Moving Minfully

Moving Mindfully

Do you ever just move your body for your mind? Exercise and movement can do wonders for a healthy mind. Movement through yoga, pilates, hikes or even just simply feeling the grass or sand under your bare feet can leave you feeling grounded and your mind clear. Movement in nature especially does wonders for the soul. Just ask our resident practitioner Hilde! She is forever exploring the amazing landscapes on our doorstep in the bush!
 
Find whatever it is that your body enjoys, it doesn’t have to be a ‘smash your body at the gym type of workout’ exercise your mind through movement. By moving our bodies more mindfully we allow ourselves release the feel good hormones, tune into ourselves, nourish our minds and in turn ignite our soul.
 
Why not try this simple 10 minute yoga routine to move more this month. No equipment required just simple start your day with this practise or even after you finish work at the end of a long day to allow your body to relax and unwind into the evening. (Source: Body & Soul)
 
1. Legs up the wall
Lie with your legs up the wall and focus on slowing down your breathing, with deep slow inhales and exhales through your nose. Any thoughts that rise up, acknowledge them and then let them go, until your mind feels calmer. Take a couple minutes.
2. Reclining wide leg pose
While still lying down with your legs against the wall, let your legs go as wide as possible to release your spine and soften your hips. When we are at a desk our hips are held together which can lead to aches and pains in your lower back.
3. Knee twist
Bring your legs back together, then bend your knees and come into a little twist to the left so your legs go towards the floor (push away a little from the wall to create some space). Hold for 20 breaths, then swap to the other side, same 20 breaths. Keep your stomach soft so your back can release.
4. Hip lift
Come back to the middle. Place your feet onto the floor hip-width apart and slowly lift your hips off the floor. Interlock your hands underneath you and lift your hips up higher until you feel your shoulders release. Concentrate on breathing into your ribs and feeling them spread wide and high. Take a couple minutes to breathe as slowly as you can here.
5. Resting butterfly
Drop your hips down to the mat and bring your feet together and your knees wide into resting butterfly. You can rock a little size to side here as the body comes to rest. Take your left hand on your heart and your right hand on your belly. Take a deep breath in and feel the inhale come in. Feel your stomach lift and then your heart. Then exhale gently and feel your heart descend and then your stomach. This is full diaphragmatic breathing and will help you let go of the day you have had.
6. Corpse pose
Release and come into savasana for the reminder of ten minutes. Work your way through your body, clenching and releasing until every part of you has let go. Allow your body to become softer as you let the legs and arms roll out. Start to listen to your breath and let the sound of it take you into a complete surrender.