Yoga tips for coronavirus quarantine
March 29, 2020
With a worldwide pandemic going on, everybody’s finding ways to comfortably adapt to the situation. Although it will never be comfortable, people tend to feel better about their daily routines when there is a schedule involved. Since many states have declared a stay-at-home order, people can only find themselves in their houses or on a daily adventure outside. One way to beat the cabin fever is by trying yoga.
Yoga is the practice of connecting one’s mind, body, and soul through multiple variations of poses and breathing. Most people are turned away from yoga with the thought in mind that they need to be flexible to do these poses, but anybody can practice yoga.
“I personally believe the benefit of practicing yoga is the breath,” said Taylor Wooley, a yoga instructor at High Altitude Fitness in Incline Village. “The breath comes first and foremost. By definition, yoga literally means, ‘union, connection, and to yoke.’ If you can breathe, and if you have a body, you can do yoga.”
Not only does practicing yoga help keep the physical body in check, but it also helps with mental wellness. “Yoga is the factor to my everyday sanity, especially in times like this,” said Wooley. “Daily asana practice and meditation have helped me stay present during the worry of this pandemic.”
Staying focused and staying in a meditative state while practicing yoga is difficult to master. Keeping an intention in mind helps the yogi stay in the present moment on their yoga mat.
“The intentions I keep foremost in my mind, is gratitude,” said Wooley. “I have gratitude for all the people out there working to keep us safe as we do our part to stay home and for all the things, feelings, and people in my life.
“Another intention I keep in mind is staying present. Oftentimes, when we step onto the mat and our brain is busy, and our breath is erratic. Setting an intention to remind myself to stay present is key. Also, meeting myself halfway and understanding it’s okay when my mind is busy. I don’t judge myself, I smile, sit with my feelings, my busy mind, and remind myself that this feeling and this business is why I decide to step on my mat.”
Diving into this spiritual and physically demanding journey by oneself can be a little intimidating. Luckily, teachers such as Wooly and Grace Aber from Mountain Lotus yoga have both decided to start teaching from home.
“I started to do some online soundboard mediations in my back yard,” said Aber. “I try to spread some calm and relaxing energy on social media. I always look for ways to give back to my community every day.”
Though these yogis are used to teaching on the daily, teaching online is a whole different experience.
“Honestly, the weirdest part is the beginning when all I’m doing is talking to an empty room,” said Wooley. “Then I realize my students, my friends, strangers, are tuning in, to take time out of their day to check in with themselves.”
For regular practitioners, it might be a little weird to start practicing in their living room. Yogis are used to the heat, the smell of essential oils, and the flowing music the instructor uses to set a mood.
“Being able to set the vibe comes with who you are,” Wooley said. “I believe you can create a sacred space anywhere and anytime for your practice. Whether it be a room full of 40 people, or me talking to my laptop. Teaching yoga is my true passion, I know I am sharing what I love, what I have found has helped me, and I choose to create a loving space for people to feel safe and 100 percent themselves.”
Doing yoga at home
Light a candle, find an empty space, and lay down your mat, towel, or even just the floor. One way to get into a good headspace is by breathing in a good intention through the nose and releasing a heavy breath through the mouth, releasing negative thoughts. For example, inhaling love and exhaling hate.
Once you’ve finally found yourself settled, try these deep relaxing poses from Aber and Wooley themselves:











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