/(18) I’ve just eaten, I’m way to full to do Yoga!”.  You missed lunch and now you’re  ravenous.  Or you sneak a meal in beforehand anyway, telling yourself that you’ll still do Yoga, but then pass into a food coma on the couch!

Use common sense.  ALWAYS carry nuts and/or fruit in the car/bag/yoga kit.  Yes it’s better to Yoga on an emptier stomach but half an apple won’t kill anyone.  If you’re practicing at home then find a Yogasync that fits the size of your stomach…meditation for a full tummy and pranayama for a shrunken hungry one; blow it up with air! 

19      “I need a shower/(20) to wash my hair/(21) have a shave/(22) defuzz my legs”.  It’s been a busy day, your pits stink, hair is greasy, you resemble a bearded caveman and your legs could be mistaken for a large forestry project.  If all of these apply then do Yoga and get to the Doctor pronto!

O.k. Yogi, are we getting a bit self-absorbed? Yes, you feel less than presentable but who’s looking?  Is the person on the next mat checking out your facial hair/judging you for a greasy ponytail?  That’s their problem….why aren’t they fully absorbed in their practice?  Or perhaps they aren’t and you’re being a tad narcissistic thinking that all eyes are on you! Only in the extreme circumstance of 10/10 B.O then stay home.  Besides, you have http://www.yogasync.tv/ so lock yourself in a room with your computer Sync away 

If you make excuses and can continue without any physical or emotional tension rising, then GREAT sounds like you’re able to wipe away the angst that the rest of us create for ourselves! If however you miss a Yogasync and your knee injury plays up or you get uptight, then you’re causing yourself unnecessary suffering!

It’s not the excuse that matters; it’s the knock on effect of missing Yoga.  Let’s not give ourselves a really hard time though… that’s just more tension!  Acknowledge that inconsistency comes before consistency, it’s a psychological tendency we all have.  Make a new resolve to be aware of your excuses and they will start to drop away as you see them for what they really are; a monkey mind distracting you from your higher truth and limitless potential.  Let excuses drop away and the real you shine through.

Contribute to the blog: Leave a comment to let others know how you confront your excuses.

Yogasync Me!  Think you cannot do it?  Just turn off the TV, play this, lie down.  15 minutes later, yoga completed and you feel heaps better!  

Yoga for Freedom from Excuses

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This is for those who have done the groundwork. I really feel that if we’ve processed our own negative emotions then we will put ourselves in a position to assist others. I’ve been practicing yoga and self-development for at least ten years but reading this won’t ‘fix’ you. These steps should be facilitated by other work, like seeing a psychologist or counselor, maintaining a regular yoga or meditation practice and keeping your body healthy with a good diet and movement.

Now, let’s get started!

1. Just for now, make self love your number one priority

From this place you put yourself in the best position to love others and be loved. What would you do if you loved yourself? You wouldn’t chase others, desperate for them to validate you. You would know how awesome you are and not need others’ approval. You would enjoy the delight of your own company and make plans for you, that aren’t dependent on anyone else. Get in the habit of continually asking yourself the question: What would I do if I loved myself?

2. Learn to listen to your body

Remember the last time a relationship didn’t go according to plan or ended badly? Remember saying to yourself later ‘I should have just listened to my gut’? Start to tune into sensations in your body and trust them. If someone makes you so nervous that you feel shaky before a date or you experience a heavy feeling in the pit of your belly at the thought of spending a weekend away with your beloved, perhaps these feelings are giving you some very necessary insight into your subconscious, and hence the likelihood of success in the relationship. Trust your body. It contains so much wisdom that your brain has little insight into.

3. Be present, and know that this too shall pass

Whether you’re going through a rough breakup, or falling blissfully in love, be aware that everything is temporary. Breathe through the rough times. Remember that they too shall pass. When you see negative thoughts and judgments emerging, allow them to be there and pass. When you’re questioning if your current fling has the potential to be ‘the one’, see if you can come back to the present and enjoy the moment. When fantasies begin to arise and you become lost in it all remember: You have no idea what’s going to happen. Don’t question the relationship and your behaviour. Don’t ask if this is what you want. Just enjoy it in the now and allow it to unfold organically.

