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7 Tips For Improving Your Posture With Yoga

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I'm the founder of Odyssey Movement and Odyssey Retreats. I'm passionate about yoga, surfing, fitness and gelato. I also love to support people on their personal and professional growth journeys.

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10 Reasons to Incorporate Mindfulness into Your Daily Routine — Being mindful can seem challenging at first, but with practice it can really improve your life in many ways. In this article, you’ll find 10 reasons why you should incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine for improved health and wellbeing. Whether you’re struggling with an addiction or dealing with depression, these tips can help you develop greater peace of mind and create better habits overall. Check out the list below to see how you can get started today!
1) Improve your sleep
Getting a solid night’s sleep is incredibly important, and mindfulness practice can help. Scientists say that by training yourself to pay attention in a certain way, mindfulness can help you sleep better at night and feel more refreshed when you wake up. And there are other reasons, too—for example, practicing mindful breathing (an essential element of mindfulness) can reduce blood pressure and stress levels and thus contribute to overall well-being. Indeed, many studies show that mindfulness improves sleep quality in people with chronic pain or other conditions (like depression) that make it difficult for them to fall asleep or stay asleep.

2) Reduce anxiety
We all feel stressed, anxious, and on edge sometimes. But what happens when these feelings seem to come out of nowhere? According to a study conducted by researchers at Harvard University, adults who reported chronic stress were significantly more likely than their peers to suffer from an anxiety disorder as well as other problems. Stress and anxiety are directly linked—so if you’re feeling tense or on edge, try practicing mindfulness techniques daily. Over time, they can help you better manage your stress levels and reduce your chances of suffering from anxiety issues.

3) Enhance creativity
A growing body of research is showing that mindfulness helps enhance creativity. People who are more mindful tend to be better at keeping information active in their consciousness, which makes it easier for them to combine different ideas and come up with original solutions. A 2011 study conducted by researchers at Leiden University found that participants who engaged in a brief mindfulness exercise performed better on an associative memory task than those who were told not to think about anything in particular. One reason for these results may be that mindfulness helps people become more aware of the relationship between their thoughts and emotions, leading them down unexpected paths.

4) Gain clarity
You can’t focus on anything if you don’t have clarity. If you’re suffering from an attention deficit, practicing mindfulness can help clear your mind and give you a better picture of what it is that your trying to achieve in a given moment. Practicing mindfulness daily not only has numerous physical health benefits but can also give you more focus and better productivity in your day-to-day tasks.

5) Better relationships
By practicing mindfulness, you can strengthen your relationship with yourself and others. By truly knowing who you are, you’ll be able to love those around you even more. You’ll be kinder and more tolerant of their flaws, in turn making them like and respect you more for who you are as well.

By working on yourself daily, your relationships will only improve over time. Those around you will feel more comfortable confiding in and opening up to a mindful person than someone else who is struggling through life without understanding themselves or others around them.

6) Increase self-awareness
Practicing mindfulness can help you observe and understand your own thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and behaviors. By being more mindful, you’ll improve your awareness of how these factors influence one another.

This self-awareness leads to greater acceptance of what is going on inside and outside of you at any given moment in time. Increased self-awareness can also help increase a sense of compassion for yourself—no matter what is going on in your life—and promote healthy relationships with others. The more we understand ourselves, our own patterns and habits, where our feelings are coming from and what triggers certain emotions or actions, etc., then we can better focus on living consciously rather than reacting mindlessly.

7) Live in the moment
Although it can seem counterintuitive, mindfulness is a great way to live more in-the-moment and less stressed. Being mindful helps you become better acquainted with your emotions and reactions, while also helping you focus on what’s important—such as living life on your own terms. If you want to be happier, more present, and less stressed out (which benefits not only yourself but those around you), incorporate mindfulness techniques into your daily routine.

8) Boost concentration
If you’re frequently distracted by texts and notifications, meditation is a great way to give your mind an opportunity to focus. It’s even been proven as effective as medication for ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) patients in controlling impulses. Practicing mindfulness can also help you better handle pressure—an increasingly valuable skill in today’s business world.

9) Manage pain better
Meditation is an effective tool for managing physical pain. A 2011 study published in The Journal of Neuroscience found that long-term meditators had higher brain activity in regions associated with regulating emotions and processing sensory information. The same areas are linked with controlling pain, and scientists think they might work together to calm sensations of physical discomfort. Additionally, participants reported a greater sense of general well-being, which means meditation can help improve your mood as well as ease pain levels. If you want to try it for yourself, start small by practicing for five minutes a day during your morning shower—setting a daily schedule will make it more likely you’ll stick with it over time.

10) Cultivate gratitude & Be Happier
The art of gratitude is a simple one that many people fail to practice. Every day, write down what you are grateful for and read it before bed. It only takes a few minutes and will help your mind switch from default mode—worrying about how you haven’t accomplished enough today—to appreciation mode, which will put you in a state of happiness before sleep.
It is well documented that mindfulness can make you happier, more satisfied and less likely to succumb to sadness or anger. There’s a reason why people who live in happy cultures tend to practice mindfulness—they recognize it as a means of enhancing their lives. When we allow our minds and bodies space and time for reflection, we tend not only process things better but be able to see new solutions that would otherwise have been drowned out by negativity. Cultivating mindfulness can also help us see what’s really important in life and give us focus on achieving these goals instead of getting lost in little distractions all day long. And it does seem that mindfulness not only improves your state of mind but makes you more compassionate toward others, too—which benefits friends, family members and work colleagues alike.

Conclusion
Instead of closing your eyes and relying on your sense of touch, smell, taste, or sound to trigger memories—think about incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine. Meditation can make you healthier and happier. The benefits of practicing it are numerous: from boosting creativity to helping with anxiety and stress management. The best part is you can practice mindfulness anywhere. And, most importantly, you don’t need a meditation pillow or a tranquil temple setting for it to be effective!

What is the difference between Mindfulness and Meditation — Being mindful can seem challenging at first, but with practice it can really improve your life in many ways. In this article, you’ll find 10 reasons why you should incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine for improved health and wellbeing. Whether you’re struggling with an addiction or dealing with depression, these tips can help you develop greater peace of mind and create better habits overall. Check out the list below to see how you can get started today!
1) Improve your sleep
Getting a solid night’s sleep is incredibly important, and mindfulness practice can help. Scientists say that by training yourself to pay attention in a certain way, mindfulness can help you sleep better at night and feel more refreshed when you wake up. And there are other reasons, too—for example, practicing mindful breathing (an essential element of mindfulness) can reduce blood pressure and stress levels and thus contribute to overall well-being. Indeed, many studies show that mindfulness improves sleep quality in people with chronic pain or other conditions (like depression) that make it difficult for them to fall asleep or stay asleep.

2) Reduce anxiety
We all feel stressed, anxious, and on edge sometimes. But what happens when these feelings seem to come out of nowhere? According to a study conducted by researchers at Harvard University, adults who reported chronic stress were significantly more likely than their peers to suffer from an anxiety disorder as well as other problems. Stress and anxiety are directly linked—so if you’re feeling tense or on edge, try practicing mindfulness techniques daily. Over time, they can help you better manage your stress levels and reduce your chances of suffering from anxiety issues.

3) Enhance creativity
A growing body of research is showing that mindfulness helps enhance creativity. People who are more mindful tend to be better at keeping information active in their consciousness, which makes it easier for them to combine different ideas and come up with original solutions. A 2011 study conducted by researchers at Leiden University found that participants who engaged in a brief mindfulness exercise performed better on an associative memory task than those who were told not to think about anything in particular. One reason for these results may be that mindfulness helps people become more aware of the relationship between their thoughts and emotions, leading them down unexpected paths.

4) Gain clarity
You can’t focus on anything if you don’t have clarity. If you’re suffering from an attention deficit, practicing mindfulness can help clear your mind and give you a better picture of what it is that your trying to achieve in a given moment. Practicing mindfulness daily not only has numerous physical health benefits but can also give you more focus and better productivity in your day-to-day tasks.

5) Better relationships
By practicing mindfulness, you can strengthen your relationship with yourself and others. By truly knowing who you are, you’ll be able to love those around you even more. You’ll be kinder and more tolerant of their flaws, in turn making them like and respect you more for who you are as well.

By working on yourself daily, your relationships will only improve over time. Those around you will feel more comfortable confiding in and opening up to a mindful person than someone else who is struggling through life without understanding themselves or others around them.

6) Increase self-awareness
Practicing mindfulness can help you observe and understand your own thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and behaviors. By being more mindful, you’ll improve your awareness of how these factors influence one another.

This self-awareness leads to greater acceptance of what is going on inside and outside of you at any given moment in time. Increased self-awareness can also help increase a sense of compassion for yourself—no matter what is going on in your life—and promote healthy relationships with others. The more we understand ourselves, our own patterns and habits, where our feelings are coming from and what triggers certain emotions or actions, etc., then we can better focus on living consciously rather than reacting mindlessly.

7) Live in the moment
Although it can seem counterintuitive, mindfulness is a great way to live more in-the-moment and less stressed. Being mindful helps you become better acquainted with your emotions and reactions, while also helping you focus on what’s important—such as living life on your own terms. If you want to be happier, more present, and less stressed out (which benefits not only yourself but those around you), incorporate mindfulness techniques into your daily routine.

