RY teacher Sara brings RussaYog to Olympic National Park in Washington.
Life has a tendency to fall in and out of balance. Summer sunshine rolls out from behind winter’s clouds and all we want to do is play. Go outside, visit someplace new, just take a break. Instead of an equal balance of work and play, we indulge.
When you find yourself losing that balance, your yoga practice can act as a reset button. It is a tool that travels with you wherever you go. Once you develop a practice in your normal routine setting, it is always there for you to come back to when things seem unfamiliar or in disarray.
We pack a lot into our suitcases when we travel, yet often times, we end up leaving our yoga at home. There are not RussaYog studios in every city. It can be hard to motivate yourself to sustain your practice without a community studio to attend. There is definitely something to be said about the power and connection of a group practice, but finding a steady independent practice can be an important part of moving beyond the postures and into a more intimate yogic experience.
Easier said than done, but here are a five helpful suggestions to bring RussaYog with you wherever you go:
- Pack a dora in your suitcase. Every time you rummage through your suitcase, you will see it and be reminded of your practice. Plus, it is small, lightweight, and a wonderful way to maintain your RussaYog without ropes.
- If you have internet/smartphone access, check out the RussaYog YouTube channel and follow along with tons of great yoga sequences.
- If you know you won’t have internet, before you leave for your travels, prepare a list of pranayam, kriya, and asan sequences to help remind yourself of your favorite RussaYog movements. Use the RussaYog website as a resource.
- Give yourself time alone while traveling. We often travel with companions and are with them 24/7. Make sure to set some time apart to focus on what you need to stay relaxed and balanced. This is a good time to do your yoga.
- Remember that even five minutes of pranayam can help reset the balance of your day!
