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Yoga Inspiration #2: Just Stretch.

Just Stretch.

One of the best ways to start off your morning is simply stretching. When you wake up, reach above your head, point your toes towards the foot of the bed, and sweep your arms down as though you were making a snow angel.

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Some yogis have the idea that since the earth is always moving, we should always be flowing and using our energy too. (At least when we’re awake that is – though maybe some people have mastered the art of being energetic even in sleep.) As soon as we start to become conscious each morning, we should stretch out to help get the juices flowing.

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Yesterday morning I used Tara Stiles’s Hangover Yoga to start my day off right (just 5 minutes).

I also did her Yoga for the New Year! video (about 8 minutes).

I didn’t do this yesterday, but I think I will do it today… my own yoga video (Yoga Quickie).

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This is another stretching routine I like to do: DVF’s Stretching Routine.

For more yoga inspirations, click here.

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Yoga Inspiration #1

“Yoga is serenity.”

–Bhagavad Gita (400 – 300 B.C.E.)

The Bhagavad Gita (or just Gita) is a sacred Hindu scripture – essentially a summary of Hinduism and a guide for (Hindu) life. I have never read it, but I like its definition of yoga. This phrase reminds me that simplicity is usually the best answer. The serenity and peace I feel on my mat should be present in the rest of my life as well.

Today’s yoga (I try to do a short session almost every day) was a 20 minute podcast from YogaDownload called Hip Opening Flow #2. I started working my way through every 20 minute podcast they have online (they start way back in April 2007) last week and I am on the fifth one now. This should take me a while as I don’t plan on doing more than one new one each day. The Hip Opening Flow #2 was quite peaceful and calm (serene) but decimated my hips. I hold tension in my hips. Do you? Apparently it is a common place to hold anxiety and negative emotions.

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What is your definition of yoga? Where do you hold your stress?