I practiced once this week at Yoga Tree in Berkeley. It was a relaxed class with low intensity. I was able to focus more on my breathing. I found when I vibrate my breath to where I can hear it, then I have more control of my mind. I finally had breakthrough and am so happy I kept my practice going.
The last few weeks have been quite the adventure. My yoga and meditation practices have helped me to become more self aware and disciplined. I have decided to take my exercise to the next lever and push myself even further the next few months with various exercise programs. I will be able to gain more flexibility and muscle definition.
I am excited for what yoga has done for my mind and body, but I am excited to see what the next few months will bring.
Did I practice this week? Yes, I was able to try a new heart opening practice in a new class at Flying Yoga
How did I feel before my practice?
I was excited to take this time for myself and learn new techniques to my practice.
What was the result of my practice?
I was able to bring peace back to my body and mind yet again.
Did I have difficulties or problems with my practice?
Yes, it was difficult to
Did I stay positive through my struggles?
Yes. Even though I still struggle, I keep trying. I realized my thought process in yoga can relate well to leadership skills in my life. When I fail I keep trying and I am so proud of myself for this.
I found this amazing video which explains more about my practice this week.
Did I practice this week? This week I was able to free my mind and practice both my yoga and meditation practice.
How did I feel before my practice?
I was excited to take this time for myself this week.
What was the result of my practice?
I was able to bring peace back to my body and mind yet again.
Did I have difficulties or problems with my practice?
Of course, I still have problems with my poses, alignment and balance.
Did I stay positive through my struggles?
Yes. Even though I still struggle, I keep trying. I realized my thought process in yoga can relate well to leadership skills in my life. When I fail I keep trying and I am so proud of myself for this.
I was having difficulty with my meditation practice so my friend
suggested me listen to binaural beats during my session. This concept was
difficult to grasp, but once I tried it i was hooked. Not only was I able to
silence my thoughts, but I was able to meditate longer than I ever had before.
This was such an amazing and mind-blowing experience for me. I'm so
thankful for this new tool to use while meditating.
Binaural beats, or binaural tones,
are auditory processing artifacts, or apparent sounds, caused by
specific physical stimuli. These tones could help induce relaxation,
meditation, creativity and other desirable mental states.
Did I practice this week?
Yes, I meditated laying down.
How did I feel before my practice?
Anxious.
What was the result of my practice?
It was amazing. I was able to use these binaural beats to
focus my mind
Did I have difficulties or problems with my practice?
No, my practice was better than ever. The beats helped me be
present in the moment while meditating. The sounds kept my mind from wandering
and I was able to meditate for almost 1 hour opposed to my usual 20 minutes.
This week I decided to take a different approach to my usual indoor yoga class. My friends and I went to a park in the Presidio in San Francisco and take a lesson from my roommate who coincidently is a yoga instructor. It was such a beautiful day and I was able to relax more during this practice than any other day. I soon realized it was because I wasn't concerned with a classroom full of people. This practice was just me, my instructor and my breath.
Did I practice this week?
Yes, It was a great experience practicing outside.
How did I feel before my practice?
I was very excited to try a new location.
What was the result of my practice?
I was able to realize that I was able to keep a more peaceful mind out in nature rather than going to another indoor yoga class. It was a wonderful experience.
Did I have difficulties or problems with my practice?
I still have difficulties with my balance, but I believe time and practice will help that.
Did I stay positive through my struggles?
Yes, even though I fell a few times, I got right back up and continued to try the balancing poses.
Since becoming homeless the past few weeks it has been difficult for me to make it to an actual yoga class. I have been somewhat of a traveling gypsy without a yoga mat or my LuluLemon pants so I decided to focus on my meditation practice this week.
What was the result of my practice?
I was able to relax a bit and focus back in on where I am in this world.
Did I have difficulties or problems with my practice?
Yes, my mind kept wandering.
Did I stay positive through my struggles?
Yes.
While researching different practices and poses I stumbled upon these helpful charts.
I felt insecure and uncomfortable to start at a new yoga studio. Instead of practicing at my usual studio Yoga To The People, I tried out a new place in Berkeley, Yoga Tree.
What was the result of my practice?
The practice was completely different than I was use to. It was more of a spiritual practice and less of a flow. The instructor was amazing. She adjusted me when I needed the help and pushed me to try new things I had never done before like inversions.
Did I have difficulties or problems with my practice?
I did, I had a very difficult time bringing myself back to my breath and meditating.
Did I stay positive through my struggles?
Yes, I struggled with some balancing poses as well as my meditation. My mind still wanders, but at least I'm aware of when it does.
This week I also had a new experience with meditation. I sat for about 20 minutes and meditated on my floor. My mind still got away from me a few times. I find it hard to think of absolutely nothing other than my breath. I found a video online that sums up my mind in class.
10 Weeks of exploring my yoga and meditation practice.
My name is Jessica and I will be exploring a personal
practice within the next 10 weeks. I’ve decided to explore my yoga and meditation
practice. They both seem to go hand and hand. I first began my yoga and
meditation practices around a year ago. I have been inconsistently attending a yoga studio in San Francisco since then. I want to be actively conscious about my thoughts and actions during these practices
Did I practice this
week?
Yes, twice.
How did I feel before
my practice?
I felt like I didn’t want to be there. I didn’t want to go
through the whole class.
What was the result
of my practice?
I felt so happy that I went.
Did I have
difficulties or problems with my practice?
I did, I had a very difficult time bringing myself back to
my breath and meditating while during yoga. I was going through the motions the
instructor was giving.
Did I stay positive
through my struggles?
Definitely, I struggled with my wandering mind and some
balancing. I was able to keep going through the class and didn’t let the past
struggles affect my future practice.
