September 10, 2014

Carpool Asana: Car Yoga for Moms & Dads. ~ Carole Westerman

0 Boost Score Carole Westerman (1,510,185)

580

I’m sure all the Moms and Dads out there can relate to me, as we head back to school and back to running our own personal taxi service!

I easily spend up to two hours per day driving, waiting, carpooling, shuttling, and chauffeuring my three kids around town each day.

On a rainy day like today, the time is even longer as the lines at pick-up extend around the block!

As a yoga teacher, I decided to take advantage of this idle time, and improve my health and well-bring at the same time. And my new practice of “Carpool Asana” was born!

I have found the car (ignition off, of course!) is the perfect place for some Yin Yoga and meditation! Just pick your spot, park, and wait for your kids while stretching your body and calming your mind!

Here are a few of my favorite yoga poses for the car:

Reclined Pigeon:

Make sure your ignition is off, and your car is in “park” mode. Recline your seat back to a comfortable angle. Cross one ankle over the thigh of the opposite leg. Keep your feet lightly flexed, and enjoy a gentle hip opener. Hold for one to three minutes per side.

Steering Wheel Butterfly:

Make sure your ignition is off, and your car is in “park” mode. Recline your seat back to a comfortable angle. Place the soles of your feet together on your steering wheel, and allow your knees to gently open out to the sides.

Watch out for the horn!

Hold for one to two minutes.

Legs Up the Dash:

Make sure your ignition is off, and your car is in “park” mode. ecline your seat back to a comfortable angle. Extend your legs up the dashboard. Allow yourself to surrender to the forces of gravity with this gentle inversion. Hold for one to three minutes.

Carpool Meditation:

Make sure your ignition is off, and your car is in “park” mode. Set your phone timer for two to 12 minutes.

Place your hands over your belly. Focus your attention on the belly. With each inhale, expand the belly into the hands. With each exhale, allow the belly to relax and sink toward the spine. Allow yourself to just sit there with your eyes closed, belly breathing, emptying your mind, until the timer goes off.