Appreciate the art of practising
I can remember in school how the teacher would say, “Practise makes perfect.” I found out that no matter how much I practised, I was never perfect. I learned that practise makes me better, not perfect, but better than before.
When it comes to my own yoga practise, the more I do, the better my body, mind and spirit feel. The meaning of yoga is understood by those who practise the art. Sometimes, I hear people say they need to build up to yoga first before beginning. I can relate to that, as I once thought the same. After I began my practise, I realized I needed to accept my strengths and shortfalls.
The beauty of practising is that you own your experience. It’s unique. Letting go of comparisons, or the feeling of not being good enough, becomes second nature.
I try to focus on the moment. How do my body and mind feel at this particular point in time? Sometimes, I feel like I’m on Cloud 9. Other times, I wonder aloud, “What the heck am I doing?” Like most things, there are good and bad days.
I found that when I stopped putting pressure on myself, my practise was much more peaceful and fun. I have learned to laugh at myself when I tumble over and wonder if anyone saw that. When I first started, I may have been slightly embarrassed, but now I open myself for others to smile with me. The more I practise, the more I flow with my breath into the postures.
litres of water daily, depending on how active they are,” he said.
Water helps to flush out toxins, assists with digestion and routine activities, and helps muscles to react properly to movement.
Mike said carbohydrates are a massive energy source but he cautions people to avoid sugar, the prime culprit for adding fatty body tissue. Complex carbohydrates are beneficial – anything high in fibre, such as yams or sweet potatoes.
“A body needs fat. Healthy fats are omega 3s and 6s. Raw
I sometimes feel like I’m a ballerina moving gracefully from one pose to the next. If someone was to watch me, they may think I look more like a fish out of water. Regardless of how I may look when I practise, the important point is that I am practising and
nuts like peanuts, almonds and cashews are good for you. Roasted nuts, not so much,” said Mike. “Instead of french fries, have a roasted sweet potato, and eat some of the skin, which has more nutrients than the flesh.”
Mike also listed examples of beneficial food: Protein from chicken and fish; omegas from salmon; protein and amino acids from red meat; liberal servings of vegetables and fruit; and micronutrients from broccoli, asparagus and kale (one stalk of broccoli has more calcium than a cup of milk).
“Stay away from processed my body, mind and spirit feel good and I can laugh.
At Kripalu, I learned to allow myself to just breathe and feel any sensations that may be running through my body. I have learned to accept myself as I am and to modify the posture until it is just
food, especially processed meats. I call it the beige food group,” he said.
Cheese, bread and salt should be consumed in moderation. Check with a doctor for any concerns.
The timing of meals is important. A person’s metabolism is on a self-timer, so Mike suggests grabbing something to eat every three hours during the day.
“It can be smaller portions, not a full meal. This way you are feeding your muscles and keeping your metabolism going, and you will burn more calories when you right for me in that moment.
Every time I step onto my mat, I feel strength from the earth moving up my body and flowing out into my practise.
I like to start my practise by being present both in mind and body. I relax my shoulders down if they have crept upward. Then, I breathe deeply through my nose, gradually increasing the depth of my breath to warm-up from the inside out.
From there, I do warm-up poses to prepare my whole body for the balanced posture sequence.
Next, I do my cool-down poses to prepare for the final relaxation.
To come out of the final relaxation pose, slowly roll to one side and rest for a moment or two. Gradually work your way up to a seated position. With eyes open or closed, whichever works best for your body, allow yourself to breathe, relax and feel.
You may wish to sit and meditate for a few minutes or return to the present moment with a renewed sense of focus and calm. exercise,” he said.
I asked Mike to express his opinion on alcohol and weed.
“One beer a week is OK if that’s your thing. Four ounces of alcohol can wreak havoc on your metabolism to the point where it’s working against you. And weed won’t help your fitness goals.”