Cultivating Inner Peace With Yoga
The yoga practice is not only good for the body, but for the mind and soul as well. When we unite our minds and our body through our breath and movement, it truly does wonders! I know on the days when I feel the most frazzled and anxious, is when I need to hit my mat.
For years yoga has been used as a practice to promote calmness, help reduce fatigue, and cultivate inner peace.
During these crazy times, finding inner peace is essential. I want to share three yoga poses that can help promote inner healing and inner peace.
1. Ankle to Knee Pose
Our hips are like the basement of the house, we store a lot of junk and tension in them. Ankle to knee helps unleash the clenching in our hips and allows us to get rid of old thoughts we store that keep us feeling stuck, afraid, or anxious.
Ankle to knee unlocks the hips, lengthens the back muscles, and helps you feel more grounded. As you fold forward really lengthen your exhalation to help your body tap into the parasympathetic nervous system (our rest and digest state). You’ll automatically feel a wave of release and peacefulness wash over the body. Hold each side for 5-10 breaths.
2. Warrior II
Peacefulness can feel like calmness, kindness, and often times like courage. Warrior 2 pose is a great way to cultivate peace in a confident manner. Warrior 2 helps to build concentration and energizes tired limbs. This pose also helps to develop better balance. With better balance, we are able to ground ourselves and observe the world around us without reacting (or jumping into battle); which helps to cultivate the inner peace we’re all looking for.
3. Head-to-Knee Forward Bend (Janu Sirsasana)
Head to knee pose is one that allows us to reflect on our own selves. In this pose, we turn inwards and tap into our breath helping us to feel sheltered and safe. With every exhalation you can let go of agitation, gripping, and tension in the body; and just be soft, listen, observe, and relax.
Finding peace is a lifelong journey and yoga is here as a tool to help guide us in the right direction.
Kristin McGee is a celebrity yoga and Pilates instructor in New York City. She is currently teaching yoga with Peloton. She is the star of over 100 videos, seen in several magazines and tv shows and is a spokeswoman for many brands and causes she believes in. A proud mom to three, she sure keeps herself busy!