Sacred Mountain Yoga
  • Home
  • About
  • Weekly Classes
    • Memberships & Packages
  • Videos
  • Chair Yoga
    • Chair Yoga Online Teacher Training
  • Contact
    • Blog

5 Tips to Take Your Yoga Practice to the Next Level

11/30/2021

0 Comments

 
More than exercise, yoga is an experience for your mind, body, and soul. For some, it's an escape from the daily hustle of the world around them. For others, it's an incomparable fitness routine used to improve flexibility, tone muscles, and calm the mind. Here are five tips to take your yoga practice to the next level.

1. Your Media Streaming Device is Your Backup Plan

Using a media streaming device to keep on top of practice sessions means you can participate anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection. Because it’s portable, you can take it on vacation or on business trips. The beauty of a portable streaming device is that all you have to do is plug it in and you can choose a yoga class or find relaxing music with ease.  

With several yoga streaming apps on the market, you can also choose a digital instructor right from your phone and set a daily, weekly, or monthly goal for your practice.

2. Know your Intentions

Intentions and goals may be similar, but they are not the same thing. A goal is restricted by a time frame and a specific outcome. An intention, however, is often intangible. It's more of a personal quality or characteristic that cannot be measured the same way a goal can. Your intentions give you a reason to keep going that goes above and beyond a regular goal, and they can be spiritual in nature as well as physical or mental. This will help you achieve overall wellness, so don’t hesitate to incorporate prayer into your routine.

3. Find a Well-Trained, Enjoyable Teacher

Finding the right teacher for your yoga practice can mean the difference between "Can't I skip it today?" and "I can't wait for my next yoga session!" You need an instructor with the ability to motivate and inspire you into action through your best days and your worst.

Yoga teachers come in many shapes and forms. One instructor may possess an upbeat, energetic personality and is always on the move. Another could display a calmer, more rhythmic demeanor better suited for introverted personalities. It's okay to shop around a bit before you decide who you’d like to learn from.

4. Give Yourself at Least Seven Minutes to Practice

While yoga professionals tend to disagree on the minimum amount of time you should practice every day, it is widely accepted that a short daily yoga practice is highly beneficial. Regularly practicing yoga can improve flexibility and posture. It can reduce stress, help you lose weight, and give you more energy. Yoga can also improve your breathing, boost your mood, and enhance concentration and mental clarity. Daily yoga practice can strengthen your overall health, and even help you live longer.

For all those reasons, amp up your yoga game by integrating it into your daily routine. Working practice into your routine every day can help you stay motivated -- as can incorporating technology like Smartwatches to keep you on track. With a durable Smartwatch, you never have to skip a session because you can follow along with yoga instruction on your phone no matter where you are without disturbing those around you. You can get started with a five-minute routine, which will help you ease practice into your day no matter how busy you are.

5. Meditate Rather than Zoning Out

Yoga has quite a few slow-paced exercises and it can be easy to catch yourself zoning out during your regular routine. Transform your unproductive mind wandering into an opportunity for meditation, a simple way to escape into your mind and concentrate on your present self. This is the perfect way to relieve stress and find your center in a busy world. Learn how you can incorporate meditation into your specific workout.

Taking your yoga practice to the next level can help you de-stress, improve your physical health, and learn how to get in tune with your own body and mind. Once you do that, you can turn your practice into a routine that will aid you in your wellness journey for years to come. 
​
This blog post was written and contributed by James Hall at seniorcarefitness.com. 
Picture
0 Comments

Yoga and Huntington's Disease

7/5/2020

0 Comments

 
The HDYO (Huntington's Disease Youth Organization) and I have teamed up to provide
our Chair Yoga & Mobility classes to the Huntington's Disease community!

These classes are designed for people affected by Huntington's disease in the early to mid stages, and can also be useful for people with other neurological disorders such as Ataxia and MS.

