Calming Flow

Thank you for joining me today. I'm Kali and I'll be guiding you through our stress release yoga session. We'll be focusing on stretches and longer holds. This is a great practice to do during the evening time or anytime you just wanna wind down. But first, we'll get started with a short meditation. Join me in any comfortable seated position. And take a moment to sit tall and close down your eyes. (calming music) And let your shoulders relax down from your ears. Relax around your throat. And soften your jaw. And guide your attention to the easy movement of your breath. And right here is where our practice begins. Attention to breath and body. We have the great privilege of finding a sense of sanctuary right within ourselves. All that is required is that we shift our attention, that we unplug our attention from the world outside of us and toward an inner gaze. This is where all the magic happens. And think of your breath as the ebb and flow of the ocean. Allow your breath to trickle into the lowest lobes of your lungs, through the body of the lungs, all the way to the apex. As you exhale, observe and feel your breath moving from the apex of the lungs, through the body of the lungs, all the way down to the lowest lobes. Stay present. One of the great advantages of sanctuary is that you can always return. If you somehow leave unexpectedly, there's always a place for you to come back. And start to visualize your breath, entering through the pores of your skin. Observe your breath saturating every single cell of your body. Notice if there are any particular areas where there are holding patterns. And check in with your jaw, your shoulders, check in with your brow, the space behind your ears, the base of your skull. The small, little places within our body can sometime be small reservoirs of tension and stress. Within many traditions, it's said that the way you do one thing, it's the way you do everything. Whether it's an ancient philosophy, mother wit, or new age wisdom, this is a lesson that is spread throughout all of these particular teachings. One of the many benefits of our yoga practice is that it serves as a safe sandbox for you to practice the way you do the one thing, in order that we refine our approach, when we approach everything else. Careful not to confuse mastery of physical posture with personal mastery. It's all about your approach. Moving with wisdom. Knowing when to pause. Take a breath. Check out the scene. And then return with wisdom. Return with strategy. A refreshed perspective. The consistency within our practice will serve us well. It helps us to build a cache. So when we're in the thick of things, we can draw upon it and take sanctuary within it. And gradually start to deepen your breath. For now, remain single-minded,...