That’s exactly what I did on Day Two of the Reach Out Challenge. I was so energized by opening blocked channels in my body from the previous two yoga sessions from My Yoga Online that I didn’t sleep well the night before. So last night I chose a class called Get Set for a Good Sleep. And the class delivered as promised!
I liked the teacher, Marla Waal. Her voice was very clear and light, but also matter of fact. The sound of her voice seemed to support me to have a very gentle practice. And this was definitely the easiest of the classes I’ve tried so far. It began with a lot of seated poses, including some great neck stretches. We did get onto our feet eventually, for some easy down dog, transitioning into a simple kneeling position rather than the typical arm-straining plank pose to the floor.
With yoga, the breath and physcial movement is one thing, and the shift in inner state is another. It is remarkable to me how the physical aspects of yoga transform the emotional, mental, and spiritual experience. At the end of the class I felt calm, quiet, and in a deeper, more present state. It was a wonderful way to end the day. Since it was a 25-minute class, I finished with 5 minutes of sivasana with a long bolster under my back and head, creating a gentle chest-opening position.
The folks at Yoga Outreach had recommended focusing on ahimsa for Day Two. Ahimsa is sometimes translated as non-harming, though they focused on the positive act of having compassion rather than the negative act of refraining from harm. So I used the attitude of having compassion towards myself in the poses, and found this increased the feeling of gentleness during the practice, including during the savasana at the end. It is a wonderful gift to deliberately treat oneself with tenderness. I recommend you try this at home!
Thanks to my friends and family who have pledged 50 cents or a dollar a day for the 30 day Reach Out Challenge. If you haven’t done so and would like to sponsor me to raise money for Yoga Outreach, you can use the online donation link. Or phone me at 604.251.6337 or send an email to kyrempel@gmail.com. Thanks!
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