Yoga to Go
I know that hearing the word yoga can be one of those things that makes you roll your eyes. And I know, because I do it from time to time. Some don’t consider it real exercise and I’ve even heard it referred to as boring. There are so many different styles of yoga to explore and personally, I find it to be both challenging and restorative. I’m mentioning it now while traveling in Guatemala because my muscles have been so tight and my body has been so stiff that yoga has been a lifesaver.
My muscles ache often. They kind of have a mind of their own. In addition to all the walking, standing and sitting for unusually long periods of time I’ve been doing, I have dystonia. And, sometimes the all the twisting and tightening can make getting up in the morning more difficult than I’d like to admit. I started doing yoga a few years back but have never been all that consistent with it. It’s one of those things that I go to when I need relief. I often imagine all the benefits I would experience if practiced more regularly. For now, I’m not adding any pressure to my day, but celebrating the wins and taking the best care of myself where I am right now.
Yoga is a great choice for exercise especially while traveling because you really only need yourself. I didn’t bring a mat and didn’t have any props either. I just set my laptop or phone up and chose a Yoga with Adriene session from YouTube. It’s also super versatile. You can do it if you have a lot of time or a little bit of time and you have options for a practice at beginner levels or more advanced ones. Today, I picked a 22 minute practice and there were moments where I felt the challenge. Overall, I’m proud that I was kind to myself and was intentional about my well-being. I set my intention for the day, reminding myself that “I choose to be at ease”. After this morning’s session I felt ready to take on the day.
If you’re thinking about taking 20 minutes for yourself, here’s the link to the session I chose for today.