Standing Yoga Sequence for Motivation
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This standing yoga sequence is full of powerful postures to help you build energy that starts in the feet and works its way up through the body. These energizing postures help you to build strength, create energy and tap into your inner sense of motivation.
Yoga Poses for Motivation
Mountain Pose (Tadasana)
Upward Salute (Urdhva Hastasana)
Crescent Moon Bend (Parsva Tadasana)
Mountain Pose (Tadasana)
Chair Pose (Utkatasana)
Forward Fold (Uttanasana)
Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)
Warrior I Pose (Virabhadrasana I)
Warrior II Pose (Virabhadrasana II)
Humble Warrior Pose (Baddha Virabhadrasana)
Reverse Warrior Pose (Viparita Virabhadrasana)
Side Angle Pose (Utthita Parsvakonasana)
Triangle Pose (Trikonasana)
Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana)
Warrior II Pose (Virabhadrasana II)
Mountain Pose (Tadasana)
While you could totally teach this as a standalone practice, we think it works best as the standing portion of your yoga class. Once you've moved through your centering phase and your warm up, you can move through this standing yoga sequence for motivation before you come into your seated poses and start winding down towards Savasana.
This standing sequence for motivation peaks in Half Moon Pose, Ardha Chandrasana. When you're planning your warm up, you may want to include postures that will help prepare the body for Half Moon Pose. All of the standing postures in this standing yoga sequence for motivation will help the body prepare for Ardha Chandrasana. During your warm up, you might consider incorporating gate pose, tabletop or sunbird to help get the body ready.
It's always a nice touch to add a quote or to read a poem in your yoga classes that support the theme of your class. This standing yoga sequence is themed around motivation and we've found a couple of quotes that can help support that theme in your yoga class.
"Talk to yourself like you would someone you love." ~ Brene Brown
"The distance doesn't matter. It is only the first step that is difficult." ~ Marie du Deffand
Standing poses often require and build strength, endurance, and flexibility. As you notice your body getting stronger and more capable, it can motivate you to continue with your practice or pursue other goals with the confidence that you can grow and improve. Standing poses also help to build mental clarity because they demand attention, balance, and focus, helping to clear the mind of distractions. This increased mental clarity can carry over into daily life, helping you concentrate on tasks or goals.
Standing yoga poses can help us feel grounded and stable. The very act of standing firmly and consciously rooting into the ground can create a sense of stability and groundedness. This emotional grounding can be motivating, especially during times of uncertainty or overwhelm, as it helps build resilience and the ability to tackle challenges. Successfully holding a standing pose, especially a challenging one, can provide an immediate confidence boost. Over time, this builds a greater sense of self-efficacy, or belief in your ability to execute tasks and reach goals, which is a powerful motivator.
Finally, the very act of taking a powerful stance in poses like Warrior I, II, or III can feel empowering. They're often associated with strength, courage, and tenacity, and embodying these qualities physically can inspire a similar mindset in other areas of life.
Yoga can be an effective tool for overcoming feelings of demotivation or lethargy for several reasons, ranging from its physiological effects on the body to its psychological impact on the mind. Here's how:
Increases Energy and Reduces Fatigue: Certain yoga poses, especially those that involve backbends, inversions, or standing poses, are known to increase energy levels. They improve blood circulation, stimulating the body and the brain, which can help you feel more alert and alive.
Boosts Mood: Yoga encourages the release of endorphins, your body's natural mood lifters. It also helps in balancing neurotransmitters and hormones, reducing levels of stress hormones like cortisol, and increasing production of serotonin, which can improve mood and create feelings of well-being and enthusiasm.
Improves Focus and Clarity: Yoga requires concentration on the breath and body movement. This practice of mindfulness can help clear a cluttered mind, improving mental clarity, focus, and attention. With a clearer mind, you may find it easier to set, understand, and work towards goals.
Builds Discipline and Routine: Regular yoga practice encourages discipline. As you commit to your practice, this discipline can spill over into other aspects of your life, including your motivation to pursue and achieve goals.
Encourages Self-Reflection and Awareness: Yoga involves a significant amount of introspection and self-awareness. Through practices like meditation and mindful movement, you may gain insights into what's causing your lack of motivation. This self-awareness can be the first step in addressing underlying issues.
Reduces Stress and Anxiety: Stress and anxiety are common culprits behind lack of motivation. Yoga has been shown to reduce stress responses in the body, helping you feel more relaxed and less anxious, making it easier to feel motivated.
Creates a Sense of Accomplishment: Completing a yoga practice can give you a sense of achievement, which can be a motivating factor in itself. It's a reminder that you can commit to something and follow through.
Community and Support: If you attend yoga classes or are part of a yoga community, the sense of belonging and encouragement from others can be incredibly motivating.
When feeling unmotivated, it's important to be gentle with yourself. Choose a yoga style that resonates with your current state. For instance, if you're feeling low in energy, a vigorous Vinyasa class may not be as appealing or beneficial as a gentle Hatha or restorative session. Start with what feels manageable, and allow your practice to help you rekindle your inner motivation.
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