Fifteen minutes is plenty of time to check in with your body.

I hear people say that they don’t have time to workout or practice yoga.  Usually when I push, I learn that people believe they need at least an hour free to move their body. It is very easy to make excuses for being sedentary. Instead, lets take every opportunity available to us, whether its five minutes or fifteen, and get the body moving.

Every chance to check in with the body is useful.  Not only does physical movement get the blood flowing and help us feel better, but it can educate us about what our body needs.

The more regularly we take the time to focus inward, breath and move, the more educated we become about the processes of the body.

We can learn how certain foods make us feel. We can feel the nuances of a full night’s rest, or compare the way we feel after different workouts. Additionally, if we check in with our body a few times during the day, we may learn our natural bio-rhythms and in turn pick the best time of day for each activity.

Asana Practice: Doing yoga in quick bursts throughout the day teaches me how my body responds to different activities.

A fifteen minute practice in the morning can help me determine if I need to have a heavy or light breakfast, what parts of my body are tight and need more attention, and can help me determine if my immune system feels strong or needs a boost.

When I find my mat midday, I am able to determine whether I’m holding stress in my body and need to relax, if I’m drinking enough water, and what type of cardio or weights would benefit my body the most.

A short practice before bed, helps me check in with areas of my body that I am overworking or need to strengthen.  Additionally, I can usually determine whether my diet is serving me or whether it has fallen out of balance with my activities.

The more often during the day I do yoga, or even breath work, the more in tune I am with my body.  This is a necessary step in creating a harmonious and healthy lifestyle.

Lesson Learned: Do asana throughout the day, even if you only have a few minutes.  You will gain a deeper understanding of how your choices affect how you feel, and you will learn how to better serve yourself.