4. Give yourself space

When you start seeing someone new, you begin to see yourself in new and sometimes challenging ways. Give yourself time during this period. Extra time to nurture yourself and stay grounded, becoming aware of patterns and perhaps insecurities that arise. Sometimes the urge to connect with another can overtake the need to have time to ourselves. Learn to enjoy your own company, and don’t be afraid to reject others when you need time alone. You might think that spending every waking moment with your latest squeeze will make you happy, but we all need time alone to process our own emotions, especially when embarking on a new romantic endeavor.

5. Become familiar with and learn to nurture your inner child

This is perhaps the most difficult task. We all carry wounds from our childhood, and these can be triggered or re-emerged through romantic relationships. When you notice yourself experiencing strong emotions in reaction to a situation with your lover, see if you can sit with that feeling. Try to remember another time that you had this feeling. Keep breathing. Sometimes when we feel the urge to strongly react emotionally, we’re experiencing trauma from our past – often trauma that has little to do with the current situation. Take time to listen to your inner child and nurture yourself before you react to your feelings.

Most importantly, just keep coming back to what you would do if you loved yourself and be present in the here and now. If you carry around baggage from the past, you may project that onto your current situation and see your fears manifested. If you can bring the philosophies of your yoga practice into all areas of your life – including your dating life, you might find that you experience a more peaceful and fulfilling existence.

Yogasync, your trusted companion:

Yogasync for Me-Time

Got three minutes to love yourself?  Try opening your heart now with Reverse Prayer Pose from Yogasync:

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The trend of yoga has grown all over the world from the Indian subcontinent, but while finding a good yoga class or studio is a challenge, the bigger challenge is to understand which type of yoga exercise is right for you. Yoga includes different exercises and asanas that are designed to focus on different parts of the body to eliminate different health concerns. Hence, while taking up yoga classes you have to be sure about the asanas and poses that you’re going to perform that can help you to receive better health benefits.  Here’s 3 questions that will help you get clear on which yoga is right for you.

1 – What Do You Want From Yoga?

Yoga is not just about following a global trend, but about being fit and enhancing your lifestyle in a better way. It is important that you understand your requirements and why you’re choosing yoga. Some choose yoga because they want to stay fit and healthy, while some are focused on eliminating health concerns. Understanding your requirement can in a way help you to decide which yoga asana or exercises are best for you and can help you achieve your aim. Even if you don’t have any health concerns you can still go ahead and choose yoga that offers better flexibility and strength to your core body.

2 – What’s Your Level?

A lot also depends on how comfortable you are when doing yoga and therefore your level does matter. There are certain asanas that are very complicated and therefore requires great deal of concentration and focus. If you are a beginner it is important that you focus on simple yoga asanas that help you understand the importance of breathing and increase your concentration power.   If you have never tried yoga before you should be focusing on physical and emotional rejuvenation rather than targeting yoga exercises that need utmost level of dedication and strength. You can then gradually build up the body strength and concentration to practice high level poses. If you are not sure about which poses you should try you need to consult a yoga expert that can guide you correctly.  Basic yoga poses normally focus on different parts of the body and move at a slower pace allowing your body to get better flexibility and strength. It generally involves standing and seating postures that allow energy to flow to different parts of the body. Some yoga postures focus more on breathing to ensure better results.

3 – How Much Time Do You Have?

Being patient is important especially when you are practicing yoga. Not all yoga gives you quick results and therefore you need to be sure about how much time you can devote. Once again you can consult with your yoga expert on which exercises you can perform to get results in the limited time you have.