8) Boost concentration
If you’re frequently distracted by texts and notifications, meditation is a great way to give your mind an opportunity to focus. It’s even been proven as effective as medication for ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) patients in controlling impulses. Practicing mindfulness can also help you better handle pressure—an increasingly valuable skill in today’s business world.

9) Manage pain better
Meditation is an effective tool for managing physical pain. A 2011 study published in The Journal of Neuroscience found that long-term meditators had higher brain activity in regions associated with regulating emotions and processing sensory information. The same areas are linked with controlling pain, and scientists think they might work together to calm sensations of physical discomfort. Additionally, participants reported a greater sense of general well-being, which means meditation can help improve your mood as well as ease pain levels. If you want to try it for yourself, start small by practicing for five minutes a day during your morning shower—setting a daily schedule will make it more likely you’ll stick with it over time.

10) Cultivate gratitude & Be Happier
The art of gratitude is a simple one that many people fail to practice. Every day, write down what you are grateful for and read it before bed. It only takes a few minutes and will help your mind switch from default mode—worrying about how you haven’t accomplished enough today—to appreciation mode, which will put you in a state of happiness before sleep.
It is well documented that mindfulness can make you happier, more satisfied and less likely to succumb to sadness or anger. There’s a reason why people who live in happy cultures tend to practice mindfulness—they recognize it as a means of enhancing their lives. When we allow our minds and bodies space and time for reflection, we tend not only process things better but be able to see new solutions that would otherwise have been drowned out by negativity. Cultivating mindfulness can also help us see what’s really important in life and give us focus on achieving these goals instead of getting lost in little distractions all day long. And it does seem that mindfulness not only improves your state of mind but makes you more compassionate toward others, too—which benefits friends, family members and work colleagues alike.

Conclusion
Instead of closing your eyes and relying on your sense of touch, smell, taste, or sound to trigger memories—think about incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine. Meditation can make you healthier and happier. The benefits of practicing it are numerous: from boosting creativity to helping with anxiety and stress management. The best part is you can practice mindfulness anywhere. And, most importantly, you don’t need a meditation pillow or a tranquil temple setting for it to be effective!

Yoga

March 28, 2023

10 Reasons to Incorporate Mindfulness into Your Daily Routine

7 Ways to improve your posture with yoga

In this blog post, we’ll discuss 7 tips for improving your posture with yoga. We’ll cover everything from specific yoga poses to breathing exercises and more. So if you’re looking for ways to improve your posture, read on to learn how yoga can help!

Yoga is an excellent way to practice good posture and improve your overall health. Not only does it strengthen the muscles that support your spine, but it also helps to create body awareness and encourages you to be mindful of your posture throughout the day. In this blog post, we’ll discuss 7 tips for improving your posture with yoga. We’ll cover everything from specific yoga poses to breathing exercises and more. So if you’re looking for ways to improve your posture, read on to learn how yoga can help!

1) Understand the importance of good posture

Good posture is essential for maintaining spinal health. When you practice good posture, your spine remains in its natural position, which helps to prevent back, shoulder, and neck pain. Poor posture, on the other hand, can lead to an array of physical problems that become more severe over time. Maintaining proper posture helps to keep the muscles, bones, and joints in alignment and allows for full range of motion in the body. With improved posture, you will be able to move with greater ease and efficiency. Additionally, good posture can boost your self-confidence, as it projects an image of poise and grace.

2) Learn the best movements for improving posture

Having good posture is essential for both physical and mental health. There are five basic movements of the spine that you can practice with yoga poses: Flexion, Extension, Rotation, Side Bend, and Axial Extension. Before starting to move the spine in the following directions, try Marjaryasana (Cat Pose) and Bitilasana (Cow Pose) to warm up and use Plank to help to engage, strengthen and stablize the spine.

Flexion involves bending forward and compressing the spine. One pose that facilitates this movement is Downward Facing Dog. Start by placing your hands and feet on the ground in a tabletop position and push your hips back until your spine is in line with your legs.

Extension involves arching the back, which can be done with Cobra Pose. Begin by lying down on your stomach and press your palms into the ground to lift your chest off the mat. Ustrasana (Camel Pose) is also great for extension, focusing on “local stability” and encouraging the spine to lengthen like a slinky.

Rotation involves turning the spine from side to side. A good pose for this is Revolved Triangle Pose. Start in Triangle Pose with your right leg forward and twist your torso to the right while bringing your left arm up towards the ceiling.

Side Bending involves bending to the left or right. One way to practice this is Half Moon Pose. Start by standing with your right leg straight and reach your left hand to the ground while lifting your right arm to the sky.

