Smooth It Out
The ripples of life are what make it interesting, am I right? However, sometimes it can feel as if we are in a raft bumping down a rushing river – I think many of us have seen this depicted on social media in some form. But as fun and exciting as this can be the abrupt motion and navigation can get exhausting.
This is where we need to take the time to slow the waters. Smooth the ride, settle the turbulence, and reduce the need to navigate every moment with intensity. What can we offer ourselves by doing this? We can review our actions to determine if we navigated in a way that makes us satisfied. We can reflect on the outcomes and ask if we are happy with them, and perhaps even revisit something, or someone, we flashed by in the rush of the situation. We can even tackle situations that are difficult with a little more thought.
In our practice we can find exhilaration in the fast pace of a flow, the quickening of the breath and heart rate. Believe me, I love that feeling at times as well. But this week let’s take the practice breath by breath is a more smooth and controlled way. Working on smoothing out the transitions, adding moments of reflection throughout along, with some postures that are more challenging.
Let’s look ahead at how we can work on smoothing it out in our practices this week.
Remember to always practice within your own limits and take care of physical and emotional well-being.
Breathwork Suggestion: This week let’s look at our Box Breathing. Equal inhale, pause, exhale, and pause. Pick a count that you can maintain for 5+ minutes to allow yourself to eventually come to focus on the edges of each change, trying to smooth the transitions.
Asana Practice: (Mountain + Box Breathing > Lightening Lunge > High Lunge > Warrior II > Wide Legged Forward Fold + Pause & Reflect > Side Lunge > Runner’s Lunge > Pyramid > Warrior III > Halfmoon > Warrior II > Mountain) > Repeat O/S
Wishing to learn more about the practice of yoga? Reserve Your Spot for the next 200HR yoga Teacher Training beginning September 6, 2025, and become a Certified Yoga Teacher before the end of 2025. We are ¼ full already. Looking for more details? Email stephaniepower.ayc@gmail.com.
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With gratitude,
-Stephanie