The Yoga of Dishwashing

Where many feel that yoga is a practice meant for the studio, there is opportunity to practice yoga in every aspect of your life.  Take washing the dishes for example.  A key ingredient for an effective yoga practice is non-attachment.  Practice this element when you accidentally break your favorite dish – oops!  How about balance?  Have you ever tried washing dishes while the kettle is whistling, telephone is ringing and toast is popping?  Take a deep breath in and be present with each element as it arises.  Give yourself the opportunity to plant your feet firmly into the tiles and reach up and out of your hips. Gracefully moving toward the kettle with tea bag in hand, you walk past the toaster.  Practicing the art of non-violence, allow yourself to let the phone go just this once…be kind to yourself and know that if it’s important, they’ll call back.  When the toast appears black and it’s the last piece of bread, well, that’s okay too – after all, it’s the dishes that were the focus.  Keep to the task in front of you and know that all is in divine order.  Take the opportunity to finish the dishes in the sink before settling down with cooled tea – in a chair with a view.  For in today’s high-paced world it’s important to give yourself to your tea when your tea is ready to be enjoyed!

Finishing up that lovely cup of tea, the dishes are still waiting, calmly and without resentment.  Take in a deep breath and find yourself immersed in the art of soaping, rinsing and drying as they arise.  Be the dish, the water and the rack.  In this practice, you find that yoga is everywhere, not just on the mat.

Top 10 Places to Do Yoga

More and more people are beginning to realize that you can do yoga most anywhere.  Yoga is more than a bunch of postures, but a state of mind, an attitude, a way of life.  If you can incorporate even one technique into the most seemingly mundane situations you can magically turn any moment into a yoga moment.

For example:

1) The Shower – Many of us have had our finest vocal moments in the shower, and many of us have left it at that.  The shower is a great place to really hear yourself and experience the power of sound.  It is a great place to practice chanting – or Mantra yoga.  You don’t have to be an expert, just let the sounds come out of your body – feel the intonation, the reverberation as you let out ‘Ham’, ‘Vam’, ‘Lam’, ‘Yam’,'Ram’ ‘OM’….the sounds of the chakras.  Play with it – repeat the same mantra sound over and over again, ride it out, deepen it, elongate the feeling of the letters in your mouth.  You will feel refreshed and rejuvenated after this simple technique that is sure to turn every shower into a spa experience.  Mantra yoga also massages your vocal chords keeping away that ‘need to clear your throat’ sensation that is common in the mornings.

2) The Car – Yes, the car is a great place to practice breath work!  By breathing consciously we lower stress levels and increase our general awareness.  Simply try noticing your breath as you drive.  Slow it down, elongate it.  Hear the gentle snoring sound in the back of your throat of the inhale and exhale breath.  Brilliant.  At stop lights take a moment and rotate the wrists in time with your breath.  Turn your head gently from side to side.  Feel the buttocks sinking into your seat.   Body awareness and just a few simple moves will keep you from feeling anxious and tense in the car.

3) The Elevator – Why not?  Even if it’s just for one floor, the elevator is a place where we wait.  So, why not enhance the experience by adding a little practice of observation.  Many of us naturally do this in an elevator, but if not – see if you can allow yourself to become aware of everything in the elevator with you.  Every other person, their shoes, the buttons, the view, the texture of the walls, floor, ceiling.  Briefly take in the sounds, smells and size of your environment, you will find yourself renewed with a new sense of vision when you leave this small space!

4) In front of the Computer – It’s true many of us spend over 5 hours per day in front of a computer screen.  With all of those electromagnetic waves and that crazy position day in and day out it’s a good idea to have a few techniques to keep your body and mind in optimum health.  Try moving your gaze away from the screen at least every half an hour.  If you can’t leave your desk, just pause – turn just your eye gaze as far off to the right as you can, then back to just above your screen. Now do the same thing to the left side, and back to center.  Then up toward the ceiling, then to the floor.  Now move your eyes in a circle – first clockwise, then counter-clockwise.  This simple exercise is great for your eyes and keeps them from feeling strained at the end of the day.  It is also great for keeping your vision strong.

