YOGA + MOVEMENT
WHERE YOUR ATTENTION GOES,
YOUR ENERGY FLOWS BETSY WEINER (SHE/HER)
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re you reading this article or this magazine while eating, drinking, or on the treadmill? Are you attempting to multitask? Even as you read, are you simultaneously thinking about what you need to do next? If you said yes, you are not alone. We spend most of our days with our attention and energy constantly being pulled in every direction. Social media, family, work, pets, news; it’s a constant conveyor belt of thoughts, feelings, and energy moving from one thing to the next. No wonder we feel scattered, exhausted, and overwhelmed.
“[The] constant conveyor belt of thoughts, feelings, and energy moving from one thing to the next [can leave us] feeling scattered, exhausted, and overwhelmed. “
Perhaps you decide to set it all aside and take some time to do yoga. One reason it feels so good when we practice is the act of moving and breathing in a directed way helps to align the mind and body. We ask the mind to focus on breath or posture, to pay closer attention to one or the other and
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nothing else. Eventually these attunements facilitate a calm mind, a state of present moment awareness, and an inner state of ease without judgment or distraction. Either way, whether through posture or breath, the conveyor belt of busy and distracted mind and energy slows down considerably. The best news about attention and energy is they go hand in hand. Where your attention goes, your energy flows, and when you focus your energy, your attention will indeed follow. This leads to an enhanced ability to be mindful and aware of what’s happening at any moment. Focused awareness holds the innate power to calm the mind which translates to increased happiness, presence, and inner peace. Visualization is another practice whereby attention and energy synergistically connect. These types of practices help move awareness in specific ways when you can envision your inner vitality flowing like a river, shining like the sun, or connecting us with the Earth. Imagine yourself in a state of happiness or joy and notice what physiological and psychological effects present for you. Imagine yourself in a stressful or difficult situation and notice what shows up. Remember, where your attention goes, your energy flows. A precious commodity, energy can be concentrated and directed for your physical and mental benefit. Gathering the experiences of channeling our innate inner power by focusing our attention within a yoga practice reminds us we have access to this force when we utilize those same tools in daily life. Stop, take a breath, get
grounded and allow your attention to stay on one thing at a time. The following two practices are designed to help you channel your energy and attention in specific ways. These poses shift, concentrate, and direct your precious energy. The first practice will guide you towards a more energized and uplifted feeling; use this practice to start your day or in the middle of the day when you need a boost. The second serves to ground, relax, and calm the body and mind; use this practice later in the day or before bed. Follow the prompts to guide your breath and movement, and feel free to modify as needed. Notice how your energy moves and allow yourself the gift of mindful awareness in these practices. Pay attention afterwards for longer lasting changes in your ability to focus and be present for the things that matter most in your life. Be discerning in your practice about how you move and breathe. Where your attention goes, your energy indeed flows.
“Focused awareness holds the innate power to calm the mind which translates to increased happiness, presence, and inner peace.”
MNYOGALIFE.COM
