Hello everyone, we have started charitable yoga classes from today, every day at 6 am and 7 pm you can follow our live broadcast to practice! Don’t miss the opportunity to join the charitable yoga class.
As is known to all, there is a popular trend on social media, which shows a comparison image between a sloppy older woman and a svelte, beautiful female, meant to convey a message: women should dress up and manage their image. However, as time goes by and with the accumulation of life experiences, such messages start to reveal their illogical and impractical facets. In fact, the vast majority of women are neither completely sloppy nor extremely focused on dressing up, but are on an ordinary level somewhere in between.
Moreover, a mother’s appeal to her children is more from the warmth and love of her heart than from her appearance. Likewise, there’s a misconception that once a woman gains weight, she will be rejected by society, which is actually rooted in an internal insecurity rather than a reflection of reality.
Take Wang Qi, Shen Teng’s wife, as an example. She gained weight after giving birth and faced unreasonable criticism and derogatory comments. This overlooks the fact that childbirth is a natural process, where weight gain is normal. What’s important is that pegging a woman’s value merely on her physique is an extremely distorted value system. Wang Qi fearlessly made a public appearance, showing her inner confidence and the stability of her marriage, which is where a woman’s true strength lies.
In truth, while a woman’s external appearance may change, the stability and self-confidence within her needs to be cultivated over a long period of time. To maintain inner security and confidence usually demands ongoing self-care and energy management. Our personal energy fluctuates, and it is crucial to learn how to effectively “recharge” oneself, especially amidst the busy throes of life and work.
Whenever you feel your energy depleting, a brief, precise rest can quickly improve your mood and elevate your physical and mental energy, and this is the beauty of restorative yoga. Restorative yoga, through relaxing postures and meditation practices, offers a new way to awaken inner energy, enhance self-awareness, and gain insight.
Each breath is not merely a simple physiological process, but also a conscious act of storing energy. The practice of restorative yoga can help you maintain calm and harmony throughout the day, allowing you to immerse your mind back into positive and constructive pursuits. This form of yoga offers deep relaxation and tranquility for those who are physically and mentally tense, like a soothing intermezzo for the soul. Just invest about 10 minutes each day to practice a specific posture, and your body can quickly rejuvenate, as if refilling your “health bar.”
During practice, you may need some props, such as blankets, bolsters, and yoga blocks. The key is to avoid vigorous muscle engagement and the pursuit of intense muscle stretch sensations.
01 Surfboard Pose
Surfboard Pose makes the body and spirit feel solid, safe, and soothed. The vulnerable abdominal area is gently cared for, helping to alleviate tension. In relaxed breathing, allow yourself to feel fully supported, letting the whole body sink in, focusing on the present, and creating more space for the body and mind.
- Prepare three blankets, fold them and place them on the mat in sequence, put two yoga blocks at the other end of the mat, and roll another blanket to place on top of the blocks.
- Lie on the blankets as if your body is on a surfboard.
- Ensure that your head, torso, and pelvis are evenly distributed on the blankets, with your knees and the tops of your feet on the yoga mat.
- You may turn your head to one side, extend your arms naturally at both sides of your body, palms facing upward.
- Let your body completely relax into the blankets, and begin to breathe deeply and slowly.
- You can switch the direction of your head and continue to maintain natural, deep breathing, stay in this state for at least 5 minutes.
02 Chest-Opening Pose
There’s no need to force your breath; it has its natural rhythm. When you focus on the natural flow of your breath, you can experience a sense of stability and grounding. If we wish our bodies to enter a state of health and healing, we must let our brain calm down, focus on the present, and mindfully feel each breath, facing reality instead of avoiding it.
- Place two folded blankets and put a pillow on top; roll another blanket to place at the opposite end of the mat.
- Sit at the front end of the blankets, with your knees just on top of the rolled blanket, stretch your legs, then slowly lie down, with your back on the pillow.
- Open your arms to the sides, palms facing upwards, or place your hands on your abdomen with arms naturally falling to the ground.
- After your body adapts, regulate your breathing to become deeper and longer, gradually placing the weight on the blankets.
- In the final minute of maintaining the pose, place your hands on your abdomen and feel the softness and elasticity of the abdomen with each breath.
03 Complete Relaxation Pose
In the complete relaxation pose, meticulously observe your breath and every sensation in your body, as if patiently listening to a friend’s confessions, carefully hearing the voice from deep within. First, release the tension in your body and then listen to those sounds of breath and body, adopting an attitude of acceptance towards everything that’s yours.
- Place two blocks at one end of the mat along with a rolled blanket, and add extra blankets behind the legs and neck for added comfort.
Sit on the mat and then gently lie back down, controlling your descent gracefully. Feel your knees lightly touching the blanket on the mat, carefully adjust the position of the blanket for a comfortable touch at the neck.
Place your hands on your abdomen, extend your arms naturally at both sides of your body, with your elbows lightly touching the mat. Allow the weight of your body to evenly sink into the mat, relax every cell, breathe naturally, and continue this peaceful state for at least five minutes.
Next, slowly turn to the right side, using the left hand to support yourself on the ground, and slowly stand up. In the practice of restorative yoga, focusing on and observing the breath becomes essential. Listen to the sound of your breath, feel its rhythm, and in this process, allow your body to relax.
Through such practice, you can immerse fully in the present state, easing deep-seated tension in the body and mind, bringing tranquility and comfort. There’s no need to exert too much effort during practice, maintaining a natural state will suffice.
In this process, while staying focused, many thoughts might continuously flood into your mind. There’s no need to rush to expel these distractions, allow their presence, while continuing to focus on the body and breath.
For beginners in practice, cultivating a mindful awareness is key, which can help merge more easily into moments of relaxation. Restorative yoga is not only about the current practice but also encompasses the essence of creating a space for the body and mind to stretch and relax, bringing deep healing.
Restorative yoga is like a quick charge for the body, with each practice session storing energy for the body. With long-term persistence, the body will gradually adapt to this method, and entering into the poses will become smoother. This habit of practice is the result of steady and gradual cultivation.