Yoga for Exhaustion

Even though doing yoga might be one of the last things on your mind if you are exhausted, it can be exactly what your mind, body and soul need as it releases mental and physical blockages to increase the flow of prana, life force energy.

This series is an excellent example for a short yet uplifting practice to do on a regular basis, that you can do anytime during the day. If you are in a place in your life right now when you feel permanently exhausted yoga can be a holistic treatment for you and I recommend you try including yoga to a daily routine. 

Before you begin you can set an intention for the practice to create whatever it is you need the most right now. Your intention is your reason for the practice. You can take a moment to vizualize yourself in the state you wish to be in after your practice. Setting the intention for uplifting your energy levels, finding a state of balance or for increasing your flow.

Be gentle with yourself and bring your awareness inwards to whatever sensations you might experience throughout the practice. Honor your body for todays energy and try not to compare yourself on your mat. Breathe into the pose, breathe into the experience of being in the now and practice letting go of any expectations and judgmental thoughts. 

1. Cat Cow. Begin on all four, with the hands under the shoulders and the knees under the hips. Inhale to arch the spine, lift the gaze and exhale to round the back. Allow the movement to follow your breath as you begin to create greater circulation in the body. 10 rounds of cats and cows during 10 long deep breaths.

2. Cobra. Lie down on your belly and place the hands under your shoulders. On an inhale roll the shoulders back and press the ground away from you with your palms. Only rise up as far as feels comfortable in the lower back. Open the chest and heart and take 5-10 breaths in the pose before lowering don on the belly. 

3. Downward facing dog. On an exhale press the ground away, sending the sitbones up and back to create an upside down V with the body. Press the ground actively away with all the fingertips to create length in the spine and to open up the backs of the legs. It is completely fine if your heels don't touch the ground here. You can walk out the feet here if that feels good to settle into the pose and remaine in Downward facing dog for 5-10 breaths. 

4. Fish pose. Lie down on your back and begin to move side to side with the hips to place the wrists under your sitbones, palms towards the ground. Move the shoulders closer together. On an inhale lift up onto the forearms and lift the head of the ground. Exhale to lower the crown of the head to the ground, opening the heart and the throat for 5-10 breaths. On an inhale lift up onto the elbows and exhale to lower back down to lie on the back 

5. Knees to chest. Bend the knees up towards the chest to release the lower back and rock slightly side to side to massage the spine. Remain for 5-10 breaths hugging yourself, cultivating compassion and love for yourself. 

6. Twist. Extend the right leg and lower down the left foot on the right knee. Begin to lower down the knee towards the ground and extend the left arm out to the side. Allow the body to soften deeper into the twist on the exhales. See if you can find a surrendering approach to your pose instead of reaching into a deep twist to aim for relaxation and neutralization for the spine. After 5-10 breaths come into the twist on the other side. 

7. Savasana. Extend the legs straight, allow the legs to be apart and the feet to flop open. Arms rest away from the body with the palms facing the sky. You can rock the head slightly side to side to massage the back of your head until you find a comfortable position. Rest in Savasana for 5-10 minutes to allow the effects of your practice to deepen. Enjoy and experience of your life force energy, prana vibrating and flowing freely in the body.

Take care & Namaste!