Unplug Your Life and Your Yoga Practice

You might have noticed my absence from this blog this past week (or maybe not!). Where have I been, you wonder? In a word -- unplugged. If you thought that unplugged is only about VH-1 inviting rock stars to perform sans amp for a lighter, acoustic sound (I'm a fan of the acoustic sound. In fact, you can often find me at Acoustic Long Island) then you might want to read this post to see unplugged yogi style.

Turning of the Technology
As a self-professed technology geek (who loves her laptop, iPod, Smart Phone and other techie gadgets) I enjoy all things techie. Facebook...check. Twitter...check. Email...check. Text messaging (when done respectfully, of course)...check. Blogging...double, triple check. I log plenty of time on my laptop (and my Idea Pad when I want to travel light) and I've got the house networked. Still, there are times I need a break. While I love staying in touch with folks, spending my day on Facebook and Twittering my brains out can get a little old. And yes, there are days I dread checking my inbox, which is more bloated than a woman in her 9th month of pregnancy.

As much as I love technology, I sometimes overindulge and find myself needing to unplug.

Soooooo...these past few days I've been enjoying the three-dimensional world. Yesterday I was strolling through a field of wildflowers. This morning I met an extremely handsome deer on my nature walk. And this afternoon, I walked on the beach. Ahhhhhhh! I didn't miss my computer -- or any of my other gadgets -- one bit. And I'm reminded once again that perhaps I'm a bit too plugged in. I've barely checked my email all day and somehow the world has continued to spin on its axis (folks -- if you're waiting for me to return an email, you might be waiting for a while).

Unplug Your Yoga Practice
The plug has also been pulled on my yoga practice. I notice that I'm focusing more on pranayama and meditation than asana. I've mixed in a few Legs Up the Wall and Savasanas during the day. I'm taking things a bit slower. The result? My practice is sweeter. I'm calmer mentally (no wonder with all of the techie distractions gone) and I feel happier, lighter. I'm not beating myself up for having a filled to overflowing inbox. I'm just letting it ride. Being unplugged is nice.

Join me, won't you? Try unplugging your yoga practice with a few of these tips:

• Take the emphasis off of asana. So many people I meet think that asana is the end all and be all, as if yoga doesn't exist without asana. Not true I assure you. Asana is just a small part of yoga. In fact, if I were living in ancient India, a householder of my age (37) would be practicing more pranayama than asana. Let go of the pressure to get into a certain pose and hold it for a certain number of breaths. Let go of the need for a demanding physical practice. Instead, try some gentle yoga. Here are some options: Healing Moves Yoga by Carol Krucoff (you can download this from Amazon or iTunes); Yin Yoga; Restorative Yoga (scroll down to find the Restorative Yoga DVD offered by Bodhi Yoga, formerly White Mountain Yoga).
• Spend time in nature. Practice yoga outside (trade in your yoga mat for grass -- it's delightful), meditate outside, do your pranayama outside. Now that the weather is great, go out and enjoy it. Don't believe in the healing power of nature (I'm definitely a believer), check out this video on the importance of grounding. It's easy to do (no machinery required) and the benefits are astounding.
• Practice yoga in silence. So many of us are used to having a teacher directing our asana practice while others regularly turn to DVDs and/or CDs. Try taking a break from class and turning off the DVDs/CDs for a while. Experience your breath initiating the movement and your body dictating the pace of your practice as opposed to an external force.
• Amp up your pranayama practice. Pranayama is a subtle yet powerful practice that deserves your time and attention. You can use pranayama to wind down before bed, energize you in the morning (much healthier than coffee), recover from illness, enhance your mood, speed up your metabolism and much more. Take 10-20 minutes a day and breathe! Try this free kumbhaka breathing practice for energy and focus as well as this wonderful collection of breathing practices from Amy Weintraub (you can also download this on iTunes as well). 
• Extend your savasana. If you're used to spending 5 minutes in savasana, aim for 10. Or you can try 5 minutes of silence and then 15 minutes lying while listening to soothing music. Just let your body and mind go as you listen. I highly recommend my friend Fabeku's Remembering Through Resonance download/CD. You can try before you buy with this free sample download of Fabeku's musical talents.

Slow down. Let go of any guilt associated with doing so. Unwind. That's the process -- and the pleasure -- of unplugging.

If you don't see a post from me for a while, you'll know why...

Namaste!

Comments

[Yoga business]

I like doing meditation and practice some yoga daily morning. Well you have a nice post. Thanks

[slpete42]

Thanks for Carol Krucoff alert. Found the Healing Moves mp3 so nicely done. Like lots Carol's intent. The mp3 is substantially restorative, five 5 10-15 minute segments but one practice, I think. Lots of cueing (welcome for me), nice focus of what are we doing here, light use of music, and a strike or two of Tibetan bowls. Investing in the good life.

[Marina Kamen aka MARINA]

Silence is golden... but sometimes a little music can help.

Great blog... keep up the great work and...

Never Stop Movin'!
M