Mindful Movement with Nicole

Hey!!

Hello 🙂

Tomorrow I am giving a free (by donation) yoga class via Zoom at 10 am CST.
Recommended donation $0-$15
If you don’t feel like you can give in this moment please come anyway. It’s one of the few times I’m opening up one of my classes to the public so I’d love to see you there 😍.

Yoga for Everyday Living
Zoom ID: 98635261649

😘🙏🏼💖

What does it mean? To settle your nervous system.
When the brain interprets a threat, it signals to our body to activate our sympathetic nervous system, known better as our fight or flight mode. Remember, our nervous system is wired to remember pain in order to keep an eye out for potential danger. This is a great and necessary ability to have within the body, but often our mind perceives threats that either don’t exist or aren’t as big of a deal as our brain is making them out to be. This can be not only physical, but emotional and mental “danger” as well.

Knowing how to soothe the body and encourage the nervous system to switch back to more parasympathetic (rest and digest) activation is crucial in managing conflict, working past challenging situations, keeping the mind at ease and keeping the body physiologically healthy. There are so many ways to ease the body, mind and soul — and our nervous system is listening!

While settling the nervous system CAN become an escape tactic (as we cannot constantly be running away from our problems and ignoring the bodily signs of stress), learning how to cooperate with and guide the body towards a more peaceful and resilient way of being is an essential part of taking hold of our lives, our minds and reaching our fullest potential.

In the end, we are looking for presence. Get your mind INTO your body and into this moment. In the present moment, our worries of the future and painful memories of the past do not exist. In the present moment we remember once again, that we are ok.

Found this gem as I was cleaning out the photos on my phone.
Super excited to see my fam again here soon!
Would love to get a banquine crew goin again 🤩💖

Flying with .kirchmaniac

The word Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj, which means union. It also means to bind, join, attach and yoke; to use and apply.

While many in the west see yoga for its physical movements, it is a philosophy and way of life that encompasses something much broader and deeper than postures for exercise. Alongside maintaining the body a clean and healthy vessel for the self, this union can be taken and understood on many different levels.

It is the union of the body mind and soul. The joining of one with an infinite and divine spirit. The integration of all that is present within us; spiritually, energetically, intellectually and physically. It is the disciplining of the intellect, the mind, the emotions and the will.
Yoga is here to help guide us in viewing all aspects of life clearly and evenly; leading us towards deep understanding and liberation.

“𝒀𝒐𝒈𝒂𝒔 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒂 𝒗𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒊 𝒏𝒊𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒉𝒂”
“Yoga is the neutralization of the vortices of feeling”
— Patanjali

Padmasana, also known as lotus pose, is noted as the classic meditative pose. It carries with it a contemplative metaphor that heavily relates to the darkness felt within the human condition. In many cultures, especially in the east, it is regarded as a symbol of purity, enlightenment, self-regeneration and rebirth. It is a flower that blooms to its full beauty from beneath the mud and darkness of the pond.

Do not be afraid of dark times, nor of the undesirable parts that lie within you. Meet them head on with confidence, compassion and respect. It is only out of these places that we grow wiser and stronger.

“The lotus is the most beautiful flower, who’s petals open one by one. But it will only grow in the mud. In order to grow and gain wisdom, first you must have the mud - the obstacles of life and it’s suffering”
- Goldie Hawn

We are no more and no less than a manifestation of creation itself. We are nature and all of the incredible resiliency that it holds. The more we can remember that we are nature itself, the better we will be able to heal both ourselves and this earth that nourishes us; bringing both the individual soul and the collective soul back into a balanced state of being.

Some days of self care and amazing views. Would love to have you here with me 😊✨
DM for your own personalized quote!

So hum. I am that. ༄

I am the wind that moves without structure. Light, refreshing, expansive and swift.
I am the water that flows, adapts, molds and heals.
I am fire. That which burns, transforms, destroys and paves way for the new.
I am the earth. Nourishing, steady and stable. A complete system in constant movement towards balance.

Sohum. A reflection of the sound of the breath and the Hindu mantra meaning “I am that” in Sanskrit.
‘That’, being a reference to all creation that is present in the universe.

“You will observe that what is around you is inside you because you are breathing it in. And what is in you is outside you, because you are breathing it out. In that particular movement, the differentiation between outwardly and inwardly vanishes. The moment the difference that outwardly and inwardly vanished, you are in a state of constant equilibrium”
- Amit Raina

📸: .amos

When talking exercise science, rest days are required after working muscle bodies so they have time to recoup, repair and integrate the newly gained strength into their movement patterns.
In the Toaist concept of Yin and Yang ࿊ we must always include softer, restorative practices to complement our active and energizing practices (and vice versa ) for a balanced whole.
In restorative yoga, we work to balance out the body and mind by stimulating underworked areas and resting overworked areas.

We live in a society where rest is not seen as productive and leisure time is not valued. However our constant hustle mentality is not sustainable and is proving to cause a slew of short and long term health problems. We must give our bodies AND minds moments of restoration. Not only to enhance all aspects of our physiological functioning, but for our minds and overall happiness as we go through life.

How do you restore your mind?