5) In Line (anywhere) – We are all bound to find ourselves in line somewhere at various times of the day or week.  While standing in line you have the perfect opportunity to practice your balance.  Whether standing with a shopping cart or holding articles for purchase in your hands, take the time to stand up straight and move the weight over to one foot – now pick up the other.  See if you can breath ten full breaths while balanced on one foot.  You don’t have to lift the foot very far off the floor – just enough to give one leg the balance.  Now do it on the other side and if you still have time, repeat the practice!  Balance in the body breeds balance in the mind!

6) On the phone – A great place to practice the ‘observer mind’.  Starting making it a point, whenever you pick up the phone to ‘turn on the witness’.  This means, that who ever you are speaking to on the phone will receive you as a peaceful encounter. This happens when we do not attach ourselves to the outcome of the conversation, but rather just experience it as it happens with a light sense of curiosity and entertainment.  It isn’t that we don’t ‘take seriously’ what the other person has to say – but then again, what in life is truly serious?  With the observer mind you are able to experience every phone conversation with equanimity and poise.  There is beauty in this.

7) The Toilet – I know you thought I might not mention it, but we each visit this sacred abode at least 3 times a day, do we not?  What a better opportunity to practice two powerful mudras.  There are many other practices we could mention here, but none is more appropriate than these two.  Requiring first the simple method of stopping and starting the flow of urine – this is called Vajorli mudra. The second is Ashwini mudra, the rapid cotraction of the anal sphincter muscles.  Both of these mudras not only bring more health to this region of the body, but stimulate awareness of the first chakra of the body – moolandhara chakra.  Moolandhara is responsible for our feelings of security, safety, abundance and grounding.

The Airplane – Many of us spend a great deal of time on the airplane.  There are very simple practices that can make time spent on the plane for our benefit.  First, begin by removing your shoes.  With your in-breath, scrunch your toes as tightly as you can, and on your out-breath, spread you toes wide apart.  Repeat.  Next, flex the feet while you inhale, and point your toes while you exhale.  Do this a number of times.  Take  few breaths to rotate your ankle in both directions.  Now pull one knee up toward your chest with your breath, now your other.  Now move to your hands and repeat similar movements by beginning with clenched fists.  You get the picture!  Don’t forget your neck.  Take time to breath in and out while you move your head slowly all the ways it can go.  Use this time in flight to soar into your yoga practice!! Enjoy.

9) Taking out the Trash – Here is the opportunity to practice equanimity.  To avoid the labels of ‘likes’ and ‘dislikes’ is a common yogic philosophy.  It allows us to be at peace with everything that is happening in our experience – equally.  So, while tying the trash bag, allow yourself to repeat this simple mantra to yourself ‘this too is bliss’.  Repeat it all the way to the outside can, even if the trash bag splits and spills at your feet.  If you have someone else taking the trash out for you it is your perfect opportunity to practice the meaning of ‘Namaste’:  The divine within me sees and honors the divine within you!  Thank you!!

10) And Finally Yoga in Bed – Well we do spend a great percentage of our lives in bed – so whether waking or trying to get to sleep we have a beautiful opportunity to stretch the body, take deep breaths and express gratitude for the day.  If you are just waking up, take a moment and speak words of gratitude for what you are thankful for, what you would like to experience and open yourself up to the beautiful little surprises that await you this day.  If you are just getting into bed, take time to acknowledge all that has come into your realm this day and grant it all the blessing of your heart so that no act, person nor thought may taint your dreams.  You have the power to continue to create miracles for yourself each and every day – so take the opportunity to make it happen.

There are so many other places that we can apply the concepts of yoga.  As you can see, yoga is an attitude, a way of life.  Find yourself practicing everywhere you go today beginning with these 10 common places and see your world transform!

Thanks for practicing.

-Stasia Bliss