THE LATEST ADVICE TO BOOST YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
OUTDOOR ASANAS
Combine your daily yoga practice with a breath of fresh air and take a trip outside with your mat this summer. Many yoga teachers choose to take their classes alfresco as the weather heats up, but you don’t have to sign up for a group session to enjoy the benefits of the outdoors. Whether you want to roll your mat out at the beach, in a patch of woodland or in a secluded meadow, just make sure there’s no sharp debris, such as broken glass, wire or rocks where you plan to stretch out – and don’t forget to wear some sunscreen.
BODY notebook
THE LOWDOWN ON...
Sound healing. “When any matter vibrates, it creates a wave of sound and this can affect the body physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually,” says medicine woman Kirsty Norton. “Different sounds evoke very different responses and, in our noisy, polluted world, many people struggle to find a relaxed state of being, which can lead to increased stress.” Sound-healing audios can be a powerful, supportive tool for our busy modern lifestyles.
“Working with sound healing enhances your own body and mind’s capacity to bring you back into a natural state of balance,” says Kirsty. “Some people experience deep rest, better sleep and feel more regulated immediately. Others will become activated on a more emotional level. There are many instruments that can be used including voice, gong baths, chimes, drums and crystal bowls, but it’s not limited to these.” Want to try it for yourself?
Kirsty runs movementformodernlife.com which can start you off on your sound healing journey.
State of flow
Do you struggle to commit to your weekly yoga practice? Chances are, you’re probably not alone. But setting an intention doesn’t have to involve calendar reminders – for Meadowlark yoga founder Karen Kirkness (meadowlarkyoga.com) the ‘soft’ ways to nurture healthy habits are key. “We often refer to the act of rolling out our mats and doing yoga as ‘practice’, which should remind you that we’re always learning, and that we will never reach an end goal or final posture. We are teaching ourselves that we approach this beautiful practice without expectation or ambition. Merging the ideas of ‘intention’ with the concept of ‘practice’ is a way to gently move into the later part of the year without harsh agendas or prohibitive lists, just a soft opportunity to explore a new learning experience and a healthy habit.”
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