Yoga Home Practice for Fall 2013!

Jaxy · Jun 23, 2013

Words of wisdom by SweetSilver :
 
Ahem (channeling inner Yoga Teacher).....
 
With the autumn equinox, we approach another day of balance, this time turning ourselves towards a time of more introspection and subtle growth to prepare for another burst of exuberance at the reawakening of the new year. Rains have returned for many of us, easing the drought of body and spirit, and giving us renewed energy and life for one last stretch before the Great Sleep of winter. Now is a great time to reflect on our inner motivation and dedication and renew our intention to dedicate one part of each day to our yoga practice, whether that is within another form of exercise, or a yoga routine.
 
Southern Hemisphere folks, take my speech and reverse it!!! <img alt="

" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/orngtongue.gif" style="">
 
Namaste! 
 
Here's a few questions I'm borrowing from SweetSilver's last yoga thread!
 
So would you like to join the thread?
 
The only requirement is to dedicate yourself to a regular yoga practice, however small you can manage it. You can come to this thread to post your practices, if that helps challenge yourself to keep going, or you can join us in supporting each other in our quest to incorporate yoga more fully into our life. 
 
So, go ahead and introduce yourself, with some of these questions, if you like:
 
1. Who are you?
 
2. What are your goals for this month?
 
3. What is the importance of a home practice to you?
 
4. In what ways are you able to support your home practice? Classes? Videos? Magazines? Internet?
 
5. Tell us about your most delicious asanas or sequences, whether they are challenging or easy: 
 
6. What do you struggle with the most? 
 
<img alt="namaste.gif" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/namaste.gif">

Jaxy · Jun 23, 2013

1. Who are you?
Marie, 24, mama to 9 month old DS Jaxson, married to a music man, work 4 days a week as a manager in a specialty shop, born and raised in French in Quebec but now living in English in New Orleans.
 
2. What are your goals for this month?
My goals for this summer are to exercise daily at the very very least 30 minutes a day (around 60 if possible), to lose weight (another 10lbs by the end of July), to live a more active and healthy life, and stay happy

But more concretely I'd like to chose yoga over internet/television at night!
 
4. In what ways are you able to support your home practice? Classes? Videos? Magazines? Internet?
For now I use a program I downloaded called Beginners Yoga, yoga.org.nz
 
5. Tell us about your most delicious asanas or sequences, whether they are challenging or easy: 
Loving the breathing part at the beginning, the Mountain, the Arm Rotation, the Standing Forward Bend, the Bridge.
 
6. What do you struggle with the most? 
I just started doing yoga again after 6-7 years, and I remember loving the Tree position, now seems impossible to do... I lost my balance, I need to get it back. The Boat is another hard one for my non-existing abs that I also need to work on!

SweetSilver · Jun 23, 2013

Thanks for firing up a new thread, Jaxy. I'll get around to answering questions when my head is less blurred.
 
My routine has managed to hang on past the initial energetic devotion to it. I am now managing to scrape by with10-15 minutes each day, though I missed a few days recently. It is so hard to create new habits, that I am nonetheless proud that I've managed to keep this one going. I mean, if dh can do *one* round of sunsalution every day for 20 years, I think I can do something similar!
 
Today, though, the yoga was about creating intention, a bit more inward. I wake up like a log in the morning, and I think the way I react to stress makes parenting difficult (I need to retreat, they need me closer--AACK!) So, knowing there was no way in hell I was doing even one salutation first thing out of bed, I did some breathing on the side of the bed, some twists and arm raises. I tried visualizing something on the inhale and the exhale, but there was nothing there! My brain was absolutely vacant! Well, alright.... I can work with that. Greeted my daughter with a mental "namaste". Trying to spread the love a bit.
 
Wow. I could have answered all the questions by now, but oh, well. Glad someone had the motivation for renewing this.