Axial Extension involves lifting your spine in an upright position. Warrior 3 Pose is a great pose to practice this movement. Begin by standing on one leg with the other leg lifted behind you, then extend your arms forward and bring your torso parallel to the ground.

Doing these five movements regularly will help prevent back pain and improve the quality of your physical body. Ask a yoga teacher for help if you need assistance finding the best poses for each movement of the spine. To get started, try doing each of these poses for three to six minutes a day for improved posture.

3) Set up a regular practice schedule

When considering setting up a regular practice schedule, it’s important to consider what works best for you. To begin with, you could start with a commitment to practice for 10 minutes a day, or block out a particular time on a certain day of the week. This practice should fit into your life, and not be something that you dread or struggle to do.

A great way to make sure that you stick to your practice is to set up an online class the night before – this way, you are more likely to show up on your mat and practice. Practicing at home can be more challenging than going to a studio, but it also has its advantages. Remember to show up on your mat open, present, accepting, and curious. If you need guidance, consider working with a yoga teacher who can support you in building a strong practice and improving your posture with yoga. Check out Odyssey’s online classes here and choose from an array of classes to suit your time, experience level, and lifestyle.

4) Make sure you have the right props

In order to maximize the benefits of your yoga practice and improve your posture, it’s important to make sure you have the right props. A yoga teacher can recommend which props are best for your particular situation. Generally speaking, props such as blocks, straps, towels, dowels, and more can all be used to help improve your posture and offer more support during certain poses.

Blocks are great for thoracic extension and gentle extension of the low lumbar. Utilizing a block behind the chest can also passively stretch the pectorals, costal muscles, and upper abdominals. Blocks placed under the sacrum can help with relieving lumbar hyperextension and spinal erector tension.
Straps can help improve and maintain correct body mechanics while providing support. Towels can be used to offer more grip while aiding in stretching.
Dowels can increase support and stability while balancing or in split-leg postures.

With the right props and guidance from your yoga teacher, you can improve your posture and take your practice to the next level. Need some beautiful props? Head to our friends at Yinside Yoga for organic, sustainably created props to help you with your practice.

5) Listen to your body

When it comes to improving your posture through yoga, the most important thing is to listen to your body. Even if you have studied the different techniques and postures, there will always be moments when your body needs something different.

This is why it’s important to find a qualified yoga teacher who can help you understand how to best move your body and align your spine. A yoga teacher can also observe your practice and provide corrections that are more tailored to your individual needs. They can help you find the best movements that are comfortable for you and prevent any further pain or strain.

6) Don’t forget to cool down

Yoga is a great way to improve your posture, but it’s also important to remember to cool down after any yoga session. Cooling down helps your body transition out of the postures and relax back into a resting state. Here are some tips to help you cool down after a yoga practice:

Begin with a few gentle stretches and twists that allow your body to slowly relax from the intensity of the postures.
Try taking a few long, deep breaths to release any residual tension in your body and mind.
Take some time to lie down in Savasana and just allow yourself to rest and recover.
When you’re ready, slowly roll off the mat and take a few moments to reflect on your practice.
Rehydrate with some water or herbal tea, as this can help flush out toxins and replenish electrolytes.
By taking the time to properly cool down after your yoga practice, you can ensure that you will leave feeling relaxed and refreshed!

7) Integrate your practice into your lifestyle

Making yoga a part of your lifestyle can help you to maintain proper posture throughout the day. Aim to practice the postures you learn in your yoga classes when you’re doing everyday activities, such as walking, running, at the gym, sitting at work, or driving in the car. By being mindful and engaging the muscles used in your postures when you’re going about your daily tasks, you will be able to keep your body aligned and maintain good posture all day long. You’ll also be able to reap the benefits of yoga such as increased strength and flexibility, improved concentration, and reduced stress levels – all of which can lead to improved posture. So take the time to integrate your yoga practice into your lifestyle and you’ll soon see the rewards!

Conclusion

As a yoga practitioner, it’s important to remind yourself of the importance of having good posture and practicing good posture daily. By following these seven tips, you can start to improve your posture through yoga and keep it in check. Regular practice of these postures, as well as focusing on your breath, will help you to achieve better body alignment and keep your muscles strong and healthy. Taking the time to focus on your posture will help to prevent future injuries and reduce tension and pain in the body.

Yoga

January 26, 2023

7 Tips For Improving Your Posture With Yoga

Yoga

November 28, 2022

7 things you didn’t know about going on retreat

Do you find yourself worrying about your relationships? Do you struggle with staying present in conversations at work and home? Do you feel like your friendships and relationships in general aren’t as deep and fulfilling as they could be? There are some simple things you can do to improve your relationships that don’t require much…

Why are Healthy Relationships Important?