It’s my utmost honour and passion to share my knowledge and expertise of Yoga Therapeutics with the Huntington's Disease community.

My goal is to empower individuals to improve the quality of their lives.  I’ve spent many years trying to figure out the best way to cope with living in an HD family. I've dealt with caregiver burnout, depression and years of chronic pain.
Plus, the many stresses that come with being at-risk and genetic testing.

Classes are designed for the HD community and are vary in level of accessibility.  Although the disease process can’t be altered, a routine exercise program can help address the various areas of decline.

These group  and per-recorded classes can be very beneficial to help people maintain health and mobility, however are not a substitute for one on one yoga therapy which may be more appropriate and accessible for the individual's needs.

The focus of these classes is to maintain current health, mobility and prevent against the physiological decline. 

These classes can and should be used in conjunction with other treatments and exercise programs.

I'm so grateful to the HDYO for supporting these programs and making them accessible to people all over the world! 


Check us out on Youtube! 
we now have our own 'YOGA FOR HD'  playlist

Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Self Care for Caregivers

7/5/2020

0 Comments

 
Thanks to the Huntington Society of Canada for facilitating this and asking me to present for their virtual Community Education Forum! Living in an HD family is tough.
It's been a long journey to get here, I'm so pleased that my experiences caring for my mom
can help others reverse or avoid burning out!

If you missed our virtual CEF, Self-Care for the Caregiver on May 30, don't worry!
The recording is now available on the Huntington Society of Canada's YouTube channel at
https://youtu.be/H88Wcl8gRqM.
Give it a watch!

"Sincere thanks again to Natalie for such a thorough and thought-provoking presentation."
Picture
0 Comments

​Invest in Rest

8/7/2018

0 Comments

 
Good sleep is a necessity for good health and well-being throughout your life. Getting enough quality sleep at the right times can help protect your mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety.
... 
Some benefits of quality sleep include: 
✨ hormone balancing 
✨weight control 
✨ improved memory 
✨ lower stress 
✨ improve mood 
...
A few ways I’ve learned to improve the quality of sleep is to turn off all the lights and mobile devices 30 min before bed , journal , take magnesium supplements & melatonin , invest in a good mattress, practice gentle yoga and follow a regular sleep schedule. 
...
Got a good sleep tip? Post below 👇🏼
#sleepquality #benefitsofsleep
0 Comments

Social Media & Mental Health

8/7/2018

0 Comments

 
We all have a habit of opening our social media accounts multiple times per day. What seems like a useful tool to connect and share information can have negative effects on our mental health and well being. 
...
The American Academy of Pediatrics has warned about the potential negative effects in young kids and teens, including cyber bullying and “Facebook depression”. 
Even in adults , the apps become addictive and people begin to socialize more through the apps and have less interactions with the people around them. 
...
Using FB and IG has also been shown to cause anxiety and low self worth as more and more we are comparing ourselves to what we see from other people; success (likes, follows & monetization) , beauty and wealth. 
...
It’s important to realize people only show what they want you to see. Filters are used more frequently than not, and things are not always as they seem. So what do we do about it? For some of us we need to be on these platforms for our business. 
... 
what are your thoughts ? Do you ever feel burdened by your accounts? Attached and worried about likes and follows? I definitely can relate to that 🤚🏼. 
...
What I find most helpful is to not scroll. I post, check a few times on activity, respond to messages and log out. It’s also helpful to unfollow accounts that make you depressed when you come across them. Detox daily from the device and socialize more with friends, family and colleagues around you. 
...
As adults, we need to parent ourselves and stop the overuse of our own phones and devices on a regular basis. That may mean using your apps at scheduled times, avoiding scrolling too much and be ok with feeling uncomfortable. 
... 
good luck 🙏 
..,
#socialmedia #yogatherapy #yogatherapist
...
Picture
0 Comments

