Tag: yoga at home

The number 108 has a lot of significance

Posted on by guru

Have you ever seen the number 108 around a yoga studio? Or maybe you’ve seen it somewhere else and wondered, “what the…?”

The significance of the number 108 is open to interpretation. Over time, there has been much spiritual and scientific relevance given to the number.  For many, the number 108 is a sacred number.

Here are some spiritual and scientific meanings and facts attributed to the number 108:

The wholeness of existence – Renowned mathematicians of Vedic culture viewed 108 as the number of the wholeness of existence.  Astronomically, there are 27 constellations in our galaxy and each has 4 directions. 27 x 4 = 108.  In other words, the number 108 covers the whole galaxy.

The distance between the Earth and the Sun is roughly 108 times the diameter of the Sun.

The distance between the Earth and Moon is roughly 108 times the diameter of the Moon.

The diameter of the Sun is roughly 108 times the diameter of the Earth.

A mala* comes as a string of 108 beads plus one guru or guiding bead.

The Chakras are the intersections of energy lines, and there are said to be a total of 108 energy lines converging to form the heart chakra.

In Yoga, 108 Sun Salutations are often practiced to honour change such as at the beginning of a new season.

Tibetans have 108 sacred holy books.

Many Hindu and Buddhist temples have 108 steps.

There is a lot to consider here and taking all of this into account, with a simplistic viewpoint, you could say that the auspicious number 108 connects science with the human mind, body and spirit.

Is there a particular meaning or fact that you like the most? Let me know, I’d love to hear from you.

* If you’re not sure what a mala is, check my blog post dated Feb., 20, 2017.

How to make the most of your home yoga practice

Posted on by guru

Whether by choice or COVID restrictions, you may find yourself rolling out your yoga mat at home these days. It can be challenging but not impossible to move, stretch and strengthen while at home.

You only need to clear enough space as your mat takes up. If you have yoga props such as blocks, strap or bolster, make sure to round them up before you start. If you don’t have these props, get creative, even a dog leash works as a yoga strap in a pinch.

Sit down and explain to the people you live with, how important it is for you to be able to carve out the space and alone time to practice. Have all your points well thought out before hand. If you need yoga to help your mental health, stress that to your loved ones, and that when you’re in a better place life is better for them too. Maybe make a deal to exchange alone time; they protect your time so you can get a session in and you give them alone time to pursue their interest or hobby.

Maybe your home practice could include your partner or kids or the whole family. Know your intention for your practice. Is it to be alone? Could you use some “date” time with your partner? Do you need to connect as a family? Does your family need to move their bodies more? There’s also something to be said about an accountability buddy. You might even commit to a virtual practice with a friend.

Put it into your schedule just as if you were leaving the house and going to a public class. Change into that same outfit you’d wear and fill “that” water bottle so you feel your best.

Check in with your body and what kind of practice it needs. A more vigorous style perhaps vinyasa or a strength building, or, maybe you need a quieter practice of yin or restorative yoga.

Think of the five senses when setting up your practice space. What do you want to be looking at? Can you set up in front of a window? Is there an inspirational photo, quote or object you could have within view? Would you like to light a scented candle, incense, turn on a diffuser or rub some essential oils on your wrists? Would dimming the lights help set the scene? You might like some quiet music or maybe noise cancelling is what you’re after. Depending on the time of day you practice, you may like to bring your morning brew or a breakfast juice, later in the day some lemon water or chamomile tea. Wearing comfortable clothes is a given but you might bring a blanket and pillow for relaxation. Leave your phone in another room and anything else that may distract you.

Don’t think all or nothing. It doesn’t have to be a 90 minute practice seven days a week. Do you have five minutes one day, 20 minutes another day? Consistency is more important than anything. Once a week, five times a week? Make sure it aligns with your schedule.

Remember why you started and have reasonable expectations for your home practice. If you set the bar too high and then are disappointed, you may give up and I would never want that 🙂

I can help with your at-home practice. Michelle Anderson Fitness & Yoga Online Studio is an on-demand platform with a low monthly membership fee, no contracts. Head over to www.michelleyoga.net to get started today.

April is Foot Health Awareness Month

Posted on by guru

Your feet are your foundation, like roots into the earth. Your basic interaction with your environment is determined by the way they stand on the ground. Your feet are quite literally the foundation of every physical action where weight bears down on your feet.

When we’re young, our feet feel fine; we take them for granted and we hardly think about them. We’re never taught what a healthy foot is and how important it is to keep them healthy. Well-developed foot muscles and strong arches are essential.

Just as you do for the rest of your body, you can strengthen and tone your feet and increase their range of motion. The feet  are one of the first places in the body where the muscles begin to contract and restrict us as we age, and this affects how the rest of our body moves.

You have muscles in your feet that should enable each toe to move by itself. Watch for my tips this month or better yet, join me on the mat at one of my weekly classes. Check www.michelleyoga.net for my teaching calendar.

Sunday, March 21, International Day of Forests

Posted on by guru

“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” This quote from John Muir may sum up the benefits of forest bathing.

Forest bathing or shinrin-yoku in Japanese, has scientific and anecdotal evidence to improve your health. Shinrin in Japanese means forest and yoku means bath.

Why do we feel so much better when we are in nature? Why is it that we feel less stressed and have more energy just by walking in the forest?

American biologist E.O. Wilson believed that because we evolved in nature, we have a biological need to connect with it. And this affinity for the natural world is fundamental to our health. When we are in harmony with the natural world we can begin to heal. Our nervous system can reset itself. We are refreshed and restored.

Research in Japan on elderly people has found that people live longer when their homes are within walking distance of a park or green space.

Korean scientists have been tracking older women as they walk through forests and urban areas. When the women were walking in the forest, their blood pressure, their lung capacity, and the elasticity of their arteries improved, whereas an excursion into town showed none of these changes.

Take in the forest through your senses. When you connect to nature through all five of your senses, you begin to draw on the vast array of benefits including; reduced blood pressure, lower stress and increased relaxation, improved cardiovascular and metabolic health, lower blood-sugar levels, improved concentration and memory, lifted depression, anxiety and anger, improved pain thresholds, improved sleep, improved energy, boosted immune system, and, weight loss.

To engage your five senses; listen to the birds and breeze rustling in the trees, look at the different greens and the sunlight, smell the fragrance of the forest and breathe in the natural aromatherapy, taste the freshness of the air, touch the trunk of a tree or dip your fingers or toes in a stream or lie on the ground.

There’s more in the air of forests than just smells; negative ions. Ions are charged particles in the air. They are said to have energizing and refreshing effects, and to help increase mental clarity and our sense of well-being. Trees exist within a bioelectrical field which follows a rhythmical pattern. The voltage is lowest in the early morning and at its highest at noon. The seasons also affect the voltage.

The good news is that even a small amount of time in nature can have an impact on our health; take a picnic, take your shoes off – outdoors and indoors. You can listen to the sounds of the forest. A view of nature from your window or a picture of nature and green vegetation even on your computer or phone screen. It may be no coincidence that Buddha became enlightened while sitting under a bodhi tree. Try practicing yoga under a tree. Even practicing yogic breathing. Spending time in nature can boost problem-solving ability and creativity by 50 per cent. 

On the list of cities in the world which have the most green space, two of those spots go to Canada, Toronto and Vancouver are 6th and 2nd respectively.

With files from The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben, Tree Yoga: A Workbook by Satya Singh and Fred Hageneder and Forest Bathing by Dr. Qing Li.