Network Magazine summer 2015 | Page 62

INCORPORATING YOGA INTO EVERYDAY LIVING By incorporating elements of yoga into everyday life, you, your clients and your loved ones can experience the calming effects at any time. WORDS: LISA GREENBAUM any of us who enjoy the centring and calming effects of yoga have the desire to share these benefits with our loved ones and clients, but don’t know how. Here are some simple tips to incorporate a little yoga into everyday life. M 1 Breathe Sure you do that all the time, your nervous system is hardwired to make it an automatic function of life. But what if you actually paid attention to your breath, following the steady flow of breath in and out of your nose, and lengthening your inhale and exhale on each breath? On your own: Each time you find a moment in your day, waiting for coffee, doing the dishes, take this time to just focus on breath. Notice the effects that your breath has, both physically and mentally. With your clients: During stretching routines, instead of counting out time, count out breath, inhaling for 1, 2, 3, 4 and exhaling for 4, 3, 2, 1. A meditative quality comes over this time and your clients will leave their sessions relaxed and rejuvenated after a great workout. 2 Be present In our busy world we all too often find ourselves focused on what we need to do rather than what we are doing. How often do you find yourself at your destination without realising how you got there? Take time to just be here. On your own: Take time to smell the roses, or at least to notice the world around you. Putting your phone down for even five minutes can be one of the best gifts YogaFit Instructor training courses 62 | NETWORK SUMMER 2015 you can give yourself. We have become programmed, like Pavlov’s dogs, to jump at the sound of our phone buzzing. Try to keep your phone in your pocket at mealtimes or while walking from the car to the gym, giving yourself a break from distractions. With your clients: While training your clients, describe in detail the muscles being used and how they should be contracted or released. This allows your clients to really connect with their bodies, letting go of outside distractions and truly being in the moment. 3 Be positive! Let go of the negative and invite the positive. Countless studies have shown that focusing on positivity and a positive attitude affects all facets of life. On your own: Noticing your thoughts can lead to an enormous shift here. What you say about yourself in your mind can affect your feelings of self worth, either negatively or positively. Similarly, if you react negatively to situations – such as being cut off in traffic – your body hears and absorbs this negative energy, even if you don’t say anything out loud. With your clients: Notice the language you use when you talk to your clients. Are you spending your sessions complaining about your day? Are you allowing them to do the same? Create sessions that are centred around positive language or YogaFit’s Transformational Language (Beth Shaw’s YogaFit, 2nd Edition) and notice the difference. Lisa Greenbaum holds her E-RYT 500 in yoga and is the Program Development Manager for YogaFit Australia and Director of YogaFit Canada. The YogaFit Fundamentals (parts 1 & 2) 15-CEC course, powered by Australian Fitness Network, is being delivered in two locations this Summer: 12-14 & 19-21 February, Brisbane; and 4-6 & 11-13 March, Melbourne. Specialisation courses are also being held: YogaFit Older Adults: 24 February, Sydney; YogaFit Kids, 25 February, Sydney; YogaFit Level 3: 26-27 February, Sydney. fitnessnetwork.com.au/yogafit