Yogasync Me!  Short on time?  Visit Yogasync for a whole series of beginners practices to fit snugly into your day

My Quick Yoga Fix

Start Now! Try this Yogasync Movement:

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Known as a hormonal roller coaster, the menopause can be one of the most difficult times of life for many women. The transition through this hormonal phase can take years, bringing with it ever fluctuating hormones and a variety of side-effects. If you believe you are in the perimenopause, you may be feeling bouts of irritability, sleeping poorly and experiencing greater anxieties, this is caused by spikes of oestrogen or a drop in progesterone. If you are also living through a stressful period in your life, your adrenal glands can succumb to pressure and exhaustion.

Peri-menopause

When entering the perimenopause, it’s a time of nurture. Emotionally, physically and even spiritually, life may seem difficult, so explain to your family and your friends how you are feeling. You are important, so take a holistic approach to self-care and work with your body and not against it. Hormones have a powerful effect on your body, so it’s not surprising that your body will struggle to cope with hormonal shifts. Think about it, if your brain is affected, your memory, mood and sleep patterns are also likely to become affected too.

Yoga Is Always Your Friend

Yoga can make a big difference in this transitional time. If you already practice yoga, then it can ease you into the menopause more smoothly, but it is never too late to start experiencing the benefits of yoga and reducing the impact of the menopause. Learning to work within each posture, understanding the benefits of each movement and the hold can help, but some of the postures may be too strong at this time, irrespective of your experience and levels of flexibility.

Four Restorative Poses

A well instructed online class, or attending a yoga class with an experienced teacher, can add the extra confidence you need to practice alternative and supported postures at home, that will benefit your body more during these times. If you suffer with heavy menstrual flow, feel fatigued with unusual mood swings, an adaptive yoga session regularly works best. Many women have found that unsupported inverted postures instigate greater hot flashes, so, support the body by use of blocks and bolsters to alleviate pressure and tension.
It’s important to be flexible within your approach to yoga, every woman will feel differently during the menopause and its build-up, so adapt where necessary.

Some excellent starting postures to reduce side-effects and improve feelings of well-being include:

1 Supported Lying Down Bound Angle Pose – (Supta Baddha Konasana)

Reclining Bound Angle Pose, well supported, using blankets and a bolster, provides the additional support you need.  This posture improves circulation and stimulates the heart. It stimulates the bladder, kidneys and ovaries. It provides a gentle but firm stretch of the groin and inner thighs. It also helps to ease feelings of stress and depression and is helpful for regulation of menstruation and for easing menopausal symptoms.

2 Supported Child’s Pose (Adho Mukha Virasana)

Placing a support under the front of the body and the head in Supported Child’s Pose, will help to calm the brain, easing stress and feelings of fatigue. It works on stretching the hips, thighs and the ankles.  When using a support, you will also gently help to relieve your neck and back pain.

3 Supported Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

Supporting the head while in the maximum position of  Supported Downward Dog will bring a whole new experience.  You will decrease any tension, while calming the brain, easing any feelings of stress or depression. This posture is known to help relieve any symptoms of menopause and discomfort with menstruation. It also helps to energise the body, decreasing fatigue and insomnia. It can aid digestion, high blood pressure and alleviate sciatica while strengthening the arms and legs.

4 Supported Shoulder Stand – using the wall or a chair, (Salamba Sarvangasana)

Supported Shoulderstand On A Chair can reduce body tension for this inverted posture. The supported shoulder stand will help to alleviate the menopausal symptoms, reducing stress, insomnia and fatigue. It stimulates abdominal organs and the thyroid gland, while helping to reduce depression.

OR Legs Up The Wall is an excellent alternative to the supported shoulderstand,  which will bring the same benefits.

Always spend time contemplating your body and how you feel after your session and embrace deep relaxation levels to reduce any stress, tension or feelings of depression while in the corpse pose (Savasana).

The Yoga Solution

These are just some of the many yoga postures that can be easily adapted to suit your body’s changing needs but yoga can form just one part of any natural menopausal management plan. Meditation can provide many benefits including increased levels of health and well-being; it can help to eradicate daily stressors and to promote inner healing. Providing that you listen to your body, intuitively feeling what is needed, the journey through the menopause will be a much kinder and harmonious one.

