Saturday is my day to share some postive ways for dealing with the stresses of life. Trying to quit smoking is a biggie. I hope that with this yoga series someone can benefit from my methods for dealing with life's challenges in a positive way. Let me know you were here=).
GUS (Gave Up Smoking) is a community support diary for Kossacks in the midst of quitting smoking. Any supportive comments, suggestions or positive distractions are appreciated. If you are quitting or thinking of quitting, please -- join us! We kindly ask that politics be left out.
You can also click the GUS tag to view all diary posts, or access the GUS Library at dKosopedia for a great list of stop-smoking links. Check it out! GUS Library
A message to ALL quitters. You don't have to avoid GUS if you have a failed quit. We won't give you a bad time and we consider the failed quits as "practice" for the real quit.
Happy New Year! Namaste =)
I am so happy you are here. Tonight is probably going to be a late night for some, so let's take care of ourselves now. Drink water, deep breaths, sit up straight. And since it is the cold and flu season, consider carrying some anti-bacterial goo with you. Today just for my OCD, take your remote control and cell phone and wipe them down with a clorox wipe then let them air dry.
Ok, five happy deep breaths and we are sitting up straight. Pull your shoulders down, stretch your neck. Roll your neck (I'm sure you hear cracking).
I found a lovely yoga video for beginners. There are poses and a short introduction. Breathing starts at 2:25 and poses follow.
And/or try this set.
The Mountain Pose promotes the experience of stillness, strength, relaxed power, and immovable stability associated with mountains. This yoga posture, and coming back to this stillness after other poses, is one of the ways of becoming acquainted with stillness.
Practicing the Standing Spread Leg Forward Fold can strengthen and stretch your inner and back legs and your spine. People with lower back problems should avoid doing the full forward bend. For beginners, you may use props like a folding chair to support your forearms.
In Hindu art, the triangle is a potent symbol for the divine principle, and it is frequently found in the yantras and mandalas used for meditation.
The Warrior Pose stretches and strengthens the arms and legs, increases stamina, improves balance and concentration, and can also relieve backaches.
In the Downward Facing Dog Pose, you build up strength in the upper arms and you give space and opening in the back, neck, chest, hips and shoulders. If you let your ankles sink nicely to the floor in this Asana, you stretch the calves at the same time. In Yoga, this pose is often used as an exercise in between other exercises, but it is in fact an exercise in itself.
The Hero Pose is one of the basic Seated Postures, also excellent for Meditation. The internal rotation of the upper legs and knees is opposite to the movement involved in the Lotus Pose; as such, it both loosens the hips, knees, and ankles in preparation for the Lotus Pose and acts as a mild counterpose. The Hero Pose is also the starting Yoga position for several forward bends, backward bends, and twists.
New Year’s Toasts
In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, but never in want. ~ Traditional Irish toast
Stir the eggnog, lift the toddy, Happy New Year, everybody. ~ Phyllis McGinley
Here's a toast to the future, A toast to the past, And a toast to our friends, far and near. May the future be pleasant; The past a bright dream; May our friends remain faithful and dear. ~ Anonymous
Sat AM: effervescent's yoga party
Sat PM: Open
Sun Am: Safina Happy New Year, where is that aspirin?
Sun PM: kcc
Mon AM: Open
Mon PM: Vacationland (Back on Mondays for the New Year!)
Tue AM: Open
Tue PM: Open
Wed AM: Open
Wed PM: FrugalGranny
Thur AM: Open
Thur PM: Dave in AZ
Fri AM: flumptytail
Fri PM: anodnhajo's music extravaganza!