Cape Yoga

Yoga to help you deal with the Cold, Rainy, Dark, Damp Cape Codness that happens in October

Link: http://www.kindyoga.com

Does the cold dark damp weather at the end of fall on Cape Cod take away your bright spirits, and leave you with a bad attitude?  For me, the damp drizzle sneaks in like a mugger - leaving me super cranky and short fused.

After being hard to deal with for a while, I realize that maybe I'm not just a difficult person, it's the lack of light and lack of being outdoors that's getting to me.

Here are a few yoga moves that get me back on track - after my one hour yoga practice today I am actually likable and nice....but that doeasn't mean you wouldn't benefit from just 3 simple practices:

1. Adjust your attitude - no I don't meean some shlocky affirmation like "I am rich" .  Attitude adjustment starts with the present moment and being appreciative just to have woken up this morning. You may want to just notice the present moment and notice any signs of aliveness in your body.  Stretch, and breath in deeply - expand your aliveness by bringing awareness to what does work - often we are so concerned about some pain or creaky joints - Take a few moments and actually notice what's right.

2. Backbend: standup and gently stretch your arms up and arch back, then placing your palms in your lower back area.  Take a forward fold, stand upright again, and rub your hands together vigorously until you feel some heat and electricity. Take that warmth and electricity to your lower back again, imagine it warming up your kidneys ( in the view of the acupuncture system, kidneys contract when it's cold out, so send them some love and warmth)

3. Tap your fingers rapidly across your upper chest -this gets your sluggish lymph moving and helps detox the sludge that may be building up if you haven't been as active lately. Especially if you are infront of a computer and hunched forward a bit, you are not allowing your lymph to flow freely.

ps - and the next time the sun comes out, run, get out there, see daylight before it goes away for the winter!