In honor of slow-pokes, turtles everywhere, and World Turtle Day on May 23rd, I’ve decided to share some of my favorite fitness tips.

As a certified movement expert, over the past two decades I’ve observed a lot of different ways to move.  One of the most interesting and important things we can do while we’re moving, is to move without tension by way of our breath.  Here are a few super simple suggestions and methods, tried, tested & approved.
 

Breathe.  And.. slow – everything – way – down.  Seriously! Try it out by matching the length of your movements with the length of your breaths.  Practice this simple technique by using your inhalations to prepare yourself for a movement and your exhalations to move.  In yoga we attempt to balance the inhalation and the exhalation until they become equal in length, called sama vritti or same fluctuations.  You could do this all day long, simply by noticing how all movements make more sense when you do them mindfully and with your breath.  Vinyasa yoga teaches this “linking” of our movement to our breath by flowing from shape to shape while breathing continuously.

Our breath is constant, always in flux, rising & falling and available to us at all times.  The ancient yogis called this specific kind of energy regulation pranayama or breath control.  To receive the full benefits from any workout we need to move oxygen rich blood through the whole body, activating and balancing the entire system.  By moving and breathing in unison, we create a valuable mind-body connection that keeps us focused and in the present moment.

Pay attention.  Science tells us that getting into “the zone” is an autonomous action, kind of like breathing.  Luckily even when you forget to breathe, your body remembers! So why is getting into this flow state so difficult?  Even professional athletes often choke under pressure as a result of trying to perform, rather than experience.  The trick is that one must be fully immersed and also genuinely enjoy the process of whatever task they are performing.  As we consciously pause our mind chatter, chitta vritti or consciousness fluctuations, we become fully present in the moment.  So, how do we create that mind-body connection that propels us into a blissful state of effortlessness?  Easier said than done?  Yes and no.

While meditation seems to be a new craze, modern techniques can be traced back over 3,000 years.  I don’t typically use the word meditation in my classes because it implies that we have something to “do”.  It’s merely about sitting in a quiet contemplation of nothing, allowing thoughts to come and go. We’re just watching all of it like a movie, without judgement or reaction.. and quite frankly- that’s the hardest part.

I suggest starting with just five minutes of silent sitting or even laying down and paying attention to your breath.  Watch the patterns and lengths of both the inhalation and the exhalation.  When your mind wanders (and most likely it will) just label it “not breath” and then immediately come back to observing your breathing.  I personally don’t prefer the method of naming the things that distract you, I feel it takes you deeper towards the distraction, for example by naming it “sound” or “airplane” now I’m thinking, which usually spirals into more thoughts.

And finally, sometimes we need to take a step back before we can take a step forward. This can often feel like your going in reverse, against your goal.  Keep in mind there’s a universal current, shifting you exactly to where you’re supposed to be.  Speaking from personal experience I can tell you that like sea turtles, we all have an internal GPS system.  Listen to your inner instincts and allow them to guide you!  The key is to slow down, get quiet and be still, long enough to hear it.  Wouldn’t it be lovely if we were all so in sync with the Earths magnetic field?  I think Jack Johnson said it best, “slow down everyone, you’re moving too fast.”