yoga for beginners - dealing with obstacles

Managing your energy - It's not just about food

Ok this is a big one for anyone trying out Yoga for Beginners and here at Wandsworth Power Yoga, we take it very seriously!

Here's the Websters dictionary definition.

en·er·gy

noun \ˈe-nər-jē\

: ability to be active : the physical or mental strength that allows you to do things

: natural enthusiasm and effort

: usable power that comes from heat, electricity, etc.

And here are some synonyms from Collins Dictionary online

So from the dictionary above, it seems we have three main areas of Energy. Managing our ability to be active comes from a physical and mental strength. Have you ever just finished work and felt like the absolute last thing you want to do now is traipse yourself through the rain and traffic to get to a yoga class? That's where the mental strength comes in. We often say the hardest part of doing Yoga is getting there! In Yoga terms, this is also known as Tapas - not the chorizo and garlic prawn variety but a sanskrit word meaning Fiery Discipline. This discipline is what will help you to maintain your inner strength. And it comes from doing the things that are easy to do and equally easy not to do.

In the book 'The Slight Edge' by Jeff Olson, it explains how having a healthy lifestyle is not the result of doing Yoga for 3 weeks, or eating well and adding a juice in your diet all week long. It's the slow and deliberate choices made day after day after day that add up to a great life. Equally, one fast food meal isn't going to give you a heart attack but we all know the UK, US and Australia is slowly eating itself to death.

Natural Enthusiasm: well if it's natural, then how can we manage it? Because even the most enthusiastic of people can get drained by negative people around them. One of my old teachers use to call them psychic vampires, a little dramatic but probably a good description. I often talk about detox to include the people you associate with. We each have a responsibility to manage our own energy, not the energy of anyone else and that sometimes means saying no to that friend that wants to go on and on about some drama that you've already heard a thousand times. I liked it best in "The other woman' when Nicky Minaj walks away from Cameron Diaz with some very relevat advice. Skip to 41s.

Which brings us to the last definition, usable power that comes from heat, electricity etc

This is where the fuel you put in makes a huge difference. Including good nutrition in your life is fundamental to having good energy. Watch out for upcoming Yoga Workshops on Yoga and Nutrition for anti ageing and detox. Some key 'general guidelines' are to reduce sugar and caffeine, include fresh fruits and vegetables and use good supplements. Begin to educate yourself on the sugar content in foods and learn the difference between healthy sugars and fats and unhealthy ones. I try to include a blend of juiced ingredients with half an avocado or banana, a good source of pea or rice protein and fibre in the the mornings. Add in some kale or spinach for extra goodness. Check out my Arbonne Facebook page for more tips and suggested products that can give you the maximum clean and lean energy throughout your day.

Check back tomorrow for my blog on the power of intention in your practice and in your life.

And finally, here are a few synonyms for energy, a couple that stand out for me are spirit, vitality and zest. If you want these more in your life, it's time to pay some closer attention to how you manage your energy.

Warm wishes

Peter

energy

activity, animation, ardour, brio, drive, efficiency, élan, elbow grease (facetious) exertion, fire, force, forcefulness, get-up-and-go (informal) go (informal) intensity, life, liveliness, pep, pluck, power, spirit, stamina, strength, strenuousness, verve, vigour, vim (slang) vitality, vivacity, zeal, zest, zip (informal)

#energy #yogaforbeginners