What Can I Do While Not DOING Yoga?

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

I know, a weird question, but this is what I mean. I don’t feel like I get my fill of yoga related practice with my 1ish hour per day routine so I’d like to do smaller things during the day that will help me along. For example, while at work, whether sitting or walking, when I think of it I will hold my posture upright like it should be; tummy tight, chest lifted, etc. and breath deeply instead of my normal habitual shallow breathing.

Are there other things I can do either at work or while watching TV (please, no preaching about TV :p) that’s not like a full workout? Any stretching that doesn’t require a full heating up or some breathing exercises or something?

Thanks.

#2

You could try sitting on the floor to watch TV…depending on your hip flexibility, try sitting cross legs and the various variations of cross legs or sit in virasana instead of sitting on sofa or chair this will help your posture and your hips.

You could add a mindfulness practice to everything you do, walking, cooking, eating,speaking…

#3

Exactly what is a mindfulness practice? I take it that it has something to do with being “mindful” and extra aware of what you’re doing, but exactly what do I focus on? My posture? Breathing? Movements? All of the above?

Thanks.

#4

Yes it is that simple! to be fully mindful of what you are dong…you could choose just one or two things to focus on or the whole activity.
If walking for example you could focus on the movement or the textures of the surface you are walking on…you could also coordinate breath and movement together.

I try to practice mindfulness while cooking…so concentrating fully on a task no o the matter how menial not thinking about the next step…just making those perfectly chopped onions then on to the next step…and when pausing…bringing to mind the friends I am cooking for.
When eating…eating slowly appreciating every taste and texture and the time, effort and love for the person who cooked.

#5

Unfortunately “mindfulness” has grown into a buzz word and therefore has lost some of its potency. So let’s peel it back a bit.

When you become aware of choice, when you are able to stop yourself from saying something hurtful to others BEFORE it leaves your lips, when you are able to resist your urge to pluck a flower from its stem as a result of your appreciation for life, when you are able to see that this moment has later results based on the aforementioned choice(s), then you’ve become mindful.

If you are looking to live more yoga in the gaps of living your yoga then I have 15 suggestions for you - the yamas, niyamas, and kleshas. Start with the yamas. Take the first and live it for 21 consecutive days. Should you falter on day 10, the count starts over at 1. Once you’ve completed the 21 days move on to the second yama. You will have moved through all 10 yamas and niyamas in just over 200 days and will likely be a completely different person :slight_smile:

#6

How about giving thanks. If it is heartfelt, it will move your day into a beautiful place. We seem to forget that it is not just the bodywork but a renewed sense of thanks for everything we are able to do because spirit is what makes it all possible.

#7

[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;68296]Unfortunately “mindfulness” has grown into a buzz word and therefore has lost some of its potency. So let’s peel it back a bit.

When you become aware of choice, when you are able to stop yourself from saying something hurtful to others BEFORE it leaves your lips, when you are able to resist your urge to pluck a flower from its stem as a result of your appreciation for life, when you are able to see that this moment has later results based on the aforementioned choice(s), then you’ve become mindful.

If you are looking to live more yoga in the gaps of living your yoga then I have 15 suggestions for you - the yamas, niyamas, and kleshas. Start with the yamas. Take the first and live it for 21 consecutive days. Should you falter on day 10, the count starts over at 1. Once you’ve completed the 21 days move on to the second yama. You will have moved through all 10 yamas and niyamas in just over 200 days and will likely be a completely different person :-)[/QUOTE]

Wow!!! What a suggestion THANKS.

#8

[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;68296]

If you are looking to live more yoga in the gaps of living your yoga then I have 15 suggestions for you - the yamas, niyamas, and kleshas. Start with the yamas. Take the first and live it for 21 consecutive days. Should you falter on day 10, the count starts over at 1. Once you’ve completed the 21 days move on to the second yama. You will have moved through all 10 yamas and niyamas in just over 200 days and will likely be a completely different person [/QUOTE]

I wonder if this is your approach or that of the school you represent …

#9

InnerAthlete,

You never stop impressing me with your deep insight earned from practice. Very often we come across posts that say ‘such & such thing is mentioned in such & such book or said by someone of athourity’. Rarely is seen diagnosis and advice coming from ‘self-realization’. You must be excellent teacher. I want to thank you for all that.

Sleemie,

You are there, without realizing it. You have already seen a need for greater room for Yoga in life. Asana is not Yoga’s abridged edition, it is one aspect that you can begin with. The other aspects like yama, niyama go beyond the four walls of a studio or the ‘practice’ time. Mindfulness takes you even deeper and makes aware of the drivers of behavior for which yama-niyama provide the standards.

If mind is a tool and mind is the target, Yoga extends into our life without any limits. Initially, one needs to engage with Yoga consciously, as and when reminded. Soon, Yoga becomes as natutal and incognito as breathing.