Why Does Yoga Give Us So Much Energy?

splashing-275950_640One of the most fundamental tools to great yoga and a healthy body is the yogic breath.  Learning how to breathe the yoga breath is surprisingly easy.  What is difficult is to keep going.  This style of breathing will bring incredible levels of energy and vitality to your day.  Higher levels of energy boost your mood and ignite creativity.  When we are inspired spiritually speaking, contribute new insights and become a better team player.

In essence, the yogic breath has profound mind-body-spirit benefits.  Our body is built on a network of wiring called the central nervous system. This system is made of a balance between two important and different functions called the sympathetic and parasympathetic. When we breathe from the belly, we initiate the well-being aspect of our physiology.  Even sitting at our computer or desk, we can practice this yoga breath. Deep, calm, regular breathing mirrors feelings of safety, support and that the world is safe.

The Buddha once said, I live in two worlds, that of being and doing.  What he meant was that he was able to accomplish everyday tasks, doing with staying present and calm.

Using our primary muscles of breathing, we inhale, expanding the abdomen, allowing the diaphragm to release, the lung tissue to expand and the deep, rich oxygenated breaths to flow. When we stay connected to our breath, we let life unfold without attaching to results. We circulate the body with life force energy and wire our brain to stay calm, confident and centered right in the center of change.

Yoga also works great for the overall toning and conditioning of the system because it stretches and releases tension in some of the deepest and tightest areas of the body.  Shoulder and hip opening postures place tensile pressure on key areas which then help us to unlock anxiety, fear, stress, tension and transform this into vitality, support and feeling good.

When we use our body’s own natural resistance, and hold weight bearing postures for long periods of time, we increase the level of synovial fluid and hydrolauranic acids located in the connective tissues throughout the body.  These vital life force energies bring tremendous stamina and strength both to the mind and body and help promote healing, health and balance to the system.

Postures taught by St. Louis Corporate Yoga are both safe as well as challenging.  Students learn proper alignment techniques as well as important anatomy tips to help break apart difficult postures and learn how to build one’s practice.

Vinyasa Yoga or literally “moving with breath” is one of the safest, healthiest and beneficial exercises available today.  All corporate yoga classes are open to any student, level, background, or ability. Clayton Yoga corporate teachers have been described as warm, friendly, helpful, intelligent and articulate.

Practicing yoga has helped many people find tremendous peace, gratitude and joy.  Let St. Louis Corporate Yoga help you design a yoga program that uniquely fits your company’s individual needs today!  For a private free consultation about how to get corporate onsite yoga started in your workplace, please contact, Clayton Yoga, at 314-630-1677.  Namaste!

 

St. Louis Corporate Yoga Shares with Students the Benefits of First Chakra Clearing

red-112329_640In our corporate yoga onsite wellness programs, Clayton Yoga instructors share with their students beneficial ways to feel empowered, creative, less stressed.

In noticing our breath, we create a neutral, calm, peaceful center and transform tension, negativity into vitality and joy.

The specific Chakra meditation helps us to clear out our fears or blocks by connecting first with our powerful energy process centers called chakras.

The first energy center is our foundation.  It is interested in physical well-being and self-preservation.  As well, our first chakra determines for us our perception of whether or not physical needs are being met.

You may enjoy reading this script with a recording first, then laying comfortably on your back, playing back the audio and listening.  Many of us have powerful lines of energy in our body.  All we need to practice is learning to listen and receive them.  Sitting comfortably or lying down with eyes closed, begin to become aware of the breath.  Feel the breath as it enters with a cool feeling and then warming the breath as it gently travels down into the lungs.

Now we will begin.  Bring your awareness back to the meditation and when you become distracted, know that this is natural.  Always with gentleness, you will return to this present moment and be able to once again access powerful energy.

We start by closing our eyes and bringing our awareness to the tailbone located at the base of the spine.  Bath your Root with red: empowering, embodying, and grounding you in the ‘here and now’.  Let your Root take what it needs.

When we relax and practice yoga, we give our self space to dance with life’s changes and enjoy the fluidity of life’s mysteries.  One of the benefits of this practice is to feel more at home in the busy waters of our everyday life.

Allow your eyes to comfortably close, and come down into your breath, into your body, relaxing your belly, softening your mind.    And say the words: “I am here”.  I have a right to be here, as I am”.  “The Earth supports me”.

Fill the lungs with a deep inhale, bringing in energy, vitality and prana, the life force.  As you exhale, feel the body releasing toxins, stress and any negativity that has accumulated.  This root chakra allows the life force to circulate between two poles, on in the physical world of the body and the other in the realm of pure consciousness.

Feel yourself as an energy being.  Feel the healing energy and light at the base of the spine, moving all the way up the spine.  Fill the whole body with divine healing light and energy.  Allow that energy to fill the whole body with divine healing light.  Allow that healing to completely fill any empty areas or feelings of loss and hold the thoughts of those intentions as you allow the healing energy to bring your deepest desires to life and intentions into reality.    Hold yourself in your own center.  Stay with this deep, relaxing, peaceful feeling of bliss.    Now send this same peace to those you love and to the world.  May we live at home in these murky waters…Namaste!

For more information about getting a corporate yoga class started in your workplace, please contact Michelle Maue, 314-630-1677, info@claytonyoga.com today!

 

 

Key Benefits of Corporate Yoga Programs

Walter Jones TestimonialSt. Louis Corporate Yoga creates key benefits in our yoga wellness onsite program throughout greater St. Louis. 

