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tymihoward · 6 years ago

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#garthhewittyoga Reserve your spot today for visiting guest teacher @yogigarth coming to @guruvyoga #lakemary SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 8th 10:30-12-30 SHIVA POWER CLASS 1:00-4:00 HIP OPENING WORKSHOP SUNDAY SEPT 9th 12:00-3:00 HANDSTANDS 4:00-6:00 SHIVA MEDITATION & PHILOSOPHY TALK Link: http://bit.ly/2lSKSpz GARTH HEWITT is a 500hr E-RYT, Teacher Trainer, Yoga Therapist, Certified Yogaworks Teacher, Certified DharmaYoga Teacher and has led Classes, Workshops, Retreats and Teacher Trainings in Los Angeles and around the world. Garth taught for several years at the original Yogaworks in Santa Monica and at Exhale – the Center for Sacred Movement in Venice. He led the first Pure Yoga Teacher Training, in Los Angeles, at Equinox, with Ashley Turner. He has been featured in and contributes regularly to: Yoga Journal, Men’s Health Magazine, Mantra Magazine, Yoganonymous and LA Yoga. Garth completed teacher training at Yogaworks in Santa Monica with Annie Carpenter & James Brown, mentoring with Annie Carpenter, advanced teacher training at the Dharma Yoga Center in New York, with Sri Dharma Mittra and additional advanced teacher training at Loyola Marymount University, with Srivatsa Ramaswami. He has spent time in Mysore, India, studying Ashtanga Yoga, with the Sri K. Patthabi Jois family, practicing with Saraswati Jois. He also completed the Yoga Therapy Rx program, at Loyola Marymount University, with Dr. Larry Payne and completed Yoga Tune Up® teacher training, with Jill Miller. Garth is the creator of the Shiva Yoga® style of yoga. His signature Shiva Vinyasa® & Shiva Power® classes focus on; setting intentions, practicing gratitude, concentration, surrender, balance, non-attachment and quieting the mind. He also teaches a signature Shiva Meditation® class, as well as pranayama, yoga nidra and seated meditation, and sees students privately. www.guruvyoga.com #guruvyoga #yogavibes #yogaeverydamnday (at Guruv Yoga Pilates Dance)

#garthhewittyoga #lakemary #guruvyoga #yogavibes #yogaeverydamnday

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meditationklaus · 7 years ago

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Mantras, Mudras, and Meditation for Self Love

For many yogis, the journey with the practice involves much more than achieving difficult poses. A very important part of the journey, one that if often much more difficult, is the work we do on ourselves. Self love is the total acceptance of oneself just as we are. It can be incredibly challenging to accept and love oneself when we are constantly bombarded by images of “perfect bodies,” depictions of the “perfect life,” and a general illusion of perfection on social media. However, a lack of self love can be much more deep-rooted than comparing oneself to people on Instagram. We all carry with us baggage from childhood, stories that made us feel less than. Many of us were made to feel unworthy of love or simply didn’t have self-love modeled for us as children. Whatever the reason that you’re doubting yourself, using mudras and practicing meditation can help to quiet the self-doubting noise and cultivate a confidence and love for yourself.

Mudras and Mantras for Self Love

Mudras are gestures done with the hands that serve to offer benefits in the body, mind and spirit. These are my favorite mudras for self-love:

Vajrapadama / Thunderbolt Mudra

Credit: Michelle Cross

This mudra is the gesture for confidence. Lacking confidence in yourself is directly related to your ability to embrace self-love. Doubting your abilities, your worth, your voice, or having any doubt that you are enough just the way you are denotes a lack of confidence.

To perform this mudra: Interlace the fingers just to the first knuckle. With the thumbs facing up, lay the hands flat on the space above your heart, just under the collarbone. Sit in a comfortable seat and breathe into this space for a few nice deep breaths. If it helps you, use a mantra such as “I am confident” as you breathe.