Relationships are a complex dynamic between two or more people. They can be difficult to navigate without the right tools.

Whether you’re struggling in your romantic relationship, your parent-child relationships, or even how you interact with your colleagues at work, fixing your broken relationships can seem like an impossible task. Luckily, there are proven methods that psychologists recommend to help you create new and healthier relationships in these areas of your life—and it all starts with yoga and mindfulness. In this guide on how to improve or fix your relationships, you’ll learn about what meditation and mindfulness are and why they’re so effective at building new positive habits and dispelling old negative ones that affect the way you deal with people around you every day.

How do I Know if My Relationship is Healthy?

We all know that having healthy relationships is important. They help us feel supported and loved. They offer a sense of belonging in a world that can be isolating. But if you’re like me, your relationships are usually the first thing to take a backseat when life gets busy and stressful.

There are four key components that make up a healthy relationship: respect, trust, honesty and communication. Here’s how you can use yoga and mindfulness to improve these important parts of your relationship.

Thankfully, there are three key tools that you can use to improve your relationships: mindfulness, yoga, and gratitude.

How to Use Yoga, Mindfulness and Gratitude to Improve Your Relationships

Yoga

Yoga is an ancient practice with the power to help release tension from both body and mind. It creates space for deep self-reflection on what it is we really want out of life and what makes us happy and allows us time to integrate the lessons we learn through the connection of movement, mind and breath on our mat into our lives.

A regular yoga practice gives us increased energy and vitality. This can help you to better deal with the stresses of everyday life, which may lead to less stress in your relationship. In addition, yoga has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, which can also strengthen your relationship by helping you stay calm and collected when challenging situations arise.

It improves mental health, reduces stress levels, and helps you to cope better with anxiety or anxious thoughts.

Finally, yoga is proven to improve your quality of sleep, which can make you feel more relaxed during the day and have fewer fights with your partner over disagreements that may have arisen while both parties were feeling tired and irritable.

The Practice:

Choose a style of yoga that works for you and carve out time for 2-3 consistent classes a week. Can’t make it to a studio? Find a teacher that you resonate with offering online yoga classes and practice at home. Check out Odyssey’s online yoga studio for yoga classes for all levels.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a practice of being present in each moment with kindness and curiosity.

Mindfulness is about living in the present moment without getting caught up in past memories or future thoughts. It helps us to stay grounded in our emotions rather than getting swept away by them. Mindfulness is great for helping us tap into those parts of ourselves that we might have forgotten about because we’ve become too busy with life.

By living mindfully, you are focusing on what is happening right now instead of worrying about what might happen tomorrow or reminiscing about the past. When you do this, you will find yourself becoming more mindful of other people’s feelings and emotions. What does that mean for your relationship? Being mindful during conversations, particularly challenging ones, allows both parties to take a deep breath before responding to the situation so they can come up with an answer together instead of fighting each other.

Meditation has been shown to reduce the amount of anger or frustration that we feel towards others by helping us see things from their point of view instead of just our own. A lifestyle with meditation also teaches us how to be more open-minded which makes it easier to get along with other people who have different opinions than ourselves. You don’t have to be super-religious in order to benefit from mindfulness and meditation techniques!

Being mindful in your relationships also means being aware when someone needs help during stressful moments at work or in life so they know they aren’t alone in the battle. Practicing presence and engaging in active listening allows you to be supportive and removes any need to have the answer, give advice or come up with a solution.

The Practice:

Create a daily mindfulness practice, ideally at the beginning of your day. Find a comfortable place, soften your body and sit quietly for 5-15 minutes. Observe your breath and use your exhales to release whatever thought is passing through your mind in the moment. Focus on the point in the centre of your eyebrows, your third eye, or over the tip of your nose. Take this practice into your day, coming back to your breath whenever you are engaging with someone in your life.

Gratitude

The third pillar, gratitude, encourages us to see everything as gift instead of focusing on what’s wrong in our lives at any given time. Gratitude is proven to be directly linked to our happiness and the key to using gratitude as a tool in your relationships is to practice gratitude regularly and train your mind to focus on what you have and what is good in your relationships even when they are challenging you.

The Practice:

Before or after your mindfulness practice, take five minutes to make a list of all the things you are grateful for in your relationships today. Once you have the list, during your day, take time to share your gratitude with the people around you and watch your relationships flourish.

In summary, yoga, mindfulness and meditation and gratitude are incredible tools that can help us prioritize and improve our relationships while also supporting our relationship with ourself. The result? A happier, healthier and more fulfilling life.

