Three Ways to Do "Yoga Without a Mat" in Everyday Life

Many of us are familiar with the feeling of absolute calm and relaxation that comes with yoga. But when we leave the comfort of our yoga mat and dive into everyday life with its worries and anxieties, our peace and harmony gained during yoga practice can quickly disappear. In order to fully benefit from yoga, it must become a part of our lives, regardless of whether we have a yoga mat at hand or not. Below, we will look at three ways to make yoga a part of your daily life without a special room, mat, or instructor.

1. Feel your body

Of course, most asanas are far from the positions we usually take during the day at work or at home. However, there is nothing stopping us from paying attention to the position of our bodies. Just as a yoga instructor makes comments and aligns different parts of your body during a yoga class, you can also monitor the positions your body takes when you stand, sit, or move around during the day.

When you sit, pay attention to whether you keep your back straight;
While walking, pay attention to the position of your head and neck;
When you stand, look at where your feet are pointing - inward, outward, or straight ahead.
When you type, try not to slouch.
When you are tense or very focused, pay attention to your forehead, mouth, and jaw.
These are just a few examples of how you can observe and control your body throughout the day. The more often you pay attention to your body, the better you will feel it, understand where and why tension appears, and how to get rid of it.

2. Listen to your breathing.

Every second of our lives we continue to breathe, and while in a yoga class we specifically focus our attention on breathing, in everyday life we ​​rarely think about it. Take short breaks throughout the day to focus on breathing in the same way we do in a yoga class. Pay special attention to how fast you breathe and how deep your inhalations are, as it is your breathing that reveals your state of mind and stress level. Only by being aware of your breathing can you control it, which in turn allows you to control your body and mind, maintaining a sense of balance and relaxation. In particular, remember to take a deep breath when unpleasant emotions or stressful situations arise, controlling your breathing in this case will allow you to relax. Start your day by taking a few long, deep breaths into your belly, and this will allow you to meet the new day in a balanced and cool state.

3. Make time for yourself.

In our hectic and busy world, yoga practice gives us much-needed time and space to take a break from the outside world and do something for ourselves. When such an opportunity arises, we should stop the constant flow of extraneous thoughts and concentrate on the inner strength that we have, feel it. Of course, to practice such meditation, we need at least a short period of silence and peace, time when we can be alone with ourselves. Fortunately, there are many ways to do this.

Wake up a few minutes earlier than you need to get up - enjoy the silence of the morning alone.
Do a ten-minute relaxing yoga session before bed to help you unwind and relax.
Arrive to work a few minutes early and use that time to meditate or do a breathing practice in your car before you rush to the office.