YOGA... WEEK 2... BRAIN POWER.... Oh YES!

[Oldfloss]

Good Morning people

Here I am again after a week has simply whizzed by!

How is it all going, with everyone?

Well my Yoga has fallen by the wayside , again. And apart from my regular morning YOGA routine I am playing catch -up. For me, appointments with Mr OF are taking time up and I cannot seem to fit everything in..

It seems that folk are really engrossed in their own exercise routines too, although I know from their posts that some are using Yoga as part of their routines... CBDB has a great link on here to some Calf related yoga too! Take a look

MissUnderstanding Bluebirdrunner and I think, SweatyHettie are!

But YWA is ongoing and for anyone wishing to do the super sessions for June.. the link is here.

yogawithadriene.com/calendar/

After I finished my session with Adriene this morning.. I was scrolling through her videos and found this one!

youtube.com/watch?v=YbAYMQC...(Not working as expected?)

I researched more...of course I did...

Okay... what did I find out... ? Well... let's start at the beginning

Just as our body needs exercise to support it... so does our brain...Our brain impacts every single part of our existence. It needs nourishment and support.

So, how can yoga support and exercise our brain as well as our body?

Well:

Breathing....Bends.... and...Brain work!

The breathing exercises will;

Provide emotional release.

Improve concentration/memory

Boost confidence.

The bends/poses will;

Strengthen and stretch

Relax and Calm

Improve the circulation of blood to the brain

Now.... Brain work... apparently this is a set of exercises specifically for the brain.

1. Stand tall and straight with your arms by your side

2. Lift your left arm and hold your right earlobe with your thumb and index finger. Your thumb should be in front

3. Lift your right arm and hold your left earlobe. Your right arm should be over your left arm

4. Inhale deeply and squat down slowly to a sitting position

5. Stay in this position for 2-3 seconds

6. Gently exhale as you rise again. This completes one cycle

7. We can repeat this cycle as we move on...

Now, the benefits of this type of exercise, are too many to list... but if they work... well, just wow!

I do know and I do understand that many of us cannot get on with Yoga and I, although I love some of the sessions and poses etc. I do struggle!

But, I am willing to try a new exercise if I feel it my benefit my long-term physical and mental health!

So... I will be giving it a go and if anyone else feels they might incorporation or try this.. do please let us know!

Oldfloss x

[GoogleMe Graduate]

My yoga has wobbled 😉 for a while, but so far this month I've had a daily practice and it feels good to be back. I also have the goal of completing the Ekhart Yoga Mindfulness course, which I started ages ago - the teacher has the kind of ASMR voice I need right now (life is a bit bonkers). The yoga elements of that course have been surprisingly challenging.

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to GoogleMe]

This sounds great... I am struggling to get into a routine other than my morning one... Is that an online course or a class you go to? Is it a pay one...?

You do well to keep it up because I know you have had challenges ! I like that ... life is a bit bonkers... I may use that, it is a less depressing description of the way I feel sometimes. Well done you and thanks for this!

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

The Ekhart Yoga is online and I have a 6 month subscription at the moment.

All the rest is just personal practice (although the classes from the subscription inform that) Actual classes are something inachievable (and actually I don't think I really want to either!) It might only be a very few minutes. I am varying what I do because it is so easy for me to have adverse effects later on.

For years I was doing a personal practice first thing every morning in the bathroom before going downstairs and it was Google's illnesses that knocked that off. I don't really know why I've not got back to that as a routine and quite often my sessions currently are part of that last visit to the bathroom for teeth cleaning.

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to GoogleMe]

Thank you!

[SweatyHettie]

oooh I might have to take a look and do that this one later. Anything that can improve my memory is most welcome 😊

I did the calf stretches one yesterday, it was very good although my neck/ left shoulder is aching today so I clearly wasn’t quite in the right position for some of it!! I always struggle with yoga positions when I have to put weight on a straight arm I shake like a leaf! Literally no strength (hopefully this will improve but in all my years of Body Balance etc it was always the same !)

I’m still being sensible and not heading back to the plan just yet as I’ve still got a bit of a niggle in my Achilles so it will be more S&F for me. I love how Adriene’s dog just curls up out of the way -whereas Ebony sits full on the mat and tries to join in!

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to SweatyHettie]

I thought I remembered you replying to CB's post! Well done you for those calf exercises...I hope the shoulder eases. I have to tweak because of neck weakness and like you feel a strain sometimes. Being sensible is the right way to go, although not always easy to maintain!

Yes... ger dog was a vey calm presence... i can just imagine Ebony joining in... we did have another forum friend who had a cat that always joined in with her yoga exercise too!

Thank you fo rsharing with us x

[Bluebirdrunner]

Hi Floss,Still practising YWA daily, unless I really run out of time on a 💙 day.

I can really feel the difference if I haven't managed to roll my mat out, and before I began yoga found getting on and off the floor quite tricky. Currently doing a 30 day calendar foccusing on the core, I am feeling stronger by the day. 🙏🐦💚xxx

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Thank you for this...so helpful for folk to know that yoga can and does impact such a lot.I know the difference it has made to you...x

[Teaching]

I have to get on track too