SweetSilver · Jun 24, 2013

<p id="user_yui_3_10_0_1_1372086828115_597" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;line-height:1.5em;">1. Who are you? A 44yo homeschooling mom of 2 girls living in rural PNW.
<p id="user_yui_3_10_0_1_1371954171588_742" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;line-height:1.5em;"> 
<p id="user_yui_3_10_0_1_1372086828115_594" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;line-height:1.5em;">2. What are your goals for this month? My goal is still to do some form of practice every single day.
<p id="user_yui_3_10_0_1_1371954171588_744" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;line-height:1.5em;"> 
<p id="user_yui_3_10_0_1_1371954171588_747" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;line-height:1.5em;">3. What is the importance of a home practice to you? It gives me a chance to follow my own inner teacher, it helps center me, and I find the physical benefits of doing a small bit every day far outweigh the benefits of powering through a 90-minute class once a week (though those are nice, too!) Where I live, there is no yoga close by. I found that I was racing out the door and down the highway to the closest class, and that just wasn't working. Also, it's incredibly expensive. Yoga needed to be a daily part of my life, not a once-a-week Nirvana blitz.
<p id="user_yui_3_10_0_1_1371954171588_749" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;line-height:1.5em;"> 
<p id="user_yui_3_10_0_1_1372086828115_588" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;line-height:1.5em;">4. In what ways are you able to support your home practice? Classes? Videos? Magazines? Internet? To get reinspired, I bring home a stack of yoga journals both for the articles and for the asanas. I'll do one of their routines for a day or several, then usually I go back to making my own routines, incorporating some new asanas. After working on one series to strengthen hips, I could feel my hamstrings tighten. Then, I picked up an issue with an article about lengthening hamstrings. Perfect!
<p id="user_yui_3_10_0_1_1371954171588_751" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;line-height:1.5em;"> 
<p id="user_yui_3_10_0_1_1371954171588_754" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;line-height:1.5em;">5. Tell us about your most delicious asanas or sequences, whether they are challenging or easy: I rarely have a home practice that is long enough to really push through all the cold tightness, but I love at the end of a routine, going into that last Downward Dog. It feels so easy and natural. If I'm doing a video, I'll pause it there to spend some time enjoying it. That's another bonus to home practice. I don't have to pause anything, or ignore what others are doing, like in class. I can do what comes to me, and for however long I like.
<p id="user_yui_3_10_0_1_1371954171588_757" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;line-height:1.5em;"> 
<p id="user_yui_3_10_0_1_1371954171588_759" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;line-height:1.5em;">6. What do you struggle with the most? Keeping going, choosing to do it every day. I used to say inflexible shoulders and tight groin (<img alt="orngtongue.gif" id="user_yui_3_10_0_1_1372087726769_1156" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/orngtongue.gif"> that sounds funny), but I can work with that. My biggest struggle is definitely dedicating the time to doing it.
 
ETA: Summer time means I can take my practice outside, but our yard is littered with critter guts. I don't imagine most people start their routine by looking for a gore-free spot in the lawn. I found one that looked pretty good, but I could still smell Death close by. Sometimes I hate cats!
<p id="user_yui_3_10_0_1_1372086828115_605" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;line-height:1.5em;">

Jaxy · Jun 26, 2013

What's PNW?
 
When I left the Dalai Lama's conference last month, I told myself that I soon as I lose the extra weight, I would start doing yoga/relaxation/meditation everyday or so. But I really need to lose that (baby+) weight because otherwise I never will. I am not one of those gals who can work out 3 times a week and lose weight. I have to work out every single day, and only eat good stuff. Which... is hard.
 
Anyway, til then, my goal is to do yoga 2-3 times a week

What kind of journals do you get?

SweetSilver · Jun 26, 2013

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Jaxy <a href="/community/t/1385496/yoga-home-practice-for-summer-2013#post_17389869"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a> What's PNW?
 
What kind of journals do you get?
</div>
</div>
Pacific Northwest.
 
I get "Yoga Journal"--that's what I meant--the yoga magazine. I check them out by the stack at the library.

Jaxy · Jul 2, 2013

Well well well, since I started yoga I quit smoking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I didn't even TRY, it just happened!
Had been a smoker for 8 years, even during my pregnancy I would smoke 1-3 cigs a day, and I've been smoke free for a week now! Can't believe it!

SweetSilver · Jul 4, 2013

That's huge, Jaxy. Congratulations!
 
I managed 2 sun salutations while I was gone. Now we're back and I expect to be focussing on getting back on the yoga wagon again.

Jaxy · Jul 4, 2013

Thx! I'm very proud of myself! I was kind of scared for when I'd have a drink, but I had 2 beers last night and didn't even want to smoke! That's definitely a first!
 
Hopefully I'll get a session this afternoon or tonight! Depends on DS' sleep mood

SweetSilver · Aug 23, 2013

Oh, my I have abandoned this thread and for about one hectic month abandoned my daily practice. Now I am 5 days in of doing *something* and I had this thought, thanks to another post in another thread, and I think it is important to those of us trying to fit yoga into our days.
 
Hatha yoga does not have to be separate from other activities, whether exercise or cooking dinner. You stand tall, root your feet into the earth and take steps deliberately (think of Treebeard walking through Fangorn Forest, every step he takes his "toes" are binding and delving into the earth), engage and lengthen abdominals...
 
Breathe.
 
