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What is Mindful Movement?

Mindful movement means slowing down. Being present in what we are doing at any one time. By practicing mindful movement we can slow down to hear or discover what we are thinking and feeling. We can then allow that pause to help us decide what to do with the feelings or thoughts.

Practicing mindful movement can help us in our everyday lives. There are movements that calm, movements that energize, movements that help with sleep, movements that ignite gratitude and movements that improve athletic performance.

Reduce Anxiety

  • Eagle Pose

    beneficial for quieting the mind and bringing the attention to the body.

  • Legs up the Wall Pose

    a simple but effective anxiety-busting posture that calms the chatter in our minds.

  • Fish Pose

    can be used for fatigue and anxiety relief, as well as gentle back and shoulder stretching. Beginners may want to place a thickly-folded blanket beneath the head for neck support if they are experiencing any discomfort.

Calm

  • Straight Forward Bend

    forward bends are excellent for calming our nervous system, providing a release of the upper body and soothes the mind through gentle inversion.

  • Half Moon - Balancing Pose

    quiet the mind and cultivate focused awareness.

  • Tree - Balancing Pose

    quiet the mind and cultivate focused awareness.

  • Airplane - Balancing Pose

    quiet the mind and cultivate focused awareness.

Energize

  • Childs Pose

    stimulates your nervous system and helps reenergize your body.

  • Warrior II

    awakens and energizes the body and empowers strength.

  • Chair Pose

    awakens and energizes the body and empowers strength.

  • Upright Cat

    a seated version of the classic cat/cow move is designed to move energy through the spine, by activating through rocking the spine back and forth without putting pressure on it.

  • Upright Cow

    a seated version of the classic cat/cow move is designed to move energy through the spine, by activating through rocking the spine back and forth without putting pressure on it.

Sleep

  • Easy Forward Bend

    creates an overall sense of ease in the body while opening the hips.

  • Plow Pose

    turning the blood flow around can bring the body a calming sense of vitality, great for sleep.

  • Corpse Pose

    gets the body into a relaxed state to focus the attention on the breath and calming.

  • Supine Spinal Twist - Spinal Twists

    gentle twists relieve tension through the spine to rinse out tension from the day.

  • Seated Spinal Twist - Spinal Twists

    gentle twists relieve tension through the spine to rinse out tension from the day.

  • Reclined Butterfly

    helps the body get ready to rest and observe the breath. It can be helpful to place one hand on the heart and one hand on the belly to feel the rise and fall of each inhale and exhale.

Improve Athletic Performance

  • Mindful Movement for Yoga Teachers

    Guide for Yoga Teachers practicing mindful movement.

    Mindful Movement for Yoga Teachers Guide

  • Seated Pigeon

    improves mobility.

  • Cobra

    releases pressure in the spine.

  • Dolphin

    stretches the upper back and shoulders, hamstrings, calves and foot arches at the same time.

  • Frog

    improves strength of connective tissue around the ankles and knees, which makes it a great warm-up movement prior to lower-body exercises.

  • Fish - Supported Backbends

    they very lightly stretch tight spots, while giving athletes a chance for deep relaxation, which speeds up recovery.

  • Bridge - Supported Backbends

    they very lightly stretch tight spots, while giving athletes a chance for deep relaxation, which speeds up recovery.

  • Reclined Big Toe

    strengthens the knees and can target the IT band (a common tight spot in runners) and can relieve backaches and sciatic pain. Using a band/strap makes it accessible for everyone.

  • Boat Pose

    increases abdominal and hip flexor strength.

  • Bow Pose

    stretches the front of the body, improves posture and strengthens the back muscles.