Find the Calm in the Storm

Applying Yoga & Meditation Skills in Real Life

There’s a reason people say to “take a deep breath” when someone is feeling overwhelmed, or highly emotional. The body responds to this deep breath with relaxation – a cue that now the body is safe and can take the time it needs.

As a person with anxiety, I often find myself shallowly breathing (where I am not breathing deeply and naturally into my belly).  My meditation practise has helped me both become aware of the moments I am not nourishing myself with a full breath – and taught me how to attain that deep kind of breath.

Most of the meditations I produce begin with a deep breath in through the nose and an audible sigh of an exhale. The goal in my guided meditations for you, is to help you build that muscle awareness, deepen your breath, and slow the pace of it.

Building a slow and deep breath is an essential base for a good yoga practice. It also brings your attention into the body.

Yoga poses have us explore the grounding and the grace of a pose all at once. To physically embody the duality of flexibility and strength.

Yoga is a visual and physical meter of you get what you put in, too. One can swing themselves around and through yoga poses, mindless of the ways they twist and pull the body (therefore not “getting much” out of their practise) … Or one can find a steady, strong, and fluid movement through their yoga flow – engaging muscles and building awareness of the body – being fully present. (which is always my aim in practicing or teaching yoga!)

Here are some real-life examples of skills applied from a meditation / yoga practise:

• Taking a few deep breaths in congested traffic (breath & emotional awareness)

• Waking up and counting 3 things we are grateful for (gratitude practise)
• Trying a grounding practice of standing on natural ground in the daylight (mind & body awareness)
• Saying grace before a meal (gratitude practise)
• Tuning into the body while lifting weights, running, or otherwise working out (body awareness)

What do you think – are there other moments where yoga / meditation skills can help you out?

I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Wishing you a weekend of moments to flex your own meditation / yoga skills – both on and off the mat!

With Love,

Esta