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All post and stories are the sole property of Velvet Over Steel aka Coreen Trost. I write and create post in order to help others, so share as you want. I just ask that you link back or give VOS credit. Some of the stories are going into a book in progress. Thank You ALL.. for your support and help!!
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." ~ John Quincy Adams

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Unwind at Work in 5 Minutes By: Holly Allender

I remember an editor once said to me “I love the sound of deadlines as they go whooshing by.” This has always caused me much stress – why would you let a deadline get by you? Wouldn’t you control it? As an overachiever with Type A personality and a project manager and writer, I constantly stressed about meeting deadlines and expectations. Usually, I fell short, and I let myself down. On some level, I knew I was being unrealistic.

I’ve learned from yoga that when life throws you off center, find center within yourself. The following asanas (exercises) helped me stretch my tightly wound back, release my shoulders and hips, and relax my neck. By relaxing my body, my mind would disconnect from the stressors, and I would feel more balanced.

As with any exercise routine, do these exercises at your own pace, and follow your intuition.

Pelvic Tilts
1.Sit upright in your chair, feet firmly planted on the floor. Place your hands, palms down, on your knees.

2.Inhale through your nose and draw the breath into your belly. Tilt your hips forward, causing a curve in the lower back. Look up towards the ceiling.

3.Exhale through your nose, squeezing the breath out of the belly. Tilt your hips back, causing your lower back to curve outward. Allow your chin to rest on your chest.

4.Repeat three times.

Sit and Twist

1.Sit upright in your chair, feet firmly planted on the floor. Turn your body to the right.

2.Place your right hand on the cushion side of the chair and your left hand on the back of the chair.

3.Slowly twist from your lower back. Continue the twist up your spine and into your shoulders. Lastly, turn your head and look over your right shoulder. Hold the pose as you slowly inhale and exhale two to three times.

4.To come out of the pose, slowly release your head, shoulders, arms, and spine.

5.Sit with your hands resting on your knees/legs. Inhale and exhale two to three times.

6.Repeat two more times and then switch to the left side.

Leg-Crossed Forward Bend

1.Sit upright in your chair, feet firmly planted on the floor. Place your left ankle on your right knee. Place your hands, palms down, on your left knee and ankle.

2.Exhale and drop your chin to your chest. Slowly roll down, folding at the waist.

3.Bring your nose over your bent leg, feeling a stretch in the hips and lower back. Hold the pose for two to three breaths.

4.Inhale and slowly roll up.

5.Repeat two more times and then switch legs.

Meditation
Sit upright in your chair. Place your feet on the floor, and rest your hands gently in your lap. Breathing slowly, imagine yourself sitting next to a swiftly flowing river. As the river flows by you, drop any issues you have into the river. Watch them float away. Know that there is no need to interact with them. As they drift away, feel yourself relaxing, releasing, and becoming more centered. If the issues return, turn and look downriver to a waterfall. The issues float down the river and over the waterfall. Continue to breathe slowly, and when you’re ready, open your eyes. ~ By: Holly Allender
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9 comments:

  1. awesome post.
    5 minutes could do such wonder. wow.
    Happy Thursday!

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  2. Really like this movement, I sometimes spend to much time at my desk and get stiff.Can't do the 3rd one, just got back from getting my knee injected after being discarded by a horse yesterday.

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  3. I love yoga. I love the way it makes both my mind and body lean. It also totally helped back, shoulder and tendinitis problems I was havin' so I'm not doin' too bad for an old chick!

    God bless ya and have the most amazing day sweetie!!!

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  4. Good advice given, I have been doing this for years, it really works. Thanks for sharing.

    Yvonne.

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  5. I could actually do these exercises! I have a bad hip so I have to be careful these seem simple enough that anyone can do them.

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  6. Blogger ate my comment... Darn!!!!! Anyhow, I said that I've heard alot of great things about yoga... These days though, I don't have any stress, thank goodness...
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  7. I am going to try these! Thanks for the info!

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  8. This felt like Heaven!!

    I have been feverishly catching up on blogs of upto 4 days for 5.5 hours now. This is crazy. The meditation felt great.

    ReplyDelete

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