Karana Mudra

Credit: Yoganonymous

Perhaps your inability to love yourself is due in part to the overwhelming negative energy in your life. Perhaps it is toxic people, a unhealthy relationship, or a negative work environment. Existing in a negative space can wreak havoc on your own energy, leaving you depleted, unhappy, and unloving to yourself and others.

To perform the mudra: curl the middle two fingers down toward the palm on one hand. Use the thumb to hold down the folded middle fingers. Hold your hand at about shoulder height with the palm facing away from you. Hold this mudra while you meditate and envision yourself warding off evil and negativity.

Cin Mudra

This is the ultimate mudra for creating peace and loving kindness around you. It is connected to the heart chakra, the energy center in your body responsible for giving and receiving love. When this love needs to be directed at you, this simple mudra is ideal.

To perform the mudra: bring the pointer finger and thumb to touch and form a ring. Place the hands palms facing up on your knees as you sit in meditation. With palms open, you are in a gesture of receptivity allowing love to enter your body, mind, and spirit.

Meditation for Self Love

Meditation is a powerful tool not just for cultivating love but for creating clarity to see your life more clearly. This can lead to a deeper understanding of the barriers standing between you and total self acceptance. Try these meditation techniques for a self love boost:

I am enough.

Sometimes you just need a reminder that you are enough right now, without any acceptation. If you have trouble believing that, I encourage you to make a list of all the things that you love and value about yourself.

You can start by writing down one thing each night before you go to bed. Once you’ve started to build a list, sit in your meditation with the mantra “I am enough”. Repeat the words as you inhale and exhale.

Notice negative thoughts.

Self-doubt or lack of confidence can manifest based on patterns of negative thoughts. Do you have a stream of thoughts that pop up daily and make you doubt your self-worth? Maybe it’s thoughts about your physical body, your intelligence, or your potential for happiness. Whatever it is that’s keeping your from loving yourself, start to notice these thoughts.

Next time they start to crop up, consciously STOP what you are doing and observe. Notice how the thoughts make your body feel. Consciously feel these thoughts, and just as consciously, take a series of deep, cleansing breaths. Try the mantra “I am not my thoughts” as you breathe.

Treat yourself like your best friend.

We often have so much love and compassion to share but fail to give the same to ourselves. For this meditation, consider all of the well wishes you would send to a friend who is struggling, then turn those thoughts to yourself.

As you breathe in meditation, name the gifts you wish you send yourself. For example: “I send you happiness. I send you unconditional love. I send you confidence. I send you peace.”

Self-love is not something we can achieve over night. A lack of love is based on long-standing feelings of doubt that take time to unlearn. Pretending the negative self thoughts don’t exist will not serve to rid you of them. Rather, we need to understand these thought patterns, and notice why and when they occur.

This is not easy work, but it is necessary work. We all deserve to live in a state of contentment and peace, and you are no exception!

Image credit: Nicole Wise

The post Mantras, Mudras, and Meditation for Self Love appeared first on DOYOUYOGA.COM.

#Yoga #doyouyoga.com #Health

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old-soulless · 8 years ago

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7 Essential Yoga Poses To Make Life More Awesome Now

These simple beginner poses, care of Siddhi Yoga, may be easy to do but that doesn’t take away from the health benefits they offer.

These poses are simple so injury is much less likely but you should still be conscious while getting into them. Part of a good yoga practice is being mindful of your body regardless of what level you’re practicing.

7 Essential Yoga Poses To Make Life More Awesome Now

Pose 1: Paschimottanasana (Sitting Forward Bend)

One of the best traditional forward bending poses. The benefits of a sitting forward bend include the strengthening of spinal muscles. You also nourish the nervous system and increase flexibility in the lumbar spine. This pose relieves pressure on the spine which eases sciatica pain.

You massage and stimulate abdominal organs. Constipation can be relieved and it counteracts obesity. You help your pancreas function more optimally when you do this pose regularly. You’ll feel the stretch in your hamstrings and hip joints.

