Yoga To Go Go

On July 7, I began a month long challenge of doing yoga for 30 days. I was worried about how I would succeed, but I learned ways I could incorporate yoga through out my day. Using the breathing and alignment techniques I've learned while attending Source Yoga in North Tacoma, I've not only succeeded in my 30-day challenge but found ways to use the practice everyday, even when I don't have my mat available. Here are a few ways I did it. 

Note: As with all yoga poses these can be adapted as needed for your own body. Mindfulness is the goal. In all of these short sequences I strive to apply the three A's of Anusara: Attitude, Alignment, and Action.

1. Each morning I take a moment before rising to get in touch with my breath.Then I stretch, roll to my side and get out of bed. Finishing with a brief morning sun salutation to get my blood flowing my day is always off to a good start.

2. While driving I can practice several core principals of yoga. Sitting tall, my spine extended, tailbone tucked and abdomen engaged and then softening around the edges. Slowing your breathing down can really help with road rage. (I'm not saying I have any.) 

3. When I'm sitting in a waiting room I can practice my breathing and turning on and off my leg muscles, even my arm muscles. Sitting with my feet on the floor I stretch up through the crown of my head and tuck my tail bone and engage my abdominals. I often use this time to point, floint, curl and spread my toes if I'm wearing flip-flops or slip on shoes. This feels especially wonderful if I've been standing or walking. If you're really daring a few forward folds and side bends might even be possible.
4. Waiting for the bus or in line it is easy to spread my feet hip distance apart, ground through my feet, engage my legs, lengthen through the spine and up through the crown of my head, tail bone tucked and abdomen engaged. Depending on the environment I sometimes have time and space for a forward bend, small standing back bend and if I'm really brave a tree pose.  Even when I'm walking I can turn off the chatter in my head while concentrating on alignment. I sometimes play a game and engage my abdomen and see if I can walk with my head erect (no looking a the ground) tail bone tucked and lengthen my spine for short intervals.  
 
5. As a writer I have to sit in front of a computer for extended periods time. I no longer sit on a chair but use an excercise ball that I can create motion in my hips and legs, even while I type. Again, I can lengthen my spine, tuck my tail bone, engage my stomach, plant my feet. I often do short balancing, stretching and twisting poses.

Those are just a few, but I think you get the idea. Just take simple poses and concepts and find ways you can include them in your bodies movement throughout the day. 

I can dream, can't I?

What other yoga poses could easily be adapted and inserted into a busy day?