What clients say from taking just a few yoga classes is a dramatic increase in higher levels of energy.   Even greater than coffee, which offers just a short 2-3 hour buzz; yoga by contrast, offers clients find sustained levels of higher energy throughout the day. 

Those who practice yoga also experience more confidence in their own health and rely less and less on drugs, medication and office visits to treat in many cases stress related issues, like the common cold, indigestion or chronic headaches.  Lower healthcare visits equal lower health insurance premiums reducing more costs for corporate company owners.

Lastly, a very powerful benefit we found is the overall better feelings of community and cooperative support with their work colleagues.

Overall feedback from corporate clients report that although work challenges continue, practicing yoga increases cooperation, teamwork and greater levels for compassion for company coworkers. 

Walter Jones states “As I was getting older, I wanted to do something, to improve my joints, flexibility and my strength, improve my health. With corporate yoga classes, I can come in the middle of the day, renew myself in the middle of the workweek. I love it. Changes I have noticed have been to improve flexibility and I find that I get a lot less stressful about things. I tend to feel that things will work themselves out if I don’t panic. I just think the best thing you can do for yourself is yoga in terms of improving your health, having a great outlook and overall tone body and muscle mass.”

Hear more about what Walter Jones has to say about St. Louis Corporate Video in this video testimonial:

Paula Teabeau says “I have always wanted to try yoga. I have seen it on TV. I have a very stressful job and wanted to also practice something where I could burn calories and also something calm for my mind. The camaraderie for my employees makes it enjoyable and it’s offered two times a week. Overall, it is a wonderful class.  Overall, I am less stressed, realized that a lot of my muscles have relaxed more, more ambidextrous, I am a different person, I have a different outlook, makes my day go faster, and helping me physically, mentally, and much better job performance. It gives you a different feeling about yourself and I would definitely recommend it”. 

See also more here about what Paula Teabeau has to say in this yoga video testimonial:

With over 10 years of experience, St. Louis Corporate Yoga are the corporate yoga experts.  We gladly bring extra yoga mats, yoga music, challenging and safe, accessible yoga postures and invite all students whether they are beginner or more advanced.  Our all levels yoga approach is great for the corporate yoga scene. 

St. Louis Corporate Yoga has offered onsite wellness programs to more than 10 companies and over 800 happy and satisfied students!  Call us today and let us help you create the most motivating yoga program to meet your company’s needs.  Please contact Michelle Maue, 314-630-1677 for more information or email, info@claytonyoga.com

Namaste!

Yoga = Natural High Energy = Positive Successful Life Results

3295083_sYogi’s have known for a long time that our energy levels can facilitiate enlightenment.  We have the ability to boost our own levels of energy.  The key to increasing our energy is to focus on the inside in a loving and positive manner.  Each of us according to the Tibetans is a piece of the divine energy.

Ways to increase our energy are:

  • Daily exercise
  • Eating alkaline-non-processed, non-dairy foods
  • Breathing deeply increasing oxygen rich blood back to our cells
  • Sleeping well consistently
  • Focusing on Gratitude and counting those blessings throughout the day
  • Develop wisdom that our weakness can often become our greatest ally
  • Letting go of judgment and remembering to value our intuition
  • Writing in a Journal
  • Making time for a Friend
  • Pray every morning you wake up

In everyday life, with all modern day complexities and lack of time, it is difficult to remain true to one’s own inner heart.  Yoga trains the mind through stretching to dig deeper, to look on the inside, and find hidden treasures.  Moments that we feel deep inner stillness can offer profound awakenings.  We discover that although there are weaknesses or cravings, we can notice and not take the bait.  Just like an underwater sea diver looking for beautiful coral at the bottom of the ocean, our soul is also searching to develop and heal.

The Buddha taught us that all life is change, temporal and fleeting.  When we attach to outcome and cling, we suffer.  When we let go, and let good, we allow life back in and we become luminous like a star in the night time sky. And in the words of Saint Francis d’ Assisi I wish to seek not so much to be understood, as to understand.

The Shinto Buddists do not meditate as much as they emphasize gratitude.  Through one’s awareness, we come to understand we are never alone, that everything is interdependent.  At my new corporate workplace, because of the constant efforts of my employer, the students who sign up, the room coordinator and the cleaning lady, we are able to enjoy a great yoga class.

Being a professional tennis player taught me that having things in itself is an empty experience.  More important than things, is being able to feel confident in one’s inner nature, to have a gift, to share, to inspire, and motivate pioneering new ways of living peacefully and collectively on this planet.  Now that is one great yoga pose.   Being  willingness to listen and grow from another, have an open mind and a courageous heart all these qualities keeps us energized and young.

Having too many struggles with people, lawsuits, adversity, and bad energy is extremely taxing to our energy body.  Prolonged tension can lead to energy depletion, a cranky mood, and irritability with our friends or much worse, dis-ease in the body.

In order to make the jump into a new paradigm, the desire must come from within.  If we are filling our holes or insecurity with a ‘quick fix’, that won’t do.   Before we embark upon the change for self-improvement, we must get clear as to why we wish to change.

Are we motivated by joy or by guilt?  Our deeper reasons for action provide us with how we shape our tomorrow.  Use your breath every day, witness your energy levels when they lower, and do not panic.  You newfound muscle of awareness will provide you with objectivity, neutrality and great inner strength.  Once you can bow to your inner critic, your tapestry of love will expand into the light and finding deeper meaning and purpose in life again…

 

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