By practicing this asana, you become more aware of what is around you as well as your inner self. We are reminded to keep our ego from taking over by calming the mind and nervous system. This is a great pose for quiet the mind for meditation.

Steps for the Paschimottanasana Pose

First sit on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you.

As you press actively through your heels, pull your sitting bones away from the heels.

Turn the top of the thighs in slightly.

As you inhale, keep the front torso long and lean forward from your hip joints.

If you can take the sides of the feet with your hands, do that. Otherwise, loop a strap around the foot soles and hold onto the strap firmly. Your chest should be forward with belly resting on the thighs.

Keep the torso lengthened with the head raised.

Pose 2: Gomukhasana (Cow Face Pose)

Cow face pose will remove any pain and stiffness in the hip joints and lower body. The position your arms are in will give the shoulders, armpits, triceps and chest a great stretch. This relieves stiffness in the shoulders and the neck. It also strengthens your back muscles and tones the arms. The sciatica is relieved because you relax the piriformis muscles.

A great pose if you spend a lot of time at a desk.

Steps for the Gomukhasana Pose

From all fours, cross your right knee over your left knee and stack one on top of the other.

Sit down between your legs as your root your sitting bones on the mat.

Inhale and extend your arms out at your side and create a “T” shape.

Exhale and swing the right arms underneath the left while pressing forearms together.

Make sure to keep arms perpendicular to the floor.

Press palms or grab the opposite wrist. Lift your elbows slightly while melting shoulders down the back.

If this is too deep of a stretch right away, keep arms crossed but release palms on the shoulders and give yourself a hug.

Pose 3: Jathara Parivartanasana (Reclining Twist Pose)

Reclining twist pose tones your spinal column while getting rid of any stiffness in the spine and shoulders. It stimulates the large intestines to promote toxic elimination in the body. It’s a great pose to counter a long-standing asana practice or back extensions.

This poses calms both your body and mind. It releases tensions and emotions you tend to hold in your back body. Think of how you close your chest and round your back when you’re worried about something. This pose counters that closing of the heart and mind.

Steps for the Jathara Parivartanasana Pose

Lie comfortably on your back and bend knees in to your chest while extending arms to form a “T” with palms facing to the ceiling.

Inhale and lengthen tailbone to the ground.

Exhale and drop your bent knees to the right while sending your gaze to the left.

Keep knees and feet close together and press your shoulder blades down toward the mat.

Stay in this pose for quite a few breaths. When you’re ready, on an exhale, drop your knees to the left and send your gaze to the right.

Pose 4: Pawanmuktasana (Wind-relieving Pose)

Wind-relieving pose does just that. It removes excess air from your digestive system which is going to improve the effectiveness of your digestion, relieving bloating, and gas. This pose massages the intestines and organs in the abdominals.

Circulation increases in the hips which helps relieve tension in the lower back and hip flexors. You also strengthen your back and abdominal muscles as well as tone the arms and legs. Your body will feel more relaxed when the pose releases pressure that ‘s built up in the digestive system and spine. This pose is great to do in the morning as it can wake up the body, increasing movement which will carry you throughout the day.

Wind-relieving pose can be mastered with just a few small steps and will quickly relieve back pain.

Pose 5: Vakrasana (Simple Spinal Twist)

This simple spinal twist is great for beginners with plenty of benefits for the digestive system. It massages those abdominal organs and helps to promote good digestion while regulating secretion of digestive juices. This reduces constipation and prevent stomach diseases. Twisting in this way also helps reduce belly fat. You increase the flexibility in your spine and relieve any stiffness in the vertebrae. You also get a hip joint and let stretch.

This pose is empowering and will help increase your energy. It also improves how you see yourself, improving self-esteem.

Steps for the Vakrasana

Sit on the floor with legs straight in front of you

Relax your midsection and keep spine straight while placing the left hand to the right and left palm next to the right palm.

Place left foot outside the right knee and twist your head and upper body to the right without overdoing the twist.

Breathe into your back for a few breaths before switching to the other side.

