Practicing yoga is not like practicing the piano. You don’t necessarily need to roll out your mat in a perfectly clean, quiet place and go through a rigorous series of poses with flawless technique. You don’t have to set a timer and work out for 45 uninterrupted minutes. You don’t need anything other than the ability to breathe. You can work poses into your day to fit your needs. For instance, on a day when I am feeling stressed out or fatigued, I drop to the floor into child’s pose, then move into some forward bends and squatting positions. Anything to get me closer to the earth, to feel grounded. Forward bending poses and inverted poses diffuse anxiety and help clear your head, while calming the adrenaline response. Deep breathing signals our brains that we are safe, secure, and that nothing is threatening us. Try getting off the couch and just sitting cross-legged on the floor throughout the day, doing gentle stretches, letting your kids climb on your back as you curl into child’s pose. Try to be present in each moment, let go of expectations, and just enjoy the experience of being alive.
