"Hearing the words "slow down," whether from a yoga teacher or a self-help influencer on Instagram, no matter how well-intentioned, can feel like banging my head against a wall. As if slowing down will solve all my problems! Moving as fast as possible-whether it's my hands on the keyboard at work or my body in and out of Downward-Facing Dog on my yoga mat-is how I try to outrun my stress demons. You know, lest I move in an unhurried fashion and have to actually feel things."
"Inevitably, though, whether in Savasana or before I go to sleep at night, the words surface in my mind: Slow. Down. So I do. And I feel a sense of calm that almost instantly reminds me that by rushing through the bad, annoying, unpleasant, or otherwise boring stuff in life, I'm also whooshing right past the warm and fuzzy stuff, too."
"Seated and reclined yoga poses are believed to energetically usher in a sense of groundedness, and this flow by Tamika Caston-Miller is proof of that. As you move between Child's Pose and Cobra or Low Lunge and Half Splits, you might wonder why anyone ever stands up in yoga when staying grounded feels so relaxing. Caston-Miller offers words of encouragement throughout, including "I don't have to look to anyone else to give me a sense of steadiness [or] a sense of calm or peace.""
Resistance to slowing down often comes from using speed to outrun stress and avoid uncomfortable feelings. Pausing in Savasana, before sleep, or during deliberate movement brings an immediate sense of calm and permits fuller emotional awareness. Rushing through unpleasant moments also causes missing pleasant sensations and warmth. Slow yoga practices train both body and mind to move intentionally, notice sensations, and experience feelings rather than bypassing them. Short, grounded sequences of seated and reclined poses can foster steadiness and calm. Affirmations that emphasize inner steadiness reinforce the practice and support the ability to slow down consistently.
Read at Yoga Journal
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]