Exhale in the final position and bring the abdominal, legs and hands back to center. Repeat on the other side.

Pose 6: Baddha Konasana (Butterfly Pose)

The butterfly pose is very simple. It gives you a deep stretch in the groin muscles and hip joints. It can relief symptoms of urinary disorders, sciatica pain and hernia discomfort. This is a great way to regulate your menstrual flow and helps keep the prostate, bladder and kidneys healthy. The variation to forward bend in this pose will help tone abdominal organs which will help your digestive system.

This hip opening pose will help us to release emotions that have built up. Butterfly pose helps you to get the feeling of a proper meditation posture.

Steps for the Baddha Konasana

Lie down on your back and spread your legs straight out.

Bend your knees and bring your feet towards your buttocks. The soles of your feet should touch each other.

Grab your feet with your hands and place hands underneath for support.

Take a deep breath in. As your breath out, press thighs and knees downwards. Make a gentle effort to continue pressing them downward.

Start flapping both legs up and down like the wings of a butterfly. Start off slow and increase speed. Breathe normally throughout.

Press elbows on the thighs or knees pushing them closer to the floor.

Feel the stretch in inner thighs and take long breaths while relaxing muscles more and more deeply.

Pose 7: Savasana (Corpse Pose)

While this pose is simple in the physical sense, some yogis report that it takes years to master the practice. At a beginner’s level, this pranayama practice keeps the spine long while you lay down and learn how to be still. You are training the physical and mental part of your body.

You get to relax your tension, you slow your heart rate and breathing down which reduces blood pressure. You take pressure off your bones, nerves, and joints by just relaxing. In this pose, shutting the psyche off is recommended. Put yourself in a state of meditation as you relax your body into the ground. Corpse pose relaxes you while rejuvenating you at the same time.

Steps for Savasana

It may be difficult to take in all the information that is available to master corpse pose. To start, lie down comfortably. Tuck your shoulders a little so your chest puffs out a little. This allows you to maintain an open heart.

Settle in and when you’re ready, inhale deeply. On your exhale, relax your whole body and imagine that it’s sinking into the ground.

When thoughts come up in this pose, be the witness to those thoughts and they will quickly dissipate.

Author Bio: Meera Watts

Meera Watts is a yoga teacher, entrepreneur and mom. Her writing on yoga and holistic health has appeared in Elephant Journal, Yoganonymous, OMtimes and others. She’s also the founder and owner of Siddhi Yoga International, a yoga teacher training school based in Singapore. Siddhi Yoga runs intensive, residential trainings in India (Rishikesh, Goa and Dharamshala) and Indonesia (Bali). She can be reached on social media at any of the following:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/siddhiyogaacademy Instagram: http://ift.tt/1Unt6nA Pinterest: http://ift.tt/2oP6FhM Twitter: https://twitter.com/meerawatts LinkedIn: http://ift.tt/2qblyid FB Page: http://ift.tt/1ps4ZEa

May 18, 2017 at 08:43AM

#fitness #motivation #gym #fitfam #workout #diet #healthy #fit #exercise #weightloss #health #quote

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jonathantwatson · 8 years ago

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7 Essential Yoga Poses To Make Life More Awesome Now

These simple beginner poses, care of Siddhi Yoga, may be easy to do but that doesn’t take away from the health benefits they offer.

7 Essential Yoga Poses To Make Life More Awesome Now

Pose 1: Paschimottanasana (Sitting Forward Bend)

youtube

Steps for the Paschimottanasana Pose

First sit on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you.

As you press actively through your heels, pull your sitting bones away from the heels.

Turn the top of the thighs in slightly.

As you inhale, keep the front torso long and lean forward from your hip joints.

Keep the torso lengthened with the head raised.

Pose 2: Gomukhasana (Cow Face Pose)

youtube

A great pose if you spend a lot of time at a desk.

Steps for the Gomukhasana Pose

From all fours, cross your right knee over your left knee and stack one on top of the other.

