Yoga with Laura Martini

Everyday Sacred Practices

Homework:

Week 1-

• Pay attention to the thoughts in your mind. Notice when negative self-talk creeps in.

• Pause frequently throughout your day and ask yourself, “Can I allow this moment to be perfect just the way it is?”

Week 2-

• Find ways to incorporate ritual both daily and weekly into your life. Examples include mindfully making a cup of coffee in the morning and really paying attention to that first sip, lighting incense or a candle before you meditate/practice yoga, setting intentions in the morning, reading inspirational literature before bed, practicing a yoga nidra at 3pm every afternoon.

Week 3-

• Practice BRFWA (Breathe, Relax, Feel, Watch, Allow) on a daily basis. Put this acronym in a place where you can view it frequently (like on your fridge or bedside table) as a reminder that staying more present in your life requires practice.

Week 4-

• Stop during your day to notice moments where you feel stress. Pause and right away, practice breathing deeply. Use your yoga practice as a tool for stress relief.

Week 5-

• Practice looking at your life with eyes of awe and wonder. Stay present in the mundane and appreciate the simple things. Share this practice with the people you love.

Week 6-

• The philosophy and history of yoga includes more than just physical postures. Explore the Yamas and Niyamas both on and off your mat. Print the image of the Yamas and Niyamas tree below and post it on your fridge. Every day, focus on one single Yama or Niyama.

Additional practice Guide for Everyday Sacred

We go through the motions every day. We wake up (grumpily), make coffee (a necessity), briefly acknowledge the other living forms we live with, and go to work. It’s the same every day and it’s so easy to forget how limited our time here on earth is when the only thing we have to look forward to is a glass of wine or our favourite reality show after the kids go to bed. I get it, I’ve been there. Here are some easy life hacks that have helped me (and countless others) spark joy in a seemingly simple lifestyle.

1. Water. Drink two full cups of water first thing in the morning when you wake up. Do this before you do anything else in your day and it will prime your body for living well.

2. Beeswax candles. Light a pure, honey-scented beeswax candle in the evening when it’s dark out. It cleans the air, smells great, creates a sense of celebration/hygge, and doesn’t send any harmful chemicals off into the air. Make it really special by investing in a beautiful candle holder.

3. Tea/coffee/ceremonial cacao. Find a drink you love and create ceremony around it. Spend the entire time you make and drink your beverage sacred by being fully present to the preparation, pouring, and enjoyment of the drink.

4. Ayurvedic body cleansing. Really, like REALLY take care of yourself. Dry brush your body before a shower/bath, and then rub a warm oil all over your skin before crawling into bed. You will sleep like an angel and your skin will glow.

5. Find a hobby you love. Ensure this hobby has nothing to do with your work, and have no attachment to your proficiency in this hobby. For additional information, get yourself a copy of Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.