“Movement is the song of the body”

- Vanda Scaravelli

Life can feel so hectic at times with so many things on your plate, from nurturing relationships, building a career and other obligations and trying to include self care time  that we can often feel generally exhausted and lack energy throughout the day. 

To access new energy, instead of putting Netflix on and lounging on the sofa, spend some time practicing yoga, even if it’s just 20mins. Yoga is the natural energy that boosts your body, mind and soul leaving you feeling revitalised and rejuvenated.

There are many elements to yoga, such as pranayama, meditation, niyamas and yamas etc etc,  the physical part is just one of them. The physical practice of yoga helps to keep you in good health, it keeps your bones and muscles strong, helps you to increase flexibility, however more importantly it helps you to feel energetic and increases your vitality. 

According to Ayurveda, the science of yoga, feeling fatigued, exhausted  and low energy are often the result of an increase of Kapha in the body, so you want to create more warmth, and lightness in your life. 

When you are feeling stressed out, eating an unhealthy diet, not getting enough rest, water or movement and your natural energy levels are low, it means your ojas can become depleted, leaving an imbalance of natural bodily rhythms. 
Ojas is a Sanskrit term meaning "vigor," and it is best understood as essential energy for the body and mind. It not only gives tissues strength and endurance, but it protects the health and vitality of cells, thereby influencing all bodily functions and physiological processes.
With a regular yoga practice vitality is with you from when you wake up in the morning and remains throughout the day. You feel more energetic, calm and healthier. 

Here are some different yoga poses and breathing exercises that you can do everyday to specifically create more energy and vitality:

Sun Salutations

Sun salutations are an effective way to create more energy and shake off any sleepiness, heaviness and lethargy.  Surya namaskar clears blocked energy by moving your body in all directions and brings you into a balanced state. They help you to invigorate the body while creating more space, physically and mentally.
By doing a few rounds every morning you can increase vigor, vitality and warm up your body ready for the day. 

Right nostril breathing 

Otherwise known as Sheya Bhedana, right nostril breathing is to increase the pranic energy. The right nostril is pingala nadi, which represents the physical energy and body.

By doing right nostril breathing you create more energy and revitalise the body.  This breathing exercise boosts the nervous system, especially the parasympathetic leaving you feeling relaxed, energised and calm. 

Some benefits of right nostril breathing are::

• Prana increases in the body, increasing vitality.

• Effective for helping depression and low energy

• Helps with stress and anxiety 
  
  This is a great breathing exercise to do every morning, especially transitioning from winter into the spring when you can feel more lethargic and tired. 

  Warrior II

Warrior II is a powerful pose for your legs, groins, and chest, while also increasing stamina. It helps to relieve backaches, and stimulates healthy digestion.

Apart from the physical benefits Warrior II increases your concentration and focus which helps you to become more and less distracted which then enhances your energy and vitality. 

Backbends

Backbends naturally stretch and activate the spine, expanding the heart space and making you feel more awake. They work deep into the spine, while also opening up the heart space which brings greater breath awareness, and leaves you feeling exhilarated and energized. All backbends are  highly effective in awakening the mind and body energy. 

Camel is a deeper backbend than many, and very therapeutic.  It can be intense on many levels as it stimulates the heart chakra moving emotional and energetic blockages. This pose is great for when you have an energy dip in the day.  Instead of reaching for caffeine do camel pose, observe how you feel more energetic and lighter after.  Please make sure before you engage in camel you warm up before, do some sun salutations and some other backbends like cobra and bridge pose.

Bridge pose 

This pose is a less intense backbend than camel, but also has numerous benefits.  including improving digestion, stimulating the endocrine system, improving the nervous system and boosting your energy and vitality. 

Bridge pose fuels our body with energy to keep us strong and motivated and is a powerful pose for anyone, especially women who tend to feel run down, and generally feeling uninspired. It evokes more energy, creativity and love. 

These are just some of the asanas that reduce fatigue, strengthen the organs, bones and muscles, activate the chakras and revitalise the body and mind to help you feel invigorated and with more vitality. 

If you are looking to take your practise and knowledge of yoga to the next level come and join us on one of our yoga teacher training programmes