Do you find yourself worrying about your relationships? Do you struggle with staying present in conversations at work and home? Do you feel like your friendships and relationships in general aren’t as deep and fulfilling as they could be? There are some simple things you can do to improve your relationships that don’t require much…

Why are Healthy Relationships Important?

Relationships are a complex dynamic between two or more people. They can be difficult to navigate without the right tools.

Whether you’re struggling in your romantic relationship, your parent-child relationships, or even how you interact with your colleagues at work, fixing your broken relationships can seem like an impossible task. Luckily, there are proven methods that psychologists recommend to help you create new and healthier relationships in these areas of your life—and it all starts with yoga and mindfulness. In this guide on how to improve or fix your relationships, you’ll learn about what meditation and mindfulness are and why they’re so effective at building new positive habits and dispelling old negative ones that affect the way you deal with people around you every day.

How do I Know if My Relationship is Healthy?

We all know that having healthy relationships is important. They help us feel supported and loved. They offer a sense of belonging in a world that can be isolating. But if you’re like me, your relationships are usually the first thing to take a backseat when life gets busy and stressful.

There are four key components that make up a healthy relationship: respect, trust, honesty and communication. Here’s how you can use yoga and mindfulness to improve these important parts of your relationship.

Thankfully, there are three key tools that you can use to improve your relationships: mindfulness, yoga, and gratitude.

How to Use Yoga, Mindfulness and Gratitude to Improve Your Relationships

Yoga

Yoga is an ancient practice with the power to help release tension from both body and mind. It creates space for deep self-reflection on what it is we really want out of life and what makes us happy and allows us time to integrate the lessons we learn through the connection of movement, mind and breath on our mat into our lives.

A regular yoga practice gives us increased energy and vitality. This can help you to better deal with the stresses of everyday life, which may lead to less stress in your relationship. In addition, yoga has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, which can also strengthen your relationship by helping you stay calm and collected when challenging situations arise.

It improves mental health, reduces stress levels, and helps you to cope better with anxiety or anxious thoughts.

Finally, yoga is proven to improve your quality of sleep, which can make you feel more relaxed during the day and have fewer fights with your partner over disagreements that may have arisen while both parties were feeling tired and irritable.

The Practice:

Choose a style of yoga that works for you and carve out time for 2-3 consistent classes a week. Can’t make it to a studio? Find a teacher that you resonate with offering online yoga classes and practice at home. Check out Odyssey’s online yoga studio for yoga classes for all levels.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a practice of being present in each moment with kindness and curiosity.

Mindfulness is about living in the present moment without getting caught up in past memories or future thoughts. It helps us to stay grounded in our emotions rather than getting swept away by them. Mindfulness is great for helping us tap into those parts of ourselves that we might have forgotten about because we’ve become too busy with life.

By living mindfully, you are focusing on what is happening right now instead of worrying about what might happen tomorrow or reminiscing about the past. When you do this, you will find yourself becoming more mindful of other people’s feelings and emotions. What does that mean for your relationship? Being mindful during conversations, particularly challenging ones, allows both parties to take a deep breath before responding to the situation so they can come up with an answer together instead of fighting each other.

Meditation has been shown to reduce the amount of anger or frustration that we feel towards others by helping us see things from their point of view instead of just our own. A lifestyle with meditation also teaches us how to be more open-minded which makes it easier to get along with other people who have different opinions than ourselves. You don’t have to be super-religious in order to benefit from mindfulness and meditation techniques!

Being mindful in your relationships also means being aware when someone needs help during stressful moments at work or in life so they know they aren’t alone in the battle. Practicing presence and engaging in active listening allows you to be supportive and removes any need to have the answer, give advice or come up with a solution.

The Practice:

Create a daily mindfulness practice, ideally at the beginning of your day. Find a comfortable place, soften your body and sit quietly for 5-15 minutes. Observe your breath and use your exhales to release whatever thought is passing through your mind in the moment. Focus on the point in the centre of your eyebrows, your third eye, or over the tip of your nose. Take this practice into your day, coming back to your breath whenever you are engaging with someone in your life.

Gratitude

The third pillar, gratitude, encourages us to see everything as gift instead of focusing on what’s wrong in our lives at any given time. Gratitude is proven to be directly linked to our happiness and the key to using gratitude as a tool in your relationships is to practice gratitude regularly and train your mind to focus on what you have and what is good in your relationships even when they are challenging you.

The Practice:

Before or after your mindfulness practice, take five minutes to make a list of all the things you are grateful for in your relationships today. Once you have the list, during your day, take time to share your gratitude with the people around you and watch your relationships flourish.

