Be mindful of your actions at all times. This sounds simple. Too often we try to multi-task when we should be focused on a what we are doing at the moment. As as example: driving your car. when you drive be focused on driving and aware of what your are doing and where you are going. Turn off the radios, CDs, and most of all your CELL PHONES. The insurance industry would be able to lower rates and save the people of the world billions of $$ that could be better used to feed the poor and provide better health care and education.

The same is true with our asana practice. Be aware of every part of your body and breath and have presence of mind into the task at hand in every action. The space between our postures is just as important as the posture. How we act and react in our daily lives is the true measure of the success of our asana practice.

namaste Dale

Balance

It is difficult in our busy lives to find a balance of yoga practice during our daily activities. To do this, one must stop thinking that we have to be in a class to do yoga. Enhance your practice by taking only a few minutes a day to focus on one or two postures and your breath. This can be done in as little as five or ten minute sessions. Allow this to become a regular part of your day.

Soon you will be doing 1 or 2 hours a day of yoga. Attend classes as often as possible. Find a teacher that is certified by a yoga school affiliated with Yoga Alliance (RYT - Registered Yoga Teacher). Tampa Yoga is but one of many good studios to offer certified teachers as well as training for teachers to advance their studies. Some athletic organizations offer quick weekend certifications that are more based upon the "gym" type of yoga that in my personal opinion are not yoga but more like aerobics with a different name. These are not always the best choices for someone who desires a yoga practice that includes the spiritual aspect as well as fitness benefits.

In "Hatha Yoga" we address body, mind and spirit to form the "union"that is Yoga. These are ancient practices that cannot be mastered in a weekend. It takes years of study and practice.

namaste

Dale Morphew LMT, RYT

Breathe

Breathing is the most important part of our life. Why is it then that we devote so little time and focus to the action of our breath. Take some time out of your busy schedule to just sit quietly and think of how you are breathing. Allow your breath to have four parts to it. Inhale slowly perhaps for seven heart beats then pause or rest the breath for three or four heart beats, exhale for seven. Pause for three heart beats and allow time for breath to work. This daily practice for five minutes every day will help bring well being into your life.
namaste

Today's Asana

Today's asana is Tadasana.

Standing tall with your feet hip-width apart, arms relaxed at your sides, spine long

* breathe *

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