We live in a society where it is accepted and often encouraged to live a fast paced lifestyle, spending most of the day attached to our cell phones and computers.
Before I came to yoga I was unaware of how I stood, walked or breathed. I didn’t pay much attention to my body even when it was screaming out in pain that it needed to rest. I was just too busy living my life to realize that my body needed to slow down.
When we live our lives this way, our body and mind often pay the ultimate price. The breath becomes shallow, our posture becomes slouched, and our mind seems to be on a never ending roller coaster of a “to do” list.
We all experience stress at some point our lives and lets face it, some stress is good! Without the adrenaline rush that pumps through our body every morning we wouldn’t get out of bed! Although we may not be able to eliminate all stress from our life, yoga can help us to find the tools to manage stress in a more positive way.
A posture that I find most helpful at times when I need to find balance or re-centre myself is Balasana/Child’s Pose. This posture helps to calm the mind as you begin to take your attention inwards. Balasana also helps you to release tension through the upper back, neck and jaw which is where we hold most of our tension and stress. Balasana can be practiced with arms at your side or extended out in front of you to help align the spine. As you move into this posture, try resting your tongue at the bottom of your mouth to help the muscles in your jaw, neck and throat relax. Enjoy practicing this pose and allow your body and mind to re-connect.
Susan Di Ilio is a 500hr RYT certified Yoga Alliance Instructor. She has worked as a Correctional Officer and brings her love of working with people to her therapeutic yoga teachings. Susan teaches Gentle Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Yoga for Fertility and Deep Tension Release Therapeutic Yoga.
