Declutter The Mind Through Yoga
Clutter isn’t just the physical things we accumulate in our homes. Clutter can also be found in our mental space such as lingering emotions, thoughts, expectations and overstimulation. Do you ever find at the end of the day you feel that you haven’t stopped once or struggle to recall what you have done? From the moment we open our eyes in the morning to the moment we shut them at night, let us ask ourselves, where was my mind today?
Endless to-do lists and constant overstimulation from our phones, social media, and news cause us to accumulate and maintain mental clutter. Like the physical things in your home, it helps to observe what you have, evaluate what you want to keep and what you need to let go of, and to be mindful about what new things you bring in. Like clearing our home we can also clear our head.
So where does yoga come into play here?
First off, we have to observe our mental space. We practice the ability to concentrate on our breath while simultaneously putting our body into a posture (asana). Have you ever started thinking about what you’re going to eat for lunch or if you should buy a new yoga mat during downward facing dog or shavasana? I know I have. This is what we are practicing when we practice yoga. Acknowledging the thinking mind and returning the focus to the breath, over and over again.
Sometimes during our yoga practice, we feel uncomfortable. “Can my legs really stretch like this?” or “This pose just feels impossible.” These are some examples of mental clutter that keep us distracted from focusing on our breath. However, we can let go of these uncomfortable feelings not by pushing them away but by accepting them. We breathe into the discomfort and overtime we can increase our ability to sit with uncomfortable situations with an open heart.
It is so important to then be mindful about what new things you bring into your mental space. For me, this meant getting rid of my poor taste in reality TV shows and stepping out of conversations of gossip. What and how much we consume in the media plays a huge role in the clutter we find in our mind. On the mat, this is why we set intentions before we practice. It is to help focus the mind and motivate you by giving a positive purpose for the practice.
As one of my teachers used to say, “Let it go and let it flow”.
Natalie Bruce, RYT
Fitness Realist
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