5-Minute Shower Meditation
Meditation and mindfulness do not have to be complicated, or even extremely formal. In order to make it a regular practice, finding easy ways to incorporate it into your daily schedule is extremely beneficial. You have to shower anyway, so why not use it as an opportunity to bring some peace and calm into your day? Read on below for my simple 5-minute shower meditation.
Begin by taking some deep breaths, completely filling your tummy up with air. You can place a hand on your stomach for a few breaths to really feel the sensation of a full breath, bringing your awareness to it.
Clear your mind of any thoughts; but it's totally okay if one ends up sliding in. If a thought tries to take your attention, notice it with interest, then allow the water to wash it away; from your head, down your body, and then out and down the drain.
Allow the water to carry away any feelings of guilt, sadness or anxiety as you continue to breathe deeply in the shower, enjoying feelings of peace and relaxation.
When you're ready to bring your shower meditation to a close, set an intention and fully bring your focus to that intention for several breaths before bringing your awareness back into the present moment.
“May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.”
Benefits of Yoga for Men at the Arizona Men's Health+Wellness Expo
#DIDyouKnow that many of your favorite sports teams and athletes do yoga? From Ray Lewis (football) and LeBron James (basketball) to Evan Longoria (baseball) and the New Zealand All Blacks (rugby), more and more men are realizing the benefits of this diverse practice. From military deployments to the boardroom, more and more men are taking to heart (literally!) the advantages yoga can provide.
This weekend I had the privilege of being a part of the Arizona Men's Health+Wellness Expo where I got to share about the benefits of yoga for men and did a little chair yoga at the breakout session in addition to demo'ing my Community Hip Hop Yoga. Check out some pics from the event below as well as some information on the benefits of yoga for men. Want more details? Leave a comment below with your questions or ask them on my Instagram post about the Expo (Instagram.com/cazoshay_marie). And don't forget to check out the events page to see what's coming up!
The Launch of Community Hip Hop Yoga
Last week I had the privilege of launching my very special Community Hip Hop Yoga classes. Launched in conjunction with my 30th birthday, this class is one that's near and dear to my heart. I offer this class at a discounted rate so that cost won't be a hindrance for those without a ton of disposable income to devote to health and wellness. I'm a single mom so trust me, I get it. My goal is to make health and wellness accessible to our communities and help alleviate some of the issues that we face in the process.
Yoga is a safe space. Besides the obvious physical benefits, so many of our issues (physical and otherwise) relate back to stress and the internal pain that so many carry with them on a daily basis. Through my classes, students have an opportunity to take time for self care and to mentally and emotionally let go of things that are not serving them.
This class is fun! I'm not your typical yoga instructor and the soundtrack for the class makes that very obvious from the beginning. Everything from Yasiin Bey to Erykah Badu; Common, Snoop Dogg and of course, A Tribe Called Quest; I encourage my students to laugh, dance and sing their way through class. Hey, it's about having a good time, and if you're singing (or rapping!), you're breathing!
This class is just the beginning. Soon I'll also be offering raw vegan food workshops and other community wellness events, some in partnership with other amazing wellness professionals and groups. I'm also taking my classes on the road and will be posting details soon about bringing DID with Cazoshay to your city!
