Yoga Moves GUEST WORKSHOP Teacher: MARLENE HENNY:
Summer Strategy to balance practice and life
Everyone has life pressures - even yoga teachers! We all balance the family, work, hobbies. Yoga teachers also maintain a yoga practice, often even during their holidays. Its a way of life for many…hear their strategies here.
When on holiday, I usually check before I leave where there are some local yoga studios. I do a little planning before I leave contact with local yoga studios. Ask about location and ease of getting to class relative to where I am staying. I look at class schedules and yoga events- my favorite is to find outdoor classes that, ideally, I can walk to. I love to explore new studios and yoga teachers.
If there are no studios around I find myself a nice place to practice my yoga which could be outdoor indoor. Depends on where I am at. I Love to take advantage of new scenery. Practice in places that are different from home, like yoga on the beach. Love doing sunrise yoga first thing in the morning just to take some time before everyone wakes up and the vacation itinerary takes over the day.
I also find practicing yoga while traveling gives me a sense of familiarity. When traveling, daily life is very different from usual, which can feel overwhelming. Coming to my mat is like coming home; it is a very comforting feeling and helps reground myself and stops my emotions from running wild.
Of course, another benefit of practicing yoga during my travels is to ease stiffness in my joints and muscles after long journeys. Nothing feels better than having a good stretch out after a long flight
Another way to ensure I stay committed to my yoga practice is to have a simple sequence as my go-to routine. That way, I don’t have to think about what poses to practice; I just get on my mat and start moving.
Another thing I do is download an online yoga video of my preference on my phone to follow along. If the video is on your phone, you can still watch and follow it even if you have no internet connection.
Getting on my mat regularly to practice yoga while traveling is benefiting me in many ways. It is a great way to physically recover from a long car or plane ride, a perfect opportunity to stretch and energize myself, ideal for a little “me” time and giving myself a mental break from all the activities of vacation. It provides comfort and familiarity and keeps me in my practice flow.
- Marlene Henny is offering workshops at Yoga Moves that supports new teachers grow.