Take your happy to yoga

Yay, the first snow drops are peeking through telling us that spring is beginning! The sight made me smile as I walked around the grounds of Rufford Abbey and it got me to thinking about the friendly faces I have met over the last couple of years.

There are so many things to think about during yoga practice; are my knees aligned? Am I using all the muscles in my arms? Am I activating my core muscles? Wait, am I holding my breath?? Allow me to give you something else to think about; are you smiling?

I see lots of focus and concentration as I walk around the mats. I'm sure we've all heard that it takes a lot more facial muscle action to frown than it does to smile. Well, I don't know about that but even if you're not in the best of moods, smiling can lift your spirit. And that's got to be a good thing, right? You don't have to go around wearing a Cheshire cat-sized grin, the important thing is the smile you give yourself, even if nobody else can see it.

The more you practice a pose, the easier it becomes for your body to find the position; trust yourself. If you happen to be practicing your yoga in one of my sessions, let me remember the sequencing and alignment tips for you and allow yourself permission to concentrate on you and on feeling good.

Next time you practice your yoga, I invite you to consider that you are doing such an amazing thing for your mind, body and soul just by showing up to your mat, give yourself a massive high five.