Tag: home practice

Creating Space to Be Present at Home

On By Kim LuyckxIn Building a Steady Yoga Practice, Lifestyle & Habits2 Comments

Young woman exercising at home, stretching arms.

To be in this surrounding is to have permission to grow.  I find myself or at least find time for myself here – unbothered, unchallenged and uninhibited.

Whether you are practicing yoga or constructing a piece of writing, establishing a space to hone your craft is essential. The actual location you utilize is insignificant. It could be a formal studio or office, a smaller section within a certain room or even a chair or place on the floor. What is important is that your mind has clear purposeful space for the energy that you will be employing.

My typical day begins here – at my desk.

It sits in my living room with plenty of light and a nice bookshelf behind to access my resources. Normally, Chloé, my Chihuahua, is napping nearby; otherwise I pretty much have the place to myself. Continue reading “Creating Space to Be Present at Home” →

Support A Steady Yoga Practice: The Art of Sitting

On By Kim LuyckxIn Building a Steady Yoga PracticeLeave a comment

simply sitting

“Perfection in an asana is achieved when the effort to perform it becomes effortless and the infinite being within is reached”. – Yoga Sutras.

Learning to sit peacefully with the breath is founded on the postures of yoga. Yoga asana is performed so that the body is able to sit comfortably  in stillness. Pranayama or breath control is the fuel that sustains us to stay steady in our bodies and minds.

In the practice of yoga it is important to find a restful seat. Using a wall, a chair or other props to keep your spine upright is suggested if your hips or back muscles are weak or tight. Another method for learning to sit on the floor is to gradually introduce the muscles to the practice.

Here are my tips for crafting a comfortable seat: Continue reading “Support A Steady Yoga Practice: The Art of Sitting” →

Support A Steady Yoga Practice: Seek Integration

On By Kim LuyckxIn Support A Steady Yoga PracticeLeave a comment

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“As you bring your hands together at your center, you literally connect the right and left hemispheres of your brain. This is the yogic process of unification, the yoking of our active and receptive natures.” 

The definition of yoga is to yoke, or join together. This week, we start to explore the ways that we can develop a more integrated yoga practice. We will begin with three easy techniques for uniting the main components of yoga: Continue reading “Support A Steady Yoga Practice: Seek Integration” →

Support A Steady Yoga Practice: Zest Things Up!

On By Kim LuyckxIn Support A Steady Yoga PracticeLeave a comment

“May all beings everywhere be happy and free and may the thoughts, words and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.” ~translation of Sanskrit Mantra Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu

This week, we will continue to explore the individual poses of yoga or the asanas by addressing the second energy center that is located at the level of the pelvis. It is called the svadhisthana chakra or the pelvic chakra. It also strongly relates to the planet Pluto. A practice for this chakra will be very fluid and energizing.   Continue reading “Support A Steady Yoga Practice: Zest Things Up!” →

YOLY Challenge #8: Roll Out Your Mat

On By Kim LuyckxIn YOLY Challenge of the Week2 Comments

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We started the Year of Living Yogically Challenge on week #1 with a simple request – take 5 minutes each day to breathe.

This week, I’d like you to take that commitment one step further.

Spend 10 minutes each day to do one or two yoga poses that are familiar to you.  Or, if its a “down day”, enjoy a relaxation pose like Savasana. The important thing is to roll out your mat and set your timer for 10 minutes. Just 10 minutes – no more.

Ideally, and if it suits your schedule, try to do your practice at the same time each day.