Sun Salutations Fun & Easy

(see video below)

Greet  each and every day with a warming salute to the Sun (an essential provider of life) by repeating a series of flowing poses.  The most familiar of asana sequences, Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) is as rich in symbolic and mythic overtones as it is in physical benefits.

   One of the means of honoring the sun is through the dynamic asana sequence Surya Namaskar, better known as Sun Salutation). The Sanskrit word namaskar stems from namas, which means "to bow to" or "to adore." (The familiar phrase we use to close our yoga classes, namaste—te means "you"—also comes from this root.) Each Sun Salutation begins and ends with the joined-hands mudra (gesture) touched to the heart. This placement is no accident; only the heart can know the truth.

 

 

The eight basic postures, in order of performance, are:

 

Tadasana (Mountain Pose)

Urdhva Hastasana (Upward Salute)

Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend)

Lunge

Plank Pose

Chaturanga Dandasana (Four-Limbed Staff Pose)

Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (Upward-Facing Dog Pose)

Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog Pose)

The transition from posture to posture is facilitated by either an inhalation or an exhalation. As you move through the sequence, watch your breath closely. Slow your pace or stop and rest entirely if your breathing becomes labored or shuts down altogether. Always breathe through your nose, not your mouth: Nasal breathing filters and warms incoming air and slows your breathing down, thereby lending the sequence a meditative quality and reducing the risk of hyperventilation.

   Remember, this is only a half-round; you'll need to repeat the sequence, switching left to right and right to left to complete a full round. If you're just starting out, it might help to work on the poses individually before you put them together
 

   Launch your practice slowly with three to five rounds, gradually building up to 10 or 15. If this seems like a lot, remember that the traditional number of rounds is 108, which may take you more than a few weeks to work up to. You can pace the sequence briskly to generate heat and cleanse the body-mind, or more moderately to create a moving meditation.

   The goal is to practice, not to be perfect.   Nature will handle that.  Namaste’

Simplify

 

With today's busy lifestyles, It always seem to be something that needs to be done... yesterday.  Some might call it multitasking, I call it loosing the value of the present, thus not benefiting fully by being present.  Even when we are sleeping, we should be as present as possible. Know that the time slotted for rest is set-up for rest. 

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sim·pli·fy

/ˈsimpləˌfī/
verb
verb: simplify; 3rd person present: simplifies; past tense: simplified; past participle: simplified; gerund or present participle: simplifying. -make (something) simpler or easier to do or understand. -"an overhaul of court procedure to simplify litigation"
synonyms: make simple/simpler, make easy/easier to understand, make plainer, clarify, make more comprehensible/intelligible; paraphrase
"please simplify your answer"
antonyms: complicate

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There is an art to simplifying, and there are also substantial benefits. The art of it is to just do it.  Begin somewhere.  Make an effort by doing, and not just let it be wishful thinking. Begin with consciously thinking and knowing that things will not simplify themselves.  On the most part, everything performs best at its simplest.  Unadulturated.  The same applies to living well and being well.  The basics are the essentials, all else reduces its simplicity.

Do you want to simplify your eating and work out habits?

Here are 4 solid reasons why it's a good idea.

1) Less stress. Your health and fitness regimen should enhance your life. It’s something that should REDUCE stress, and not increase it.
When you keep things simple you won’t be overwhelmed or stressed out as is common when trying to revolve your life around a rigid diet and complicated routine.

2) Develop habits that stick. If something is simple, you’re more likely to do it consistently, and consistency is what develops long-term habits. Long-term habits ensure you achieve and maintain results.
This is main goal – to make certain habits fit into your lifestyle so they eventually become effortless, or at least so they don’t require much thought.

3) Greater flexibility. A few simple guidelines allow you to accommodate for everyday occurrences. Let’s face it – life is unpredictable and can throw us curve balls, but simplicity allows us to adapt. For example, if you have the goal of eating real, whole foods most of the time, you can indulge in your favorite not-so-healthy treats and meals when a special occasion presents itself or you have a craving.
You’ll also be able to make a good food decision, no matter where you’re eating if your sole goal is to eat mostly real foods.

4) Greater focus. When you choose to focus on a few BIG things instead of a dozen or more smaller things, you’ll be significantly more focused. That means you’ll get more done.
So as you can see, there are some great arguments for simplifying your health and fitness regimen. If you’re convinced of the benefits, it’s time to start simplifying and experiencing the results for yourself.

How to simplify!

1) Begin by changing ONE thing, and one thing only.
Where are you struggling the most in your health and fitness routine? Do you work out consistently but struggling to make better, more consistent nutrition changes? Then make the only change in your current routine be to eat more slowly. Or maybe you can focus on eating more real, whole foods. Just pick ONE simple thing to focus on, exclusively, for a period of 4-6 weeks. Once you’ve nailed that one thing as a habit, do one more small thing.
Are you having trouble sticking to a workout program? If so, why? Is it because your current routine doesn’t fit your schedule or you’re trying to force yourself to work out too often? If so, follow a two day per week or a three day per week program that more easily fits your schedule.
Or perhaps you want to save time and would rather do bodyweight workouts at home.
Whatever the case may be, find a way to make your routine fit into your life and don’t revolve your life around an unrealistic routine.

2) Ask yourself, “Is this essential?”
There’s a good chance you’re focused on too many small things that don’t have much of an impact on your goals.  Some things may only increase stress or cause you to get too concerned with insignificant details. For example, if you find yourself obsessing over small details like, “Should I eat white or brown rice?” ask yourself, “Is this essential? Is trying to decide between white or brown rice essential to improving my health or reaching my goals?”
The answer, in this case, is “No”.  Focus on the main things that produce the vast majority of the results, and forget the rest.

3) Stop searching – start doing.
According to Wikipedia, analysis paralysis is an anti-pattern, the state of over-analyzing (or over-thinking) a situation so that a decision or action is never taken, in effect paralyzing the outcome.
I understand – you want to do the right things. You want to be armed with knowledge, so you go to those other fitness websites or flip through the latest magazine. Perhaps you even read debates and research articles. As a result of consuming so much information, we get too caught up in looking for the next big thing, the best workout program, or waiting until we have all the information before we take action.

The details of nutrition and fitness will always be debated, but most people can agree on a few key principles.

• Eat a variety of mostly real, whole foods
• Be physically active whether you choose to strength train,  participate in sports, play instead of exercise, or any combination thereof
• Get enough sleep
• Do these things consistently

Take action and do those things consistently, and you’ll be well on your way to improving your health and fitness.  If you’re not achieving the results you want or find yourself constantly searching for the next big thing – simplify. Focus instead on the few things that matter most and experience the benefits for yourself.