In my previous post, I shared the top tips I learned about diet and exercise while staying at The Ranch. Today, as promised, I’m writing about what I learned to help me achieve some of my “well being” goals.  If you haven’t already entered our giveaway for gifts from the ranch, my favorite glycerin scrub soap and a pedometer, please do. Details are at the bottom of the post.

My shoulders and my posture have always been a problem area for me. My shoulders tend to get so tense when I feel stressed, they sometimes they feel more like a pile of macrame than a part of my body. While at The Ranch, there was a strong focus on helping us to maintain proper posture, including lengthening the neck, sinking our shoulders down, opening the chest and bringing our scapula’s back to meet each other. Many of the exercise were focused on developing the back muscles to help this muscle group create and support better form. All of this focus on posture made me realize that I am not the only one who struggles with perfecting {or just improving} my posture.

Breathing, stretching and taking the time to be conscious of my posture, and aware of what’s going on with my body, were indulgences I enjoyed most at the ranch. During sunrise and sunset yoga, and all throughout the day we were encouraged to stand and exercise correctly, we were taught how to breath, to live in the moment and to be aware.

Sahaja Purvottanasana, Upward Table Pose The day I left the gates of the ranch, I felt like I couldn’t slouch, hunch or slump if I tried. Sadly, it didn’t take long for this feeling to change. Once the the buzz of real life got going, that posture perfection dropped on the priority list. And the breathing and body awareness gave way to “what’s for dinner” and “when do you need to be picked up” awareness. But, after feeling the difference, I decided it was worth it to take the time and make the effort to try to recreate what I’d experienced at the ranch.

Adho Mukha Svanasana, Downward Facing Dog

I had actually started taking yoga classes back in September, a few months before visiting the ranch. I  must admit, I used to poo-poo yoga, thinking it didn’t have much to offer me. I had decided to try it out because I was feeling desperately uptight and tense and knew I needed to do something to get some relief.  In typical Lazy-lady {or efficiency expert?} style, I chose to attend the closest class I could find that was not too early in the day {I’m not much of a morning person}. Never mind that it happened to be for intermediate and advanced students. The “studio” isn’t the most picturesque of confines, hence the use of this handy Easter bunny for the visuals! 

Thankfully, the yogi was patient, helpful and humorous and class by class, the stretches started to come to me more naturally {I even started breathing, eventually}. A week of twice daily sessions at the ranch really cemented my desire to continue practicing yoga, after this, I felt more relaxed about it and I had gained a deeper understanding of the practice and benefits of yoga.

Salamba Sirsasana, supported headstand

My BIG takeaway I want to share today is that we all need to try to find time to do things for ourselves. We can’t be our best if we are unhappy or uncomfortable. When we take the time to take care of ourselves, we are more capable and happier about taking care of others.

How are your Easter plans coming along? Okay, take a deep breath now {and strike a pose}!

Oh, and why not enter the giveaway?

This incredible soap and scrub will do you good!