Yogasync Me!  You can get a taste of all these poses and lots more at www.Yogasync.tv

Teach Me These Poses

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“All women flow with the moon,” I added, “and you, too, will flow when you become a woman.” Ellah smiled with the promise, and at four years of age this was enough. I didn’t refer to the flow as “blood” until much later, since I didn’t want Ellah to associate it with an “Ouwy.” The purpose with young children, both girls and boys, is to introduce, and talk about, this natural bodily function in the same neutral way as you do when talking about eating. Gradually, as the child matures, it is good to tie the flow to its purpose, which is a woman’s ability to give life.

If you find that you have some charge about your menstruation (such as physical or emotional pain) it is best not to introduce the subject to your child until you work through your difficulty and gain some balance for yourself.

Generally, it is best not to bombard children with information, but to wait for their questions. When Ellah was about seven, she asked me where does the Moon Flow come from? My answer was inspired by the Waldorf educational approach, and I explained that the Moon Flow is “Mom’s Nest.”

“Mommy’s Nest???” she asked in amazement…

“Yes,” I said. “When a Mama bird prepares for a baby bird to be born, she makes a nest. She flies in the forest and collects leaves, feathers, boughs, branches, and bits of fluff, and she weaves a nest for the baby bird to comfortably lie in.”

“Well…” I continued, “it’s the same with me. And with all women! Every month a woman’s body prepares a nest in her tummy, where a baby can grow. Her wise body gathers tissue and blood from inside her, and makes a warm and comfortable nest. Then, if no baby starts to grow, there is no need for the nest. So Mamma’s wise body sends the nest out in a big whoosh. That’s why the flow is red, because it’s made of all the good, nourishing blood that was ready to help the baby grow.”

“Every month,” I shared with my daughter, “I thank my body for being such a miracle,and for knowing how to make a baby grow inside… I also thank it for the wisdom of letting go of the nest, when I don’t need it…” Ellah was fully satisfied. She had a clear picture in her mind, and the Moon Flow made sense to her.

Telling your child a story of this nature doesn’t only encapsulate the physical facts associated with menstruation. It allows you to start instilling the awe, which our bodies deserve for their amazing abilities. Beyond that, you are actively bucking the cultural current of taboo and shame around menstruation. You are raising a girl or a boy who will have a different narrative with which to counter the cultural beliefs when they encounter them.

DeAnna L’am, internationally recognized pioneer in Menstrual Empowerment, is author of ‘Becoming Peers – Mentoring Girls Into Womanhood’ and ‘A Diva’s Guide to Getting Your Period’. She is founder of ‘Red Moon School of Empowerment for Women & Girls™’, and of ‘Red Tents In Every Neighborhood – Global Network’. Fondly known as ‘Womb Visionary’, DeAnna has been transforming lives worldwide for over 25 years, teaching women and girls how to love themselves unconditionally! She helps women dissolve PMS symptoms by drawing spiritual strength from their cycle; guides women in the art of welcoming girls to empowered womanhood, and inspires women to hold Red Tents in their communities. Visit her at: www.deannalam.com

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I’m sure you all wish you could practice yoga regularly and with such ease like those fit people you see on videos and in real life. And it’s really not that hard as it probably seems at beginning. You just need to stop looking for excuses, and start practicing. Here are five tips to prepare:

1 – Accept where you are

Whether you are new to yoga, or returning, there will be moments when you curse your body, would like a transplant for your mind, become heavy with emotion… and the go may cringe or try to distract you!   Life will happen, there will be other priorities like sick kids, aging parents and your own stages of life.  Embrace yoga as the constant companion, and allow yourself the practice you need, rather than the one you think you should have.

Find out more about how to pick the right practice for any state of body and mind,here.