There. You did yoga while you were walking, standing, sitting, during cardio workouts. While extra time to explore the traditional poses is wonderful, we can incorporate yoga more fully into what we think is Not Yoga.
 
It is all Yoga. 
 
The biggest struggle we have is not our tight hips or shoulders, not the lack of strength in our arms or thighs, it is within ourselves, to make each move conscious and deliberate.
 
And now this is treading into the territory of Spirituality, but you don't have to take it there (I do....). All movement is yoga.

Jaxy · Aug 23, 2013

Yes <img alt="namaste.gif" id="user_yui_3_10_0_1_1377279446212_1086" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/namaste.gif"> We just need to remember that!
 
I do the mountain pose at work when it's slow... But these days are all but slow and I run around like a crazy person so I don't have time to even think about anything... I guess it's good in some ways.

SweetSilver · Aug 23, 2013

I am glad you caught the post, Jaxy. It was partly for your benefit as well as my own.

Jessimaca · Aug 25, 2013

Just coming back to Mothering forums, been off awhile because I have a high needs cute little peanut that is 16 months old. Just taking a breath now

Reading your posts to get caught up and join in. Can I say-- I love you gals already! Your both inspiring and I know I will learn from you. Here I go (BTW, I can't find the fancy text stuff? I just have a rely box and that's it). Congrats Jaxy on quiting smoking and Sweet Silver I love your tips. Let's check-in often to stay accountable to each other-- what do ya say? 1. Who are you? Hi

I'm Jessica (my stepson used to call me Jessimaca for some reason). I'm a wife, mother, RN, and I don't know what else right now, but I think I made a list in my signature ;-) I am also a yoga student and teacher (still consider myself very much a newbie though-- went through a basic teacher training 3 years ago. I just teach prenatal yoga right now in 6 week sessions. Don't have time for much more and want to start focusing on myself and my practice (which is in it's infancy I feel, but around where I am that's more experienced than most-- very whitecolar small midwestern town I live in). 2. What are your goals for this month? My goal is to get some form of yoga in on most days I don't work (I work every Thur, Fri and every other Sat night) along with a walk or a little cardio. My sanity is better with this plan

3. What is the importance of a home practice to you? Honestly a home practice wasn't very important to me in the past-- I used to teach and go to a few classes a week before my daughter. Now I can't manage that so I've begun a home practice in earnest and I'm finding it very helpful. 4. In what ways are you able to support your home practice? Classes? Videos? Magazines? Internet? I do DVDs occasionally at home and like you Sweet I use Yoga Journal (I had a subscription that expired, but I'm thinking of renewing. I also use doyogawithme a free yoga site with videos thats awesome! Just learned about that gem-- check it out! 5. Tell us about your most delicious asanas or sequences, whether they are challenging or easy: I tend to gravitate towards a slower, more gentle flow. I like deep, delicious stretches. I don't have time for much though. I try to squeeze a little in during my daughter's nap time which means I skip showering then! LOL! 6. What do you struggle with the most? Time and time and time. I want to continue to work on all 8 branches of yoga. I want to work on incorporating more. Would either of you be interested in throwing in a book discussion as well? And I would love to keep in touch and discuss our practice. On a side note-- I've never done a headstand-- someday I want to be good at this. But, I'm weak and out of shape and a little heavier since my daughter was born and all these things hinder my practice (the asana part anyway).

SweetSilver · Aug 25, 2013

Jessimaca (so cute!) thanks for popping in. This thread is a bit slow, but it manages to pop up again just when I think it's dead, so it serves a good purpose. I do hope both to check in more regularly, and also get to my yoga more routinely as well.

Jaxy · Aug 25, 2013

Just getting out of another cold (second sickness this month, I swear this is not me

) to welcome you Jessimaca

Anybody does/has done yoga with or around a baby? I often hear baby yoga, but to me it sounds impossible... How does that work? I'm also struggling with time, but I know I could squeeze (or stretch?

) a 10-15 min daily yoga session, I just need to find the motivation/the right state of mind...

SweetSilver · Aug 27, 2013

Baby yoga to me sometimes meant doing yoga with the baby on the floor, sometimes in the carrier, sometimes on my legs, in hands. It meant nursing as needed, and when I was able to do mama yoga classes (before multiple kids) there would be times when all the mamas were nursing and it was just time for meditation. 
 
Baby yoga for active babies and toddlers meant them crawling over and under and constant interruptions for things (breathe, mama). Then it meant popping in a kids yoga video to do together

berrymama · Aug 29, 2013

I am new to yoga and would love to join this thread for motivation! (Though I guess we are moving out of summer and into fall).
 
