What is Yoga Off the Mat? Student Inspiration by Cara George

No matter what level or frequency of practice, anyone who has a relationship with yoga will at some point apply their practice off the mat, whether deliberately or inadvertently. Normally, I find myself thinking about yoga in more "traditional" settings, like adjusting my posture in my desk chair, or doing a few sun salutations in the mornings before scrambling out the door. However, I recently noticed this off-the-mat connection in two seemingly unusual places.

A few weeks ago, I had to endure an almost hour-long MRI and felt panicky when the technician warned me that if I moved even an inch during the scan, we would have to start the process completely anew. Knowing that I'd likely feel rather claustrophobic and fidgety, I started my own personal shavasana the moment that the technician slid my whole body inside the machine. Completely enclosed, for a moment I wanted to scream for them to let me out. But, I instead closed my eyes, allowing myself to become as comfortable as possible and as limp as a noodle. Throughout the whole process, I concentrated my mind on different parts of my body, breathing into the stillness that I felt and becoming more and more relaxed. Although the machine produced strange banging noises, I even dozed off at one point, still breathing heavily with my eyes closed. I was interrupted only by the voice of the technician, coming through over the speakers, asking, "Are you okay? Are you SURE?"

When the MRI was over, the technician pulled me out of the machine and I felt overwhelmingly relaxed and awaken. He shook his head in disbelief as he exclaimed that I was the best patient he had ever seen! Not a bad way to boost one's self confidence, in a strange way...

Alternately, yoga influenced a recent experience in a less beneficial manner. During any yoga practice, we are always aiming to be mindful of breathing. But whereas long inhales and exhales produced an overwhelming calm during my MRI, it was not so convenient while snorkeling in Shark's Cove in Hawaii. As a novice snorkeler, (plus the typical anxiety one may feel when visiting a place called "Shark's Cove", which ironically -and fortunately- did not have sharks) I felt nervous affixing the mask and tube, and while under water tried to calm my anxiety with deep inhalations, which each time resulted in choking on sea water and fully embarrassing myself.

It's remarkable how yoga influences our every day lives, making us react with the world around us in a different way. What are some conventional - or not-so-conventional - places that you bring your practice off the mat? Are there times that yoga has been especially beneficial - or had the opposite effect?

If you would like to share with us your experience of how yoga affects your life, please send me an email at rita.maximilian@gmail.com. All the entries (Starting with Cara's) will be found here, on our Blog.

Me, Myself and My Asana Quiet Mind Photo Competition

Amanda Hull
So in the picture attached, I was enjoying the sunset on a beach in Grenada (island inthe Caribbean) this past August and decided to do a few handstands. My boyfriend caught a few great pictures. Looking back through the pictures reminds me of a time of peace, joy, and the true brilliance and beauty of nature. I can still feel the sand between my fingers and the wave washing up if I close my eyes.

Vijay Palaparti

I wanted to submit the following photograph for the QMY Photo Competition. Please note that this is not a photograph that was taken by me, but a photographer in Chennai, India. I feel it strongly represents the intersection of yoga with my career as an classical Indian dancer and choreographer. Specifically, I draw away techinques of breathing and maintaining some kind of mental balance in the exercise, which can be very athletic and demanding at times. It has very meditative qualities as well, and a strong foundation in expression. This photograph is an example of how principles in yoga, drishti, specifically, are necessary to maintain balance. It's very hard to stand in certain poses and postures with a focus (as I stand in the pose in the picture). If the focus wavers, then there is a tendency to fall. So, from a physical perspective, drishti is so important to what I do almost on a daily basis. And beyond that, it relates to life in general. Focus is essential and helps.

Azat Mardanov

I've taken it at Grand Canyon during my coast-to-coast road trip/move from DC to CA. It was on just a few days notice and I'm confident that without having Yoga practice in my life I would be more stressed, procrastinating or hesitating. Life in CA is much different then in DC, I'm trying to be present - atha yoganusasanam! I'm grateful that I had opportunity to participate in 200h YWTT at QMS and meet with wonderful people!

Helen Palfreyman

This photo was taken in Wadi Rum, the desert of South Jordan. I traveled there with a group of girlfriends and spent 3 days sleeping out in the desert under the stars and enjoying nature and time with good friends. During our trip there, we all started practicing yoga in the middle of the desert with those of us who had practiced yoga teaching those who hadn't. Here we are doing a warrior two in the morning as the sun was coming up. Just a reminder that even far away from a yoga studio, you can still practice yoga. The tranquility of Wadi Rum was the perfect place to experience this.

Jessica Phillips-Silver

Practicing yoga at home with Ellie, my 14-month old yogini, the greatest teacher I ever had. First a headstand... Ellie watches to learn... Did she learn this mudra from our Buddha?... She shows me updog...and when it comes to child's pose, she is a natural. This is why we learn yoga from our children. She is my guru and I am hers. The light in me mirrors the light in her...Namaste.

Ibtisam Vincent
Some days the bus seems to take *forever.* (Yet another reason to travel by bicycle when I can.) When I find myself getting impatient waiting for the 54 bus, I like to break out my yogic breathing and a pose or two -- it calms me while simultaneously entertaining my bus stop compatriots. Eagle arms often elicit funny looks, but when I really want to confuse them and impress them with my sense of balance I'll break out tree pose....

Arielle Mir and Talal Mir

Both were taken during a hike in Saguaro National Park, in Tucson, Arizona. Tucson is Talal's hometown and a place of tremendous natural beauty and tranquility. When you are walking among the centuries-oldcactus, the wisened stone, and wild flowers, the sound of your breathand the birds chirping are all you can hear. Talal's Vrksasana represents the steadiness, patience and groundedness of the saguaro cactus, who take up to 75 years to grow each "arm." Arielle assumed the pose of the sunning desert reptile along the trail. In Utthan Pristhasana, Arielle finds opening and grounding simultaneously, similar to the feeling that being in the mountains evokes.

Emma Sandoe

Attached is my photo of me doing yoga in the morning in my backyard. Every morning I wake up by 5:30am and most days go running after a morning stretch on my balcony. Hip openers are my favorite in the morning. It's wonderful to do some positions that require focus and concentration while I listen to the city waking up.

Shenandoah Gale

Few words and an image to express gratitude to Quiet Mind and to the Quiet Mind community for nurturing namaste in our little corner of the world.

Trisha Nakano

Title: Upside Down on the Top of the World
Location: Yushu, Tibet, 2009

To experience the most perfect sky you have ever seen, visit Tibet. It is a blue that cannot be described or captured properly on film. The sheep dotting the horizon on the rolling green nomadic lands seem to reflect the perfect, fluffy cumulus clouds. But, the spaciousness of the landscape is in stark contrast with the political situation.

This picture was taken a few years ago at about 14,000 feet while my husband, Tenzin, and I were leading a yoga trip in eastern Tibet. A word of caution: don't try this on your first few days at altitude. Altitude sickness is no fun. This, of course, was after about 2 weeks of acclimation.

My advice: If you want to visit Tibet, do it now and spend some time (if the political situation allows) with the people of the older.generation.

Liz O’Connell

"Vrksasana at Sunrise, Kerala, India"

It was still pitch black our when we began our hike that morning up the mountain. Like vinyasa teaches us to "place in a special way" we marched mindfully in a line, one after another; taking each step carefully, one foot after the other. We reached the top just as dawn was breaking and practiced a true Surya Namaskar--saluting the brilliant rising sun.

Allison Manuel

My favorite Asana.

Bonnie Foote

“Me, My Cat, and Our Favorite Asana” (Savasana)