2 – Settle in for the ride

Will power is the choice for who/where you want in six months, rather than what you are craving today.  When you cannot be bothered to get on your mat, remind yourself of your intention.  Visualise yourself having already achieved it.  Where will you be, what will you see, smell, taste and hear?  Is there anyone else there?  What are you wearing (anyhting?!).  How do you feel?  What sensation will you have in your body?  Use any or all of these to remind yourself that now is a moment to experience, but not the place to get stuck.  NEVER GIVE UP!

3 – Create a comfortable space in your home where you can practice

It would be awesome if you could dedicate a whole room to your yoga practice; seeing the mat unrolled on the floor can be really inviting. But this is never mandatory. What you actually need is a clean, peaceful and quiet spot in your home, with enough room for your mat and fluid movements so you won’t bump into tables, chairs and the rest of your furniture. Light up a candle or an incense stick if you like to stimulate your senses.  Put some flowers on a nearby table and a gorgeous framed picture that makes you happy to look at.  Heat the room if it is cold.  The more inviting the space, the more you will return to it.

4 – No practice is too short

Its a pathology of modern life that we are always striving for more.  Its not unusual to feel burnt out from the seemingly endless tasks of family, work and home.  When is left for you?  Just allowing 10 or more minutes a day can help to heal your body and allow it the recuperation it needs to serve you best.  You may have life aspiration, but no one is going to take care of your for you.  Love yourself and enjoy a short practice daily.

5 – Pick the best time for your daily yoga routine

Starting the day with yoga will keep your energy levels high, but practicing in the evenings can help you relax your mind and release the tension and stress collected during the day. It’s not that important when you will do yoga, but to be regular. Choose the time that seems most convenient for you, and try to stick with it. If you always practice around the same time your brain will start desiring regular yoga practice, and plus it will already be part of your tight schedule, so that can’t be an excuse to skip it.

6 – Have your accessories on hand

Like with space, – you can buy all the tools there are for practicing yoga, but you should never forget that it is your conscious commitment that counts the most. So better invest more in a quality yoga mat, preferably non-slip, or even organic to be friendly to the environment, and replace blocks with books, the bolster with pillows, and the strap with some old scarf. However, before starting your home yoga practice make sure to have them all on hand.

7 - Enjoy the poses you love whilst trying the ones you don’t!

There’s no perfect class. Stop looking for it. Instead, listen to your body and mind and pick a program or style that best suit you for the day. You can also build a practice at home selecting two yoga poses you love, and one you would rather skip. This way you won’t push yourself too much, but still work on making your body and mind stronger.  What’s more important is to be fully present and aware while practicing, which will lead you to better understanding of different poses, their effects, and yours true needs.

8 – Keep it Fresh!

Try different ways of practicing.  Never tried restorative?  Give it a go.  Haven’t got a bolster?  Get one and try all the bolster poses!  Invite a friend over for yoga.  Go out into nature for a few sun salutes or side stretches.  Put music on.  Try the easier or harder variation of poses you love and see what you can learn.

9 - Stop demanding more

Jacking up with caffeine to stay awake for your first few yoga classes, hitting it like an athlete and ignoring a suspicious twinge are all sure ways to overdo it.  Even if you are a sports athlete, yoga will feel different and you will need to bring a beginners mind and engage in mindfulness.  If you are new to yoga or have been away for a while, even working at 50% of your capacity…you will still get an explainable feeling of ‘ahhhhhhhhhh’, and multitude of benefits after the right class.

10 – Practice regularly, and don’t forget Savasana

Practice yoga whenever you can. If you need to define it, start with at least three, four times a week, but you need to understand that every practice – even if you can find 10, 20 quiet minutes – is beneficial for you. Just get on your mat and start your practice. And don’t skip Savasana, even though you are in a hurry, because your body and nervous system need to sooth and relax, particularly after a more intensive exercise.

Want to share your tips?  Leave a comment to help others!

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ONE POSE A DAY  Pick from our pose selection on the main menu and try this now:

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