18 May Ray Child May 18, 2012 Be Kind & Grateful Hot Yoga, Life, Mind gratitude, hot yoga dallas, kindness 0 Comment Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. Be kind. Be grateful. Wow. Are we really going to tell you to be kind, love everyone and yourself, create world peace, and sing Kumbaya day and night? Not exactly :) However, all of us at Sunstone are taught that being kind and grateful are two of the stepping stones to learning to love yourself and others. Let us break it down for you in our terms... Be kind to yourself. Being kind starts with internal kindness. In our hyper-critical, fast-moving, image-driven world most of us spend our time bouncing from task to task indulging internal chatter that judges our actions and interactions and provides a soundtrack of constant nit-picking. Many of these little thoughts are not kind -- they only make us feel bad -- and for some of us spiral into even worse self-talk like which produces feelings of defeat. These thoughts are ultimately counter-productive because you haven’t resolved the issue underlying the first negative thought. So ... how can you turn this type of situation into a kinder experience? Being kind to yourself begins, first, with simply noticing when you are engaging in negative self-talk. Become aware whenever you are not thinking kind or grateful thoughts about yourself. Next, evaluate why you are thinking that way. What do you really want? What is your ultimate goal? Finally, find a “next step” toward what you really want. This is not a huge, overwhelming thing like “I will never eat cake or anything unhealthy ever, ever again.” It is a small, accomplishable goal like “I will take a Hot Yoga class tonight.” It is a baby step. And … be grateful. Give yourself gratitude for your little accomplishments! Say you were in the scenario referenced in point 3, and you went and took that Hot Yoga class, turning negative self-talk into positive action. Be proud of yourself and grateful for your fortitude. With so many work and family demands, it is often difficult just to get yourself to the studio. Recognize it the moment you walk in (“I am grateful to be here tonight to take this class.”). Carry that kindness and gratitude into class with you (i.e., don’t let the negative self-talk start again). During class, focus on only yourself in the front mirror. Focus on how good it feels to be doing yoga. Don’t worry about whether your postures are “perfect” or better than yesterday. Be kind to your body grateful for your body’s unique abilities. By practicing kindness and gratitude in your own mind, it will become easier to extend that same kindness to others. Related Articles Our Five Teaching Principles At Sunstone Yoga, our vision is to become one of the world’s most influential fitness associations who transforms the very idea of fitness from isolated physical activity into an integrated body, mind and life practice. Focus, Pain Management, and Dallas Hot Yoga When you think of hot yoga, pain management may not be something you directly associate with all the bending and stretching of a yoga class. But new evidence directly links the benefits of focus and breathing with significant improvements in pain perception. Yoga and Mental Exercise Pilates vs Yoga Pilates vs Yoga – Which is Right for You? Since I was given the opportunity of growing up overseas as a Missionary girl; I learned at a young age to value the art of learning to understand where concepts originated from – so that would include the practice of Pilates or Yoga. I can share with you what I have learned so far and maybe you might be able to add something of value to your own experiences and journey. How to Be a Good Student Dear Student, It is an honor and privilege to guide you through your practice each day you’re in my class. Teachers do not exist without students. It is through you that I am able to refine my craft. My hope is that every time you leave the studio you feel fulfilled, in a different mindset than you entered and empowered with more knowledge about yourself and your practice. How To Choose A Pesonal Trainer Working with a personal trainer can be a great way to help you meet your fitness goals, avoid injury, and find some additional motivation. But, how do you choose the right personal trainer for you? Here are our tips for choosing a Dallas personal trainer: What Is Pilates? What To Know Before Your First Class We know that it can be a little bit intimidating to try a new workout class. And, since there are so many different kinds of classes available today, it can be hard to keep them straight or to know which one is right for you to try. If you’re considering taking a Pilates class, we’re here to help you with some information you should know before your first class, and some tips to help you! Comments are closed.