In summary, yoga, mindfulness and meditation and gratitude are incredible tools that can help us prioritize and improve our relationships while also supporting our relationship with ourself. The result? A happier, healthier and more fulfilling life.

Yoga

November 28, 2022

3 Tools to Improve Your Relationships

Whether you’ve been practicing yoga for a long time or are brand new to the world of yoga, Yin is probably one of the BEST types of yoga you can practice. Why? Read on!

Woman relaxing in a Yin yoga class at Odyssey

Yin Helps To Increase Flexibility

Whether you’ve been practicing yoga for a long time or are brand new to the world of yoga, Yin is probably one of the BEST types of yoga you can practice. Why? Read on!

Not only will Yin help you to stretch your muscles, but because we usually practice yin when the body is not warm (as in after exercise or a yang/vinyasa style class), the connective tissue in the body and the fascia (a big sheet of connective tissue that runs over the entirety of your body) also gets stretched. This increases the circulation of blood and all the nutrients that the blood carries and allows your joints to get essential resources. This also means that in the long run you will have more able and healthier joints, happy days! Yin Destresses You Because Yin postures are held for a long period of time and usually involve being in a state of rest, your body is able to move into the rest and restore or parasympathetic nervous system. Which stimulates your endocrine system to release feel good hormones and the amount of cortisol (the hormone that leads to stress when we have too much of it) will be reduced, making you feel all zen and fuzzy, and maybe even sleepy! Yin Encourages Stillness Stillness is often something we find hard. And whilst yoga can be categorised as twisting and contorting your body, the real true advanced yoga is about being okay with yourself, being okay in stillness and even connecting into yourself. All of which are achieved when we hold Yin postures.

It Cultivates Your Yin Energy

In the world that we live in now, even in the amazing island of Bali, we tend to live in a state of yang. With technology and the increasing population of the world, we are constantly surrounded by stimulation, which is in essence ‘yang’ energy. So when we practice yin, we are able to move away from technology, away from stimulation and allow ourselves to rest and be with ourselves and our bodies.

Just us on the mat for some Breeze Yin!

We have three amazing opportunities for you to come and practice Yin with us! Join us every Wednesday and Friday at 5.30pm or Sunday at 4pm.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

Yoga

September 5, 2019

Why You Need To Get Your Butt To Yin

In this blog post, we’ll discuss 7 tips for improving your posture with yoga. We’ll cover everything from specific yoga poses to breathing exercises and more. So if you’re looking for ways to improve your posture, read on to learn how yoga can help!

Yoga is an excellent way to practice good posture and improve your overall health. Not only does it strengthen the muscles that support your spine, but it also helps to create body awareness and encourages you to be mindful of your posture throughout the day. In this blog post, we’ll discuss 7 tips for improving your posture with yoga. We’ll cover everything from specific yoga poses to breathing exercises and more. So if you’re looking for ways to improve your posture, read on to learn how yoga can help!

1) Understand the importance of good posture

Good posture is essential for maintaining spinal health. When you practice good posture, your spine remains in its natural position, which helps to prevent back, shoulder, and neck pain. Poor posture, on the other hand, can lead to an array of physical problems that become more severe over time. Maintaining proper posture helps to keep the muscles, bones, and joints in alignment and allows for full range of motion in the body. With improved posture, you will be able to move with greater ease and efficiency. Additionally, good posture can boost your self-confidence, as it projects an image of poise and grace.

2) Learn the best movements for improving posture

Having good posture is essential for both physical and mental health. There are five basic movements of the spine that you can practice with yoga poses: Flexion, Extension, Rotation, Side Bend, and Axial Extension. Before starting to move the spine in the following directions, try Marjaryasana (Cat Pose) and Bitilasana (Cow Pose) to warm up and use Plank to help to engage, strengthen and stablize the spine.

Flexion involves bending forward and compressing the spine. One pose that facilitates this movement is Downward Facing Dog. Start by placing your hands and feet on the ground in a tabletop position and push your hips back until your spine is in line with your legs.

Extension involves arching the back, which can be done with Cobra Pose. Begin by lying down on your stomach and press your palms into the ground to lift your chest off the mat. Ustrasana (Camel Pose) is also great for extension, focusing on “local stability” and encouraging the spine to lengthen like a slinky.

Rotation involves turning the spine from side to side. A good pose for this is Revolved Triangle Pose. Start in Triangle Pose with your right leg forward and twist your torso to the right while bringing your left arm up towards the ceiling.

Side Bending involves bending to the left or right. One way to practice this is Half Moon Pose. Start by standing with your right leg straight and reach your left hand to the ground while lifting your right arm to the sky.

