Yoga Session #2

 September 21, 2021

Yoga Session #2

For this week's yoga practice, I wanted to take a beginners course because I still feel very tense and tight throughout my entire body. I have practiced various types of yoga classes in the past in a variety of settings and have found them all beneficial. However, I don’t always have the time or the energy to make it to a class, and they aren’t always cost-effective. So for the last 3-4 years, I have been taking online yoga classes, mainly the ones offered on Youtube. This gives me the flexibility I need for my hectic schedule and allows me to customize the type and duration of my yoga class without wasting additional time commuting to and from class. 

I work full-time Friday through Sunday from 7 am-7 pm and go to school full-time Monday through Thursday, so I spend every minute wisely. Not to mention it saves me a lot of money on memberships or individual class sessions. I believe its good to invest in your health, but I never had the time to take advantage of my gym membership in the past because of my hectic work and school schedule. For that reason, I chose to cancel my gym membership to put the money I was throwing down the drain to good use and started purchasing my own equipment little by little so I could workout on my own time without having to leave the house. I don't regret it. 

My favorite yoga YouTubers include Yoga With Adriene, Yoga With Kassandra, Boho Beautiful Yoga, and YogiApproved.com. For this yoga session, I went with one of my favorite yoga classes by Yoga With Kassandra, that’s called 10 min Morning Yoga Full Body Stretch. I love this one in particular because it’s great for beginners, quick and easy, and a great way to start the day when you're short on time. I always find myself going back to this video in particular after taking a break from yoga to loosen me up and get me back into a routine. 

I like to create a sacred space for my yoga practice first by cleaning up any clutter because I associate a cluttered space with a cluttered mind, causing my mind to wander.  As for decorations, I don’t think they are really necessary because I try to focus my attention on the practice itself. However, I like to keep the blinds open to allow natural light, especially in the living room, where I have two medium-large plants that make the space look more peaceful and vibrant. I also like to play relaxing music, meditation music, or nature sounds in the background to enhance my experience. In addition to music, I like to use encens and essential oil diffusers but don’t use them as frequently as I used. I recently got a puppy, so I try to avoid exposing him to any harsh chemicals, especially at such an early age. So in the meantime, I have been using small amounts of essential oils by rubbing them on my temples, wrist, and neck area. Lastly, if I have extra time, I try to meditate before or after a yoga session, preferably before, to go into it with a clearer mind allowing me to focus more on my breath during the practice. By doing so, I find that my body relaxes more, allowing me to go deeper into a stretch and or pose.