Sit down between your legs as your root your sitting bones on the mat.

Inhale and extend your arms out at your side and create a “T” shape.

Exhale and swing the right arms underneath the left while pressing forearms together.

Make sure to keep arms perpendicular to the floor.

Press palms or grab the opposite wrist. Lift your elbows slightly while melting shoulders down the back.

If this is too deep of a stretch right away, keep arms crossed but release palms on the shoulders and give yourself a hug.

Pose 3: Jathara Parivartanasana (Reclining Twist Pose)

youtube

Steps for the Jathara Parivartanasana Pose

Lie comfortably on your back and bend knees in to your chest while extending arms to form a “T” with palms facing to the ceiling.

Inhale and lengthen tailbone to the ground.

Exhale and drop your bent knees to the right while sending your gaze to the left.

Keep knees and feet close together and press your shoulder blades down toward the mat.

Stay in this pose for quite a few breaths. When you’re ready, on an exhale, drop your knees to the left and send your gaze to the right.

Pose 4: Pawanmuktasana (Wind-relieving Pose)

youtube

Wind-relieving pose can be mastered with just a few small steps and will quickly relieve back pain.

Pose 5: Vakrasana (Simple Spinal Twist)

youtube

This pose is empowering and will help increase your energy. It also improves how you see yourself, improving self-esteem.

Steps for the Vakrasana

Sit on the floor with legs straight in front of you

Relax your midsection and keep spine straight while placing the left hand to the right and left palm next to the right palm.

Place left foot outside the right knee and twist your head and upper body to the right without overdoing the twist.

Breathe into your back for a few breaths before switching to the other side.

Exhale in the final position and bring the abdominal, legs and hands back to center. Repeat on the other side.

Pose 6: Baddha Konasana (Butterfly Pose)

youtube

This hip opening pose will help us to release emotions that have built up. Butterfly pose helps you to get the feeling of a proper meditation posture.

Steps for the Baddha Konasana

Lie down on your back and spread your legs straight out.

Bend your knees and bring your feet towards your buttocks. The soles of your feet should touch each other.

Grab your feet with your hands and place hands underneath for support.

Take a deep breath in. As your breath out, press thighs and knees downwards. Make a gentle effort to continue pressing them downward.

Start flapping both legs up and down like the wings of a butterfly. Start off slow and increase speed. Breathe normally throughout.

Press elbows on the thighs or knees pushing them closer to the floor.

Feel the stretch in inner thighs and take long breaths while relaxing muscles more and more deeply.

Pose 7: Savasana (Corpse Pose)

youtube

Steps for Savasana

Settle in and when you’re ready, inhale deeply. On your exhale, relax your whole body and imagine that it’s sinking into the ground.

When thoughts come up in this pose, be the witness to those thoughts and they will quickly dissipate.

Author Bio: Meera Watts

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/siddhiyogaacademy Instagram: https://instagram.com/siddhiyogainternational Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/siddhiyogainter Twitter: https://twitter.com/meerawatts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meerawatts FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/siddhiyogateachertraining