Axial Extension involves lifting your spine in an upright position. Warrior 3 Pose is a great pose to practice this movement. Begin by standing on one leg with the other leg lifted behind you, then extend your arms forward and bring your torso parallel to the ground.

Doing these five movements regularly will help prevent back pain and improve the quality of your physical body. Ask a yoga teacher for help if you need assistance finding the best poses for each movement of the spine. To get started, try doing each of these poses for three to six minutes a day for improved posture.

3) Set up a regular practice schedule

When considering setting up a regular practice schedule, it’s important to consider what works best for you. To begin with, you could start with a commitment to practice for 10 minutes a day, or block out a particular time on a certain day of the week. This practice should fit into your life, and not be something that you dread or struggle to do.

A great way to make sure that you stick to your practice is to set up an online class the night before – this way, you are more likely to show up on your mat and practice. Practicing at home can be more challenging than going to a studio, but it also has its advantages. Remember to show up on your mat open, present, accepting, and curious. If you need guidance, consider working with a yoga teacher who can support you in building a strong practice and improving your posture with yoga. Check out Odyssey’s online classes here and choose from an array of classes to suit your time, experience level, and lifestyle.

4) Make sure you have the right props

In order to maximize the benefits of your yoga practice and improve your posture, it’s important to make sure you have the right props. A yoga teacher can recommend which props are best for your particular situation. Generally speaking, props such as blocks, straps, towels, dowels, and more can all be used to help improve your posture and offer more support during certain poses.

Blocks are great for thoracic extension and gentle extension of the low lumbar. Utilizing a block behind the chest can also passively stretch the pectorals, costal muscles, and upper abdominals. Blocks placed under the sacrum can help with relieving lumbar hyperextension and spinal erector tension.
Straps can help improve and maintain correct body mechanics while providing support. Towels can be used to offer more grip while aiding in stretching.
Dowels can increase support and stability while balancing or in split-leg postures.

With the right props and guidance from your yoga teacher, you can improve your posture and take your practice to the next level. Need some beautiful props? Head to our friends at Yinside Yoga for organic, sustainably created props to help you with your practice.

5) Listen to your body

When it comes to improving your posture through yoga, the most important thing is to listen to your body. Even if you have studied the different techniques and postures, there will always be moments when your body needs something different.

This is why it’s important to find a qualified yoga teacher who can help you understand how to best move your body and align your spine. A yoga teacher can also observe your practice and provide corrections that are more tailored to your individual needs. They can help you find the best movements that are comfortable for you and prevent any further pain or strain.

6) Don’t forget to cool down

Yoga is a great way to improve your posture, but it’s also important to remember to cool down after any yoga session. Cooling down helps your body transition out of the postures and relax back into a resting state. Here are some tips to help you cool down after a yoga practice:

Begin with a few gentle stretches and twists that allow your body to slowly relax from the intensity of the postures.
Try taking a few long, deep breaths to release any residual tension in your body and mind.
Take some time to lie down in Savasana and just allow yourself to rest and recover.
When you’re ready, slowly roll off the mat and take a few moments to reflect on your practice.
Rehydrate with some water or herbal tea, as this can help flush out toxins and replenish electrolytes.
By taking the time to properly cool down after your yoga practice, you can ensure that you will leave feeling relaxed and refreshed!

7) Integrate your practice into your lifestyle

Making yoga a part of your lifestyle can help you to maintain proper posture throughout the day. Aim to practice the postures you learn in your yoga classes when you’re doing everyday activities, such as walking, running, at the gym, sitting at work, or driving in the car. By being mindful and engaging the muscles used in your postures when you’re going about your daily tasks, you will be able to keep your body aligned and maintain good posture all day long. You’ll also be able to reap the benefits of yoga such as increased strength and flexibility, improved concentration, and reduced stress levels – all of which can lead to improved posture. So take the time to integrate your yoga practice into your lifestyle and you’ll soon see the rewards!

Conclusion

As a yoga practitioner, it’s important to remind yourself of the importance of having good posture and practicing good posture daily. By following these seven tips, you can start to improve your posture through yoga and keep it in check. Regular practice of these postures, as well as focusing on your breath, will help you to achieve better body alignment and keep your muscles strong and healthy. Taking the time to focus on your posture will help to prevent future injuries and reduce tension and pain in the body.

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Erin has been practicing and teaching yoga for more than 10 years. While working with global companies including lululemon and ClassPass in people, leadership, marketing and community. During this time Erin visited hundreds of studios around the world, compiling her knowledge and expertise into the best course imaginable.

Erin is a walking example that anything is possible when you {gently} place your fears aside to create something that wouldn't otherwise exist. She works with clients globally to help them to realize their potential with a toolkit of creative strategies that help to guarantee success while kissing burnout goodbye for good.

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