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