My yoga routine has evolved a lot over the years...
It first really started, as explained in Life Happens, as suggested by my psychologist after a diagnosis with MS (multiple sclerosis). At first is was mostly stretches... deep conscious breathing done in my living room following some DVD I bought... it was weird at first.... to take the time to slow down... I had never done that!I was only 31... who slows down at 31? Slowing down is for old people... but I needed to do it! I really trusted that psychologist and wanted to give it a try... my husband joined me to encourage me...
A few months after that, I started getting books on yoga... to get to know different options... and I got more DVDs... and as I got physically in better shape and managed to restore my sleep I went into Hatha Yoga. This type of yoga is used in America mostly as a physical activity with deep breathing and meditation component and his recognize as a stress reducing discipline - I needed to manage my stress in order to deal with my MS. I register at a studio and it was amazing.... I went there for almost 2 years and then the studio moved to Ontario (3 hours away from where I live). I went back into practicing at home what I had learned.... with some more DVDs... and some books.
Over that period of time, I included into my routine the 5 yamas of Patanjali into my everyday life: Ahimsa (non-violence), Sataya (truthfulness), Asteya (non stealing), Brahmacharya (spiritual advancement) and Aparigraha (non-appropriation). Those yamas changed my life... and while I was still doing my breathing, meditation and asanas they started guiding who I was off the mat! And this is really what yoga is all about... not just a physical exercise... For Ahimsa, I gave up meat... Sataya, I learned to speak the truth always using the appropriate words not to hurt people (back to Ahimsa)... Aparigraha I became a minimalist (why should I own everything? do I really need that much stuff? aren't I taking it away from other people?). I am also, by increasing my meditation practice and by looking into Buddhism, working on Brahmacharya. As for Asteya, I never stole anything really but keeping stuff I do not use is actually stealing from someone who could use it so I ended up decluttering my house!
At one point I needed to go back to a studio... so I started going to a yoga studio own by Yasmin and I got to meet this amazing young yogini... I started practicing Ashtanga yoga... I did that for almost 2 years only to realize that it did not agree with me. I had even started doing my yoga teacher training in Ashtanga and I had to quit because I was getting overwhelmed and physically to a place I did not wanted to go... Let's say that MS was very happy I took up Ashtanga!
I went back to my home practice... which is what I still do for now... It is a mix of Hatha and Ashtanga... with low intensity... and lots of deep breathing, stretching and meditation. Not even sure it has a name... but it works for me...
It goes like this and I do it at 5 am because this is the best time for me!
Start of with deep breathing and alternate nostril breathing as well as kapalabathi breathing.
Some stretches to awake by body - eyes exercises, shoulder, wrists, hips, legs and twist... to awaken myself...
Then I go into some sun salutations... number varies day to day
I then do warrior, triangle, boat, bridge, foward fold and whatever asanas I feel like doing...
More twists
I end up in savasana all the time
It can take anywhere between 30 min to an hour depending on the time I have...
I also modify this routine according to how I feel, the seasons and my hormonal cycle.
This is what suits me now... but I am starting to feel the need to go to a studio... and there is a Sivananda yoga studio close to my place... according to what I was told by a yoga teacher and a dear friend of mine, this is the type of yoga that would be perfect for me... so I will give it a try soon...
In teh mean time I am practicing being a true yogine on and off the mat!!! And it is not always easy... but always very rewarding!!!
namaste,
love and peace,
nath
xox
I'm more into anusara yoga and some vinyasa flow.
ReplyDelete5 am!! That's fantastic! I tried for some time to get up at 5, then 5.30, but 6 am is my ideal time to get up and have time to myself (to do my yoga, meditation ad writing). What time do you go to bed??
I hear you.... I did hear about Anusara yoga and I love the philosophy behind it!! Unfortunately, at the present moment, there are no studio offering this tpe of yoga close by my house...
ReplyDeleteI will let you know about my experience with SIvananda yoga once I get to visit the studio.. maybe in a few weeks when the weather gets nicer and I actually feel like going out at night! :-)
forgot to get back to you on one question... I actually go to bed somewhere between 9pm and 10pm depending on the days... I need roughly 7h sleep to be functionnal!!!
ReplyDeleteI would like to try yoga! Do you have any DVD you would recommend for beginners?
ReplyDeleteI would go with Yasmin's DVD... it is for sale at Lululemon in Montreal... here's the link to hte website if you wish to buy it there: http://www.yasminyoga.com/en/shop/product/yoga-basics-1-breath-alignment/
ReplyDeleteI also like Rodeny Yee and Seane Corn a LOT... you can find their DVD in many book stores... or here: http://www.gaiam.com/yoga/videos/3010200,default,sc.html
But the most important thing is to go with a DVD that is for Beginner... and there might be some trial and errors... as what suits me may not suit you!
Let me know once you bought and tried one!