The events of the last few weeks have meant major changes for all of us, to say the least! To minimize our contact with others and hopefully slow down and lessen the effects of the corona virus we are now being asked to distance ourselves socially.
And for many of us, this has meant the shift to working remotely from home. As someone who has been doing this for awhile already I would love to offer you some tips to make the best of this experience to keep your mind sane and your body healthy including taking Yoga Breaks throughout the day!
Tip #1: Set up a dedicated work space
No, you can't work from the couch or the bed, you need to be able to sit or stand up properly (ie: stay awake)! This means setting up a dedicated work space at a desk or table so that you can stay upright, alert, and actually get things done.
Find a spot with good lighting, a proper chair and a surface area so you can lay out all the tools you need: computer, notepad, water, phone etc etc.
Bonus tip: Leave t...
Working on a computer eight hours a day straight might be hurting your body and your work.
I know as a business owner or a team member you have a lot to do and accomplish every day. And with only 24 hours in a day it means that you have to be on top of your game!
But here’s the thing: hustling hard and being on your computer all day might be causing you pain now and problems down the road.
It’s vital that you take breaks throughout the day to stand up and move yourself out of the keyboard slouch to activate sleepy muscles, ease tension, breathe properly, and give your brain a break.
Are you going to continue to put your health on the back burner or are you ready to be forward thinking and make it a priority today? Then you MUST take breaks throughout your day!
Sitting for long hours can cause:
PLUS: Sitting for long stretches (any...
You've probably heard that Yoga has lots of tools for stress relief right? IT DOES!
But if you are feeling so stressed out that your mind is running a mile a minute and your TO-DO list stretches into next month it can be very difficult to sit and meditate.
I can totally relate to that and so can many of my clients! And if that sounds at all familiar to you too I have a powerful tool to share with you called Lotus Mudra.
Mudras are typically hand positions that are used in the Yoga practice to help us channel our energy flow and quiet the mind AKA: meditate. They are often used in combination with a breathing technique that helps us draw our attention inwards and focus.
By using multiple tools at once many people find that they are able to turn down the noisy chatter of the mind (at least temp...
I'd like to introduce you to someone! Have you met Emma? She is the colleague of the future or what someone is predicted to look like after 20 years of office work.......
It might look like a joke but it isn't. This model was created based on the input of 3000 office workers in the UK, Germany, and France and what they are dealing with currently. They mentioned things that probably sound familiar, such as:
back pain, neck tension, headaches, eye strain, weight gain, stress, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, skin issues, insomnia, depression and anxiety.
Based on all the info that was shared the researchers created Emma: the colleague of the future.
Doesn't look good does it? Doesn't feel good either since she is predicted to have: a permanently rounded back, carry extra weight, have varicose veins, eye problems, headaches, high cholesterol, insulin sensitivity, and a host of other problems.
The main culprit behind these changes: sitting and slouching...
Ever wonder why you feel so tired after sitting all day? One HUGE factor is the way that you breathe when you're sitting (and very often slouching🤪)
Can you breathe normally when you are slouched over? Try it and see.... Not so much right?!
CRAZY FACT: Your ability to breathe deeply (aka: your vital lung capacity) drops by 30% when you are slouched over in a weak posture.
Here's the thing: whether you realize it or not you likely spend a significant portion of your day in that position. Your body has adapted to breathing in that position out of necessity, but that doesn't mean its very efficient at it.
Because your abdomen is compressed your diaphragm can't do it's main task of breathing so other back up muscles in your neck and shoulder have to kick in and pick up the slack.
When it isn't moving freely up and down with every breath your diaphragm isn't able to do one of its key other tasks: massaging your heart and abdominal organs. Bet you didn't know it did that right?
Here...
You may not have realized it, but sitting for long hours (especially with weak, slouched posture) can be hard on your heart both physically and energetically.
Think about it: when you sit down not much is happening in your body so your heart rate and your metabolism slow down a lot. Over time, this can cause:
Since your body and mind are so inter-connected, being slouched over a keyboard for most of the day can often leave you: foggy in the head, stressed out, low energy, struggling with lack of motivation or inspiration, or heavy with feelings of sadness, apathy, or worry.
Left unchecked over time this could easily lead to a whole host of issues with your health inside and out! Unfortunately, in people that sit for more than 6 hours everyday the rates of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, insomnia, and even depression are mu...
Technology is a staple in our modern lives, which is extremely helpful, but can definitely take a toll on your body.
Spending long hours sitting and working on your computer or phone can easily leave you dealing with:
You may not have realized it, but your mood and energy is strongly influenced by your posture. This means that slouching can:
Your mind and body are powerfully connected. Which is why strengthening your core muscles so that you sit, stand, and walk taller is super important to your overall health and vitality!
When you hold strong posture you:
Breathe better, look and feel leaner, have less back and body pain, feel mor...
So how did the first month of 2020 go for you?
I'll admit it was kind of a weird month for me, but I'm settling into my groove again now which feels great.
If you are like me (and most people LOL) you start the year off with big gusto towards your intentions and then things kinda slow down when routine kicks back in. Sound familiar?
And like for so many people having a consistent exercise, yoga, or meditation practice is often part of the plan each year. Was that the case for you?
If so, here are 3 tips to help you get into the habit of practicing self care more often:
1) Decide how many times a week you want to do the practice and write it in your day planner at the beginning of the week. Note each time you do it throughout the week so you can see if you met your goal by week end.
2) Schedule the sessions into your planner/calendar as a NON-NEGOTIABLE appointment with yourself! You deserve your attention right? YES!!!
3) Set an alarm in your phone to remind you of the appoin...
Are you ready to take action and step into the fullest, brightest version of yourself and take steps towards your big vision for 2020 everyday?
Have you made the choice to make time for yourself everyday to move and strengthen your body, quiet and focus your mind as you simultaneously inspire and uplift your spirit?
Would you like to have a daily intention setting and gratitude practice to live your life on purpose and embody powerful qualities that will help you take inspired action and BE present everyday?
AM I HEARING A MASSIVE YES TO ALL THESE QUESTIONS?
Then the 20/20 YOGA CHALLENGE is your answer: 20 minutes of Yoga a day, for 20 days to give you all of that AND so much more!
Click here to register at the special early bird rate (save $20) but only until December 30th.
By dedicating 20 minutes a day to YOURSELF for 20 days this online challenge starting January 6th will help you:
Press PAUSE on your busy life with this free 10 minute "Yoga at My Desk" video to instantly feel better!