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yogabysinda · 8 years ago

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#TwistedCompassOG😎 inspired by @gordonogden @yoga_digest @mantramagazine @k.deer @yoga.moms @yoga.motion @yogamodel @yogapics @yogaposeweekly_by_letsglo @artofyogapics @yogapic @yoga.art.pic @bellanycmag @bestofwestchester @hudsonvalleyomies @_yogainspiration_ @yogainspiration @yoganonymous @nyyogalifemag @lifestylemeditation @handstand_app @handstandnation #SpringIntoLXY #hotyogi #instahappy #namaste #badass #goodvibes #love #yoga #yogaeverydamnday #yogafun #yogalove #yogamom #yogainspiration #yogaposes #yogacommunity #yogachallenge #yogatherapy #yogaphotography #igyogafam #yogisofinstagram #yogismakebetterlovers #positivevibes #igyogacommunity #spiritjunkie #spiritjunkies #practiceandalliscoming #LeagueOfExtraordinaryYogis #yogini #strongissexy @brick__t Lotus Blossom @tyrahlove🌸 The Baron @yogi_eric ♠️ Le Artiste @reganwarner 🎨 The Queen Bee @kateswarm 🐝 The Bhakti @pablo_maha 🙏🏻 The Purist @renny_sito 💎 El Caballero @badyogi.ches 🎩 The Maniac @yogamaniac_sam ⚠️ The Capoeista @yogimantarecife 🐒 bonus host @finlay0901 The Fearless @nick_vishanka 👺 The Viking @ninjarnumyoga 🍷 The Wolfpack @skywalkeriam 🔥 bonus host @samgachyoga The Stoic @behrangyoga The Boomerang @ryan.cartwheels 😏 The Arrow @greenideas80 💚 The OG @gordonogden 😎 All league characters are listed in posting order (at White Plains, New York)

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repwinpril9y0a1 · 8 years ago

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6 Simple Principles for Creating Your Own Sanctuary

When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life. “ – Jean Shinoda Bolen

You’re finally home after a long day. You’re tired and you want to rest but when you open the front door, you see that you need to tidy your house. You pick up a few things and see the kitchen in your periphery reminding you that you have to get dinner started. You feel stressed and think of the yoga class you’re going to miss tonight because you don’t have time to get there. The yogi inside of you starts to feel stressed, and you realize…this isn’t very yoga-like.

At the end of your hectic day, if your spare moments go towards watching TV instead of a little self-care, you don’t give your mind the break it probably needs. This can lead to restless sleeping, which leaves you feeling exhausted and empty the next day, only to start the karmic cycle again. You know you need to nurture yourself but there’s nowhere to retreat to.

Every room in your home has its purpose. When you’re in your kitchen, you think of eating or in your bedroom you think about sleeping. Is there a place that reminds you to look within yourself and nurture your soul? What if you created this special space dedicated to you in your home? When you have spare moments, you could just step into your own special sanctuary. You can utilize it to be creative, do yoga, meditate, or just read a book. Creating your own sanctuary can give you room to develop tapas, which means discipline, to become devoted to your own ritual of self-care.

The word sanctuary is a Latin word deriving from sanctuarium, which means a container for keeping something in. In the case of spirituality, it means encasing yourself in a place of holiness or safety. Do you want to create a quiet space to feel more connected to the meaningful things in your life?

Here are six simple principles you might consider following in creating your own sanctuary space:

1. Consider what your sanctuary will provide

Think about what your needs are when it comes to your own sacred space. Maybe you’ve been seeking a place where you can be still and meditate. Perhaps you want to have a convenient spot to do yoga when time allows. If you’re artistic, you may want to create a space that brings out your creative side. Do you need to relax and let go? Do you need to get your creative juices flowing?

Know that your needs and desires may change over time, but the initial intention–to create your own personal space–will always be there. Whatever your interests may be, create this space from a place of purity within. The energy of the external world and everything you do day-to-day can be left outside of this space you create. Make it a place you want to be.

2. Seek out the perfect spot

Don’t let a lack of space deter you. The priority is to have a refuge for your mind, body, and soul to rejuvenate itself. You probably have an area of your home where you feel safe and relaxed. If you’ve never noticed, take a walk around and sense what place feels good. Trust your intuition as you seek out the right spot. This aspect is more important than any other detail.

An ideal space is near a window that lets light in and has a good flow of energy. If that’s not possible, your sanctuary can be as simple as being at the end of the kitchen table. It doesn’t even have to be an entire room. You can create a space outside in your garden or even a larger closet that isn’t being utilized. You may want privacy but having your sanctuary exposed allows you to notice it. Even if you can’t enter your space, seeing it will remind you of stillness, peace, and safety.

