Embedded Files
Dear Red Cat YOga community,
Dear Red Cat YOga community,
Though the summer may seem like a wonderful relaxing time for some for many of us summer comes with different demands. We may be juggling jobs and family time. Struggling to find time to exercise and or find time for yourself. If you are stressed you need to read this - if you are relaxing you need to read this so you can put it in your backpocket for later.
Doing yoga may seem like a luxury. But yoga can help you set a boundary between the racing pace of your daily grind and a space of quiet introspection where you can regroup and reset. Practising yoga can clear the clouds from your emotions and let you see more clearly, it can move you from what seems like a stuck place to a place of opportunity. Your practice does not have to be a long period of time to produce the benefits. In fact, it is better if there are no expectations at all other than that you roll out your mat (physical or metaphorical) and take a moment.
Rolling out your yoga mat can feel like the opening your front door after a long day. Settling onto your mat can feel as though you are settling down into an evening without demands and obligations.
A natural inhale and exhale, closing the door to daily stress.
The yoga mat exhale takes time to cultivate but it starts with an intention. Something like - I am taking time to concentrate on my yoga practice and on my health. I deserve this time. It may help to say it outloud.
As you settle into your mat try to drop away any expectations. Demands, obligations and expectations belong elsewhere. Sometimes I imagine I leave them all in my shoes, as I take my shoes off to practice. I needed a place to put them - too many times I came to my yoga mat loaded with demands and obligations. Demands and obligations set by my own mix of expectations and societal and western expectations. Expectations of how to fit in, to keep up, to look ‘right’, to breath right, to 'achieve'. Setting all this down in my shoes seems like a simple solution. But it is not easy, until it becomes a habit.
My wish for you is that your yoga mat feels familiar. A warm and welcoming familiar; like returning home or to a place you love. A place where you happily take off your shoes, stuff them full of the noise, leave them and settle. Settle into a place where you feel welcome.
As you step onto your mat, you won't need expectations ,because you have created this welcoming space that metaphorical mat which welcomes you exactly how you show up, as who you are right now, with nothing to prove.
As you transition and leave all expectations in your shoes let your intention be to recreate that feeling of coming home. If the way you do that is to sit and breathe and recenter then you have succeeded. If you move through some poses, notice how your mind and body flow. To stay in the welcoming unassuming state - notice how you react ? What do you do if a pose becomes hard ? Do you get frustrated? Give up? Or do you push through despite pain or compromising the pose? Can you reframe your frustration can you observe the process with curiosity ? Can you let the expectations stay in your shoes and continue with self compassion? Demanding nothing from your practice but exploration and self study (Svadhyaya). Keeping that curious, welcoming mind ?
Alternatively, how about a pose which comes easily to you? Do you rush through it and look for another challenge or can you pause and be present?
The way we treat our time on the mat can relate to everyday moments. Do we get frustrated easily at work or school when things do not go to plan? When they do not align with our expectations? Or can we react less and observe more. Give ourselves time to study the moment. Will frustration aid us or burden us in this moment ? My guess it will burden us. Can we put our busy emotions aside and use a mind of curiosity and forgiveness ?
On our mat, on the safety of our mat, we can practice emotional regulation without judgement. We can use this skill everyday.
Just like on the mat with a challenging pose - the same frustration - contorting our body to work against us can be changed if we practice. If we practice in a safe welcoming space breathing through tension and letting go of the mental restraints and expectations, we can redirect the emotion we feel and see it as a messenger telling us to slow down and observe. A messenger coaxing us gently to reset our mindset? To welcome and be proud of where we are now.
Alternatively, something coming easily into our daily lives may be translated as the easy pose on the mat too. We need to be conscious of not rushing on to the next big thing but championing and celebrating our success. Slowing down and observing, noticing our achievements as much as we notice our perceived failures? Wouldn’t that be wonderful.
If we master our precious time on the mat, we can gradually weave that into our daily life. Your thoughts would be like home your perfect family, your own cheerleaders boosting you up reminding you of your achievements and talents when you achieve, supporting you with encouragement not frustration or disappointment when you struggle. Welcoming you through the door without expectations.
This month let us try to shift 'performing' into 'presence'. Let's try to leave all those sometimes crushing emotions like anxiety, expectation, doubt in our shoes as we take them off and move into our state of relaxation. I wish that for you.
If I can help you in your yoga that or on your mindful journey. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I would love to help you find your beautiful flower garden.
Laura McCracken
Owner of Red Cat Yoga
Our own Red Cat Moment - Hello Alfie.
Our own Red Cat Moment - Hello Alfie.
Upcoming events
Upcoming events
Pose of the Month
Pose of the Month
Half moon variation POse
Half moon variation POse
(Kneeling Ardha Chandrasana)
Benefits
Stretches and lengthens hips, shoulders, arms, knees and legs..
Helps spinal flexibility and range of motion.
Lengthens the spine.
Opens up your, diaphragm and improves breathing.
Alignment and posture - with the strengthening of stability muscles.
Aids the balance of emotions.
Assists awareness and focus.
Next yard Yoga 21st July
Next yard Yoga 21st July
5015 Neal Ranch Road - 9am. Please bring a mat - donations welcome but never expected. Pre- register by email HERE
Thank you so much for reading this - you are so valued.
Please consider joining me in a community lesson or private lesson - in person or online. I would be honored to assist you in your Yoga or Mindfulness journey.
Monthly Affirmation.
Monthly Affirmation.
300 Hour Yoga Teacher Certification
Mindfulness Coaching Certification
200 hour Yoga Teacher Certification
Trauma Informed Yoga
Yoga Nidra
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse