A Moment of Calm, Episode Five: Vitalities

Vitality is defined as "exuberant physical strength" or "mental vigor". As I read through several definitions, I thought to myself, I would just like to be able to jump out of bed without being motivated by the promise of a nap later. So exuberant energy? Mental vigor? SIGN ME UP! Vitality is what we are aiming for this week as we introduce twists into the mix.

Think of a washcloth that you twist and squeeze to get the excess water out. When we twist, we are essentially doing this with our torso, eliminating toxins and anything else we don’t need, and providing a rush of fresh blood and oxygen to our bodies. And yes, this absolutely happens when we do even one twist. Twisting has so many amazing benefits: improving digestive function, detoxing toxins out of your system, releasing your low back and maintaining a healthy range of motion in your spine, just to name a few!

Life can be a lot. If you are anything like me, there are times you feel as though you are drinking from a fire hydrant. Or, maybe you are just being squeezed in every direction. I know for me, I certainly have times where I feel squeezed as a mom, as a friend, and as an employee - - like there just isn’t enough time in a day. I can’t say this enough, when we are more intentional with our time, we become more productive and efficient. We are able to connect to the people that matter in our life. Quality connection can bridge a lot of gaps in today’s world of seemingly endless “to dos".

So how do we do that? We change our perspective. “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at, change.” That is another one of my favorite little wisdom nuggets I’ve acquired along the way. What if you planned out even one minute of calm in your day? This week, for example, we are working with twists. What if you, on purpose and with intention, wrung out all the “junk” you don’t need (enter twisting) to make space for more good stuff (remember, watching that good pile grow). A minute is enough, it doesn’t have to be perfect, you just need to start!

Twisting is one of those yoga poses that is so versatile. You can twist standing or sitting at your desk! Then if you combine your twisting with the breathing work from week one, BAM! It’s like a little mini oasis to help you find your efficient, productive and connected self.

Just like the previous weeks, practice this tutorial on its own, or combine it with any of the other weeks to make it your own unique retreat that supports you in the absolute best way. Sometimes being all tangled and twisted up could be viewed as frustrating, but sometimes twisting (in a purposeful way) can be highly effective and beneficial. It all depends on the lens you are looking through.

We are here to support you so you can find and create ways to better support yourself.