3. Create your space with intention

If you’ve thought about what you want out of your sanctuary and where it will be, it’s now time to create your space. You know what your emotional, mental, and spiritual needs are so you can incorporate objects to support those needs. Remove anything from the room that is not going to serve a purpose. Knowing what you need most out of your sanctuary will allow you to add objects that will aid those needs. You can incorporate objects that heighten all your senses, giving you the thoughts and feelings you require from your sanctuary. Below is a list of items that help deepen your desired experience.

Items for Relaxation

A lavender eye pillow

A cozy chair or a stack of pillows

Soothing music

Stones for promoting relaxation: blue chalcedony, amethyst, or abalone

Items for Meditation

Stones that assist a meditative state: clear quartz, blue calcite, and turquoise

A “zafu” or meditation cushion. If you have a bad back, a comfortable chair is recommended

A small object to focus on. This could be the statue of a deity you have chosen to honor

Incense sticks

Items for Creativity

Stones that allow you tap into your creativity: citrine, carnelian, and tiger’s eye

Plants (proven to boost creativity)

A vision board full of creative ideas (alternatively, take a quick peek on Pinterest)

Scents like cinnamon and vanilla boost creative levels

Items for Energizing

Stones for energizing: tourmaline and fluorite

Citrus scents or a coffee bean candle

Based on color therapy, violet and red boost your energy levels

A sunrise-simulating light especially in the winter months

4. …but keep it simple

Keeping your space simple prevents mind clutter. Consider the feng shui of your space. Does it allow for energy to flow in and out? Does it make you feel spacious? An open space will reflect an open mind. It will provide room for a yoga or movement practice, too. This container provides a safe space to practice and try new things on your own, where there is no judgment from the outside. You may want to keep the walls free and clear so you can use it during a yoga practice, or even seated meditation for back support.

You can create more simplicity by choosing to rub whatever essential oil suits you best on your favorite pillow. This eliminates the need for candles or an infuser. Having a deck of inspirational cards can reduce clutter too. Instead of displaying inspirational quotes, you can just choose a quote daily. Include objects that give you the energy you need, help inspire you or get you into the mind frame for meditation, yoga, or another sacred ritual.

5. Create a boundary for your sacred space

What your boundaries are for your sacred space is personal for you. Most people that create a sanctuary choose to have it for themselves. Your space may be a welcome area for friends and family. If not, let your family or roommates know that when you’re in your space, you don’t want to be disturbed. For example, you may immediately get out of bed in the morning and practice yoga in your space. If you share a house with roommates or a partner, ensure you will not be bothered. Ask those around you to respect your sanctuary and “me” time.

However, you may be interested in sharing your space with close friends or relatives. If you desire to inspire others to create their own sacred spaces, you can invite them to experience yours first. You could try a few yoga poses or a ritual for the full moon together. But whatever your flow is, always ensure the respect for the sanctuary is there first and foremost.

6. Use your space often

There’s nothing more tragic than creating a sublime sanctuary only to ignore it because you don’t make time. If you allow it, you can be healed of daily stress and negative events. At the core of it, you know what you need. You created a place you should want to make time for. Listen to your heart and when life gets to be too much, retreat. You need to take care of yourself first, otherwise, you’re not your best self for others. Make a ritual out of it daily if you can. Very quickly it will become one of your favorite moments of the day that you can’t live without. Remember that this sacred spot was created by you, for you. It was your heart’s desire, so honor its intention.

The art of creating this sanctuary will help you make nurturing self-care a daily ritual. Even if your time is limited, walk into your space and give yourself five minutes. Whether you light a candle in honor of your intentions for the day or move through a few Sun Salutations, your body and mind will thank you for this continued reverence for yourself.

—————–

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Meera Watts, a yoga teacher, entrepreneur, and mom. Her writing on yoga and holistic health has appeared in Elephant Journal, Yoganonymous, OMtimes and others. She’s also the founder and owner of Siddhi Yoga International, a yoga teacher training school based in Singapore. Siddhi Yoga runs intensive, residential trainings in India (Rishikesh, Goa, and Dharamshala), Indonesia (Bali) and Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur).