YOGA + Life® Magazines
  • Partner With Us
  • Subscribe
  • Education + Trainings
  • Retreat Directory
  • “The Practice”
  • HOME
  • FEATURED
    • Community + Culture
    • Wellness + Nutrition
    • Products
    • Profiles
    • Yoga + Fitness
    • Events
  • ALL CONTENT
    • Community + Culture
      • Art
      • Books
      • Community
      • Culture
      • Family
      • Fashion
      • Food + Drink
      • Nourish Me
      • Motivation
      • Music
      • Outdoors
      • Travel
    • Wellness + Nutrition
      • Self-Care
      • Nutrition
      • Psychology
      • Recipes
      • Therapy
      • Weight Loss
    • Products
      • Product Spotlights
      • Roundups
      • Try It On – Reviews
      • Try It Out – Reviews
    • Profiles
      • Business
      • Partner Profiles
      • People
      • Spotlight Cities
      • Students
      • Studios
      • Teachers
      • Seva Story
      • Sustainability Story
      • Storytelling
    • Yoga + Fitness
      • Asana
      • In the Practice
      • Meditation
      • Philosophy
      • Physiology
      • Sports
      • Workouts
    • Events
      • Festivals
      • Retreats
      • Training Spotlights
    • Inspiration From Y+L Partners
  • Y + L COMMUNITIES
    • COLORADO
    • MINNESOTA
    • NEW YORK
  • CONNECT
    • Order A Magazine
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contribute
    • Contact Us
  • LIVE CLASSES
Featured Posts
  • Cleanse Your Soul + Palate Through The Conscious Cleanse Cookbook | By Olivia Lyda
    • 13 views
  • Transforming Energy + Restoring Balance : Liz Gómez, Shamanic Energy Medicine | By Marisol Cruz
    • 60 views
  • Invoking The Divine Feminine in Challenging Times | By Jeanie Manchester
    • 46 views
  • Partner With Us
  • Subscribe
  • Education + Trainings
  • Retreat Directory
  • “The Practice”
0 Followers
2K Likes
Partners
YOGA + Life® Magazines
Subscribe
  • HOME
  • FEATURED
    • Community + Culture
    • Wellness + Nutrition
    • Products
    • Profiles
    • Yoga + Fitness
    • Events
  • ALL CONTENT
    • Community + Culture
      • Art
      • Books
      • Community
      • Culture
      • Family
      • Fashion
      • Food + Drink
      • Nourish Me
      • Motivation
      • Music
      • Outdoors
      • Travel
    • Wellness + Nutrition
      • Self-Care
      • Nutrition
      • Psychology
      • Recipes
      • Therapy
      • Weight Loss
    • Products
      • Product Spotlights
      • Roundups
      • Try It On – Reviews
      • Try It Out – Reviews
    • Profiles
      • Business
      • Partner Profiles
      • People
      • Spotlight Cities
      • Students
      • Studios
      • Teachers
      • Seva Story
      • Sustainability Story
      • Storytelling
    • Yoga + Fitness
      • Asana
      • In the Practice
      • Meditation
      • Philosophy
      • Physiology
      • Sports
      • Workouts
    • Events
      • Festivals
      • Retreats
      • Training Spotlights
    • Inspiration From Y+L Partners
  • Y + L COMMUNITIES
    • COLORADO
    • MINNESOTA
    • NEW YORK
  • CONNECT
    • Order A Magazine
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contribute
    • Contact Us
  • LIVE CLASSES
  • Books
  • CO YOGA + Life
  • Profiles

Moving Forward : Excerpt from “Motivational Yoga: 100 Lessons for Strength, Energy, and Transformation” | By Nancy Gerstein

  • Lexi Reich | Managing Editor
  • 174 views
  • 3 minute read
Total
3
Shares
3
0
0

The following is an excerpt of “Motivational Yoga: 100 Lessons for Strength, Energy, and Transformation” by Nancy Gerstein.

Taking Control of Your Energy State

On any given day, the choices you make can be significantly altered when you live in an active state of energy. Your energy state is your current identity, what you’re feeling right now is who you are. If you feel tired, your identity at this moment may be lethargic. If you feel sad, your identity may be withdrawn. Recognizing that fact, you can improve your mindset simply by changing your physiology.

Check in with yourself. How do you feel? Get very clear about it. Can you put a name to the feeling? Alow, fearful, or angry mood can ruin your day and turn people off, just as your bright, high-energy positive self will turn people on. When you have the ability to improve your mood and shift the direction of your energy and emotional state, your entire physiology — even the expression on your face and the light in your eyes changes. Researchers who study life experiences and the effects on body chemistry know this: When you feel different, you are different.

Asanas for Deepening

These practices increase bloodflow, move you out of your comfort zone, and get the  blood pumping to give you the power to transform your consciousness.

  • Mountain. Notice how your feet face forward to symbolize taking one step at a time in a progressive direction.
  • Lunge switch. Focus on your strong legs as you strengthen your lunge by switching  legs with a single jump.
  • Downward dog–upward dog. Begin in downward dog (photo a), and inhale to upward dog (photo b). Repeat the sequence five times.
  • Crescent lunge. Extend the arms out to the side, and move the front thigh bone parallel to the ground.
  • High lunge twist. Bring the opposite elbow to the outside of the knee for a twist.
  • Universal temple. As you exhale, round the upper back, pull the chin to the chest, and wrap the arms in a self-love hug (photo a). As you inhale, lift the torso, arch the spine, and reach up through the heart center while opening the arms to send your loving energy to all that need it (photo b).

 

 

 

Motivation Off the Mat

Be mindful of the emotional changes triggered by other people’s actions or words. Visualize a shield of light energy protecting you from unfavorable influences; don’t let negative people ruin your day. To stimulate positive life force around you, embody the kind of energy you want to attract.

If a word or phrase is meaningful to you, acronyms such as the following can help you remember the mindfulness of motivation.

AMF

Always

Moving

Forward

NOW

No

Opportunity

Wasted

 

IM DEEP (I’m deep)

Inspiration

Motivation

Dedication

Education

Exploration

Perspiration

Teacher Tip

Motivate yourself first before attempting to motivate others. Watch your attitude; it’s the first thing people notice about you. Take action, read books, experiment, travel and never stop learning. Be an inspiration for someone today.

Photo by (c)Human Kinetics.

Nancy Gerstein is a yoga teacher, speaker, and author. She is the creator of Motivational Yoga, a yoga style that empowers life decisions, goals, and results incorporating spiritually strengthening practices that bolster personal growth and self-motivation. Her classes feed body and mind, encouraging students to make conscious choices about how they direct thoughts, energy, and physical focus to live the best live they can. A Himalayan Institute–certified yoga teacher, Nancy is the author of three books including Guiding Yoga’s Light and Motivational Yoga: 100 Lessons for Strength, Energy, and Transformation. For more information, visit Motivational Yoga.
Total
3
Shares
Share 3
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Lexi Reich | Managing Editor
Lexi Reich | Managing Editor

After experiencing a yoga ashram nestled in the mountains of Colorado, Lexi became enthralled in the practice of yoga and meditation, and earned her yoga teacher training at the sacred space. Originally from Chicago, Lexi loves the holistic lifestyle she found in Colorado, and combining this passion with her writing is what makes her truly happy. Outside of her role as Managing Editor at Jaunt Media Collective, the publishing company behind YOGA + Life® and Spoke+Blossom, Lexi spends most of her time freelance writing and leading yoga classes. Besides this, you can find her hiking or daydreaming about traveling. Learn more at lexireich.com

Previous Article
  • Partner Profiles
  • Profiles

Partner Profile : Kaiut Yoga

  • hbittrolff
View Post
Next Article
  • Profiles
  • Studios

AKT : Cherry Creek | By Hannah Bittrolff

  • hbittrolff
View Post
More from Y+L
  • Play + Connect at Everland : Sedalia, Colorado | By Lexi Reich

    • Lexi Reich | Managing Editor
    View Post
  • RiverWonderGrass

    Rafting, Camping + Live Music : The 2021 RiverWonderGrass Expedition Lineup is Here

    • CO YOGA + Life®
    View Post
  • Hanuman Academy Launches Tantra Yoga Psychology Course : September 20 – October 31, 2020

    • YOGA + Life® Magazines
    View Post
  • Meet Two Featured Artists from CRUSH Walls Art Festival in Denver : September 14-20, 2020 | By Brooke Welsh

    • CO YOGA + Life®
    View Post
  • Eat, Drink and Learn During the Flatirons Food Film Festival Fundraiser this August

    • Bobby L'Heureux | Director or Partnerships, Y+L
    View Post
  • Keeping the Yoga Retreat Alive During a Pandemic | By Lisa Blake

    • Bobby L'Heureux | Director or Partnerships, Y+L
    View Post
  • Summer + Fall Adventure with RiverWonderGrass | By Brooke Welsh

    • Bobby L'Heureux | Director or Partnerships, Y+L
    View Post
  • Yoga & Collective Resilience : Hanuman Community Offers Online Event | By Wendy Wilkinson

    • CO YOGA + Life®
    View Post
  • Wellness Retreats – Can I Still Do This? | By Juli Rathke

    • Juli Rathke | Founder, YOGA + Life®
    View Post
  • UCHealth evrē 2020 Self Care Saturday for Women | By Karstee Davis

    • karsteedavis
    View Post
Archived Posts!
  • Try It On : Moonmalas by Megan | By Lexi Reich
    • 89
  • Mindful Kids Roundup 2020
    • 198
  • Palisade Gets An Upgrade | By Kim Fuller
    • 92
  • Red Cabbage + Sweet Carrot Slaw With Ginger Vinaigrette
    • 87
  • Product Spotlight : CARLbar | By Bobby L’Heureux
    • 149
Instagram
YES! March is Women’s History Month and we’re celebrating female identifying athletes with @her_summit ❤️
If you’re looking for some new intimate layers, the YOGA + Life team recommends @branwynofficial ✨
If you are looking to be an integral part of a growing global community of mindful + inspired individuals, we invite you to apply to the YOGA + Life Ambassador Program! Applications are OPEN to everyone and anyone...and we have to admit the benefits are pretty exciting ✨
This special 90-minute workshop combines the elements of yoga and journaling to help guide you in a creative, inspired headspace. Grab a pencil, notebook, yoga mat and your favorite herbal brew!
It’s the first day of February, and that means Valentine’s Day is less than two weeks away! We love to help you celebrate sweethearts and friends every Valentine’s Day ❤️ Our 2021 Gift Guide is live on yogalifelive.com!
When we consider our yoga practice as play, as lila, we can recognize opportunities to see the struggle/fear/frustration as a facade and release it.
We’re well into 2021 — how are your New Years goals holding up?
Focus on your internal well-being. Self-care is not only beneficial to oneself, but for the communal good. Together let’s rise up and rejuvenate with the help of our 2021 self-care essentials. Link in bio for full list of products!
Facebook
Facebook
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
YES! March is Women’s History Month and we’re celebrating female identifying athletes with @her_summit ❤️
If you’re looking for some new intimate layers, the YOGA + Life team recommends @branwynofficial ✨
If you are looking to be an integral part of a growing global community of mindful + inspired individuals, we invite you to apply to the YOGA + Life Ambassador Program! Applications are OPEN to everyone and anyone...and we have to admit the benefits are pretty exciting ✨
This special 90-minute workshop combines the elements of yoga and journaling to help guide you in a creative, inspired headspace. Grab a pencil, notebook, yoga mat and your favorite herbal brew!
It’s the first day of February, and that means Valentine’s Day is less than two weeks away! We love to help you celebrate sweethearts and friends every Valentine’s Day ❤️ Our 2021 Gift Guide is live on yogalifelive.com!
When we consider our yoga practice as play, as lila, we can recognize opportunities to see the struggle/fear/frustration as a facade and release it.

Join the YOGA + Life® Newsletter!

Events, Product Reviews, Promotions and More!

about
YOGA + Life® - an online community and magazine.
Recent Articles
  • Cleanse Your Soul + Palate Through The Conscious Cleanse Cookbook | By Olivia Lyda
    • CO YOGA + Life®
  • Transforming Energy + Restoring Balance : Liz Gómez, Shamanic Energy Medicine | By Marisol Cruz
    • CO YOGA + Life®
  • Invoking The Divine Feminine in Challenging Times | By Jeanie Manchester
    • CO YOGA + Life®
  • Ho’oponopono : A Hawaiian Mantra to Rise Out of Mental Chaos | By Shenna Jean
    • CO YOGA + Life®
  • Editors
  • Online Columnists
  • Contribute
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
YOGA + Life® - All Rights Reserved

Input your search keywords and press Enter.