2017 Wrap Up

12/31/2017

0 Comments

 
​“Pursue what catches your heart, not what catches your eyes.”
Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart 
........................................... 
As 2017 wraps up , I feel so grateful to all the people I’ve got to meet , collaborate with and learn from . I’m so grateful to the HD communities for giving me opportunities to travel , teach and connect with people affected by Huntington’s Disease. 
...........................................
Thanks to the studios , students , studio owners for allowing me to teach Functional Yoga & Mobility method and supporting the Movement for Mental Health Workshops! 
...........................................
Thanks to all the businesses that continue to incorporate our Corporate Wellness Programs into their model of employee Healthcare. 
And to all of the seniors homes and hospitals that have been foundational in me developing Chair Yoga programs across the city and inspiring me to create my first Chair Yoga teacher training - coming in spring of 2018 ❤️
...........................................
This year has been great and I couldn’t have done it without my team - 
Rea in Focus​ 
@dennis Perrin 
Summer Huntington​

We’ve got lots in store for 2018 ! 
Thank you for believing in the mission to reduce suffering wherever possible : ) 
..........................................
Huntington Society of Canada Toronto Chapter​ 
Young People Affected by Huntington's Disease​ HDYO (Huntington's Disease Youth Organisation)​ EarthFresh​ CORE Strength & Conditioning Studios​ Yoga Light Studio​
Yoga Loft​ Integrative Health Institute​ Runnymede Healthcare Centre​
Applied Yoga Integration​
...........................................
#yogatherapy #happynewyear #gratefulheart #yogatherapist
Picture
0 Comments

We're Expanding !

11/29/2017

0 Comments

 
​"Whenever you want to achieve something, keep your eyes open, concentrate and make sure you know exactly what it is you want. No one can hit their target with their eyes closed."
Paulo Coelho
... 
I have my focus on expanding and growing Sacred Mountain Yoga to reach more people around the globe while building a sustainable future for myself. 
Everyday I wake up grateful to be able to help people feel better in their bodies and improve their lives . It's taken a long time to get here , and the work is not nearly done , but I'm excited to keep moving forward...one day at a time ❤️ 
... 
thank you to all of my students , studio owners colleagues, and followers for your help & support in the process! 🙏🏼 
... 
Namaste

#yogatherapy #yogatherapist
Picture
0 Comments

Be Your Own Hero

11/29/2017

0 Comments

 
Be your own hero 👊🏼 
... 
There comes a point in time where we have to decide - either to be victims of our circumstances and life experiences or to become the hero of our story . 
... 
Yoga therapy is about empowering the individual . Building strength , mobility and self awareness in order to meet the growing challenges of life . 
...
Decide, one way or another , who you want to be in this world and know that there are many people who can help you find your way. 
... 
Namaste 💕
Picture
0 Comments

Breathe deeply

11/29/2017

1 Comment

 
Breathe deeply. 
...
Breath is our life force. If we can learn how to control and regulate our breath, we can gain mastery over our minds and physiology. 
... 
master your breath = master your mind 
Picture
1 Comment

Movement for Mental Health

11/19/2017

0 Comments

 
​Feeling grateful to all of the people that came out yesterday for my first Movement for Mental Health workshop at the @yogalightstudio ! 
...
Teaching people simple and practical ways of applying yoga is my passion , especially for mental health issues . All the techniques we explored have been personally tried and tested on myself and my clients over the past several years. This will be the first of many workshops to come ! Building resilience, inner strength and self awareness is essential for living well ❤️ 
. . . 
Contact me to book a workshop for your community : ) 
....
Namaste 🙏🏼 
...
#yogatherapy #yogatherapist #yogaforhealth
Picture
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Author

    Natalie Marnica is a passionate advocate of holistic health and the founder of Sacred Mountain Yoga. 

    Archives

    November 2021
    July 2020
    August 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • About
  • Weekly Classes
    • Memberships & Packages
  • Videos
  • Chair Yoga
    • Chair Yoga Online Teacher Training
  • Contact
    • Blog