1. Who are you?
Jen, 31, wife and mom to 2 boys (ages 5 and 3 yrs) and a new little girl (almost 4 months). I work very part-time as a L&D RN, and also do some photography (newborn/baby/family). I am trying to get into a healthy exercise habit of jogging 3-4 times per week, strength training 2 times per week and doing yoga on most days.
 
2. What are your goals for this month?
School is starting up next week, so our daily rhythm will be changing. My goal is to fit yoga into my days, and continue to explore different kinds of yoga to find what works best for me. I love the idea of living a yogic life (not just on the mat for 30 minutes), so I am working my way through the The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali. It is much more philosophical than I am used to and I am finding it difficult to absorb (especially when my reading time comes at the end of the day while nursing babe to sleep. By then my mind is mush!) 
 
3. What is the importance of a home practice to you?
The convenience and cost. I will maybe someday take some classes, but right now, I don't see when I would be able to get out of the house.
 
4. In what ways are you able to support your home practice? Classes? Videos? Magazines? Internet?
I recently started subscribing to Yoga Journal. I use videos primarily - I find it nice to have that voice constantly reminding me to breath (beginner here!).
 
5. Tell us about your most delicious asanas or sequences, whether they are challenging or easy:
I really love deep stretches and hip openers, especially on days that I run. I think I may need to explore into Yin Yoga.
 
6. What do you struggle with the most?
As with most people, finding the time. Especially with a 4 month old, whose napping is sporadic. I need it to be quiet, as I just cannot concentrate and don't feel I get as much out of doing yoga with 2 boys running around me and a baby awake. I need it to be 'me' time.
 
Sweetsilver - Above you wrote: "I wake up like a log in the morning, and I think the way I react to stress makes parenting difficult (I need to retreat, they need me closer--AACK!) So, knowing there was no way in hell I was doing even one salutation first thing out of bed, I did some breathing on the side of the bed, some twists and arm raises. I tried visualizing something on the inhale and the exhale, but there was nothing there! My brain was absolutely vacant! Well, alright.... I can work with that. Greeted my daughter with a mental "namaste". Trying to spread the love a bit."
 
That is totally me too! And it is only going to get worse with school starting and getting up earlier. This is partly what I mean by incorporating yoga into life. Thank you for the perfect example!!
 
Jaxy - That is so great that you were able to stop smoking!
 
Jessimaca - I would totally be in for a book discussion! There are a couple books I have my eye on...though I thought I should try to get through the sutras first.

SweetSilver · Aug 29, 2013

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by berrymama <a href="/community/t/1385496/yoga-home-practice-for-summer-2013#post_17445322"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a> I am new to yoga and would love to join this thread for motivation! (Though I guess we are moving out of summer and into fall).
 
 
</div>
</div>
Because this thread chugs along at its own pace, I'll just be changing the title of the thread instead of starting a new one so we don't lose everybody who hopped on in the last week.

Jaxy · Sep 13, 2013

Good idea SweetSilver! How's everybody doing?
 
A new friend of mine brought me to her yoga class last Friday! It wasn't a beginner's class that I can tell you! It was very fast (I guess that's what they call power yoga?) and was more of a work-out than yoga, to me. It was interesting and fun to get out and meet people, but it was too fast for me. Couldn't enjoy the positions at all! I don't think I would go back. Had a great time with her and I'm glad I found such a great new friend though!
 
On the other hand we are moving very soon, found a house with 3 bedrooms so HOPEFULLY we will get it and I will have a room to practice yoga!!!!

(it will probably be a storage/music/guest/yoga kind of room). It will help me to get motivated to practice because right now my options are very limited. It's or I do it in the room where the baby sleeps or in the living room with my husband watching tv beside me............... Can't wait to get the answer from the landlord!! Please please please, choose us!!!

SweetSilver · Sep 14, 2013

Jaxy, I forgot you started this thread, so if you want to change the title for fall here's a good starting post to welcome in the season:
 
Ahem (channeling inner Yoga Teacher).....
 
With the autumn equinox, we approach another day of balance, this time turning ourselves towards a time of more introspection and subtle growth to prepare for another burst of exuberance at the reawakening of the new year. Rains have returned for many of us, easing the drought of body and spirit, and giving us renewed energy and life for one last stretch before the Great Sleep of winter. Now is a great time to reflect on our inner motivation and dedication and renew our intention to dedicate one part of each day to our yoga practice, whether that is within another form of exercise, or a yoga routine.
 
Southern Hemisphere folks, take my speech and reverse it!!! <img alt="

" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/orngtongue.gif" style="">
 
Namaste!

Yoga Home Practice for Fall 2013!

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