thankful thursday
Updated: Mar 10, 2018
Hi everyone! I really can't believe that the first full week of March is done. This month is already flying by and before we know it, summer will be here. Today is International Womens Day.
I am lucky for all the powerful, strong, smart, and badass women in my life and I would not be who I am without them.
And now more than ever we need #PressforProgress and teach our friends, communities, and families to think, act, and be gender inclusive (THIS INCLUDES ALL GENDERS AND RACES). According to the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report, gender parity, a numerical concept related to gender equality, is still over 200 years away.. It is not practical to think that gender and racial parity will happen overnight or even in my lifetime but there are actions we can all take in our lives to ensure that the women of the future will receive equal pay and equal rights.
Today I am also thankful for my yoga practice, I've written a few posts in the past about my love for yoga and how it has changed my life for the better, but today I thought I would share a more in-depth view into my practice.
WHAT YOGA IS TO ME:
Yoga is more than just a workout for me. It may have started out that way but it evolved into more of a mental/self care thing. The physical benefits are definitely a plus but I love yoga for the therapeutic benefits as well.
WHEN/HOW I STARTED PRACTICING:
Joe and I started doing the P90X workout videos a few years ago and the yoga videos quickly became my favorite. I learned a solid foundation from the videos and was not as intimidated by going to classes around town. I went to a few studios and really loved one teacher but when she moved out of town I started practicing at home again. That being said, I am not a certified yoga teacher and everything I have to say is from personal experience and personal practice. I am still learning every day and I hope to never stop learning and growing in my practice.
SOME OF MY FAVORITE POSES:
Sun Salutations are an awesome way to warm up your body for your practice. I always like to do a few of them at the beginning of my flows.
If you follow me on instagram you know that headstands are my latest kick. I love going upside down and challenging my core to keep me up. Every day is different with inversions and I think that's why they're so addicting.
Bridge is a great heart opener and I have a really flexible back and spine so it is one that I come back to often. Bridge is definitely a pose you have to warm up a lot to get into so you usually don't want to start off with a pose this intense.
Tree pose is another great pose that challenges your balance and flexibility. There are also lots of fun variations you can take in tree pose.
Chair pose looks easier than it is, it is a total body workout in one pose!
Malasana or Yoga Squat was one of my weakest poses when I first started doing yoga and I still have a long ways to go (with all my poses!) but I'm super proud of how far I've come with this pose and I try to spend some time in Malasana every day.
I created a simple 20 minute flow that has some of what I consider to be some staple yoga poses. We flow through a few sun salutations, get comfortable in downward dog, then flow through crescent lunge, warrior 1, warrior 2, reverse warrior, extended side angle, triangle pose, plank, side plank, wild thing, malasana, and shavasana. If you are interested in checking it out just watch the video below!!
I'm really sorry about my awkward voice over! I promise I will get better.. this was my first time keep in mind! I was talking throughout the video but there was yard work going on next door and you couldn't really hear what I was saying. So.. it is what it is. If you did this flow let me know what you think and what you would want future flows to focus on!
Have a great weekend!
xx
Shay
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