I hope you’re feeling healthy, joyful and whole. You made it to the middle of October – hands down the best month of the entire year if you ask this October baby! For you, I wish nothing but joy, play, connection, peace, rest and ease to close out this month…overflowing. Claim it and then take a deep breath in through your nose and a big sigh out through your mouth.
This month marks 7 full months of working from home during the pandemic. For me, the time has been equal parts slow and fast and it’s taught me a lot about myself. I’ve learned that it’s ok to rely on my loved ones for support and that expressing how anxious, scared or uncertain I feel is also a sign of strength. I’ve learned that I don’t need the gym or any fancy equipment to workout, and I’ve rediscovered my love of walking. I’ve learned that virtual brunch dates can give me all the warm and fuzzy feelings I need to hold me over until I can get back back to the real thing. I’ve learned that someone asking, “How are you?” means more to me than I ever thought possible. I’ve learned that resting and embracing moments of stillness are two of the most productive things I can do when my mind and body feel restless.
What’s showing up for me in my physical Yoga practice this month
…exploring my spine and all the ways it was designed to move. Did you know that your spine was designed to move in directions other than forward and backward? A healthy spine enjoys exploring twists, forward folds, back bends, rotations and extensions.
1.Flexion – forward folds
2.Extension – back bends
3., 4.Lateral – side bends left and right
5., 6.Rotation – twists left and right
7.Axial extension – lengthen, like when sitting up tall
Think of your spine as your “other core” a stack of little bones called vertebrae along the center of your back, starting at your butt, that provides structure and support for your entire body. In Yoga, I teach with an emphasis on decompressing the spine and creating space between the vertebrae to help relieve back pain and to lubricate the vertebrae for improved mobility.
I touched on each point in the practice below. But first, a word of caution for this practice – take it easy, you might not be as mobile in each direction your spine was designed to move. And that’s ok. This practice is about exploring each movement without muscling through it. Plus, each posture is 100% a suggestion so feel free to set your own pace, hang out in postures that feel good, skips ones you aren’t ready for yet and hit pause as often as you need.
As always, feel free to stay in savasana as long as you need. Comment below if you enjoyed this practice and tell me, what’s showing up for you in your practice this month?
