In 2010, I wrote a post about the value and potential benefits gained by actually smiling as you practice yoga at home. Yeah, yeah, "how hokey," you may say. But, when I remember to smile during my practice, I just FEEL even more energy, more opening up of my body, more flexibility, and more overall feeling great!
And, to support my point, the other day I re-read an essay from one of my favorite spiritual books, Make Your Life Worthwhile, by Emmet Fox. In "A Smile is an Investment," Fox asserts the following, "Another simple thing which is of great moment is a smile. A smile costs nothing in money, time or efort, but it is literally true that it can be of supreme importance in one's life."
And here is how it relates to your yoga practice. Fox goes on to say, "A smile affects your whole body from the skin right in to the skeleton, including all blood vessels, nerves, and muscles. It affects the functioning of every organ. It influences every gland. I repeat-and this is literally true, you cannot smile without affecting your whole body favorably. Even one smile often relaxes quite a number of muscles..."
Talk about amping up the power of your yoga practice with a smile! It's easy, free, and seemingly super powerful!
Tomorrow, start smiling as much as possible during your yoga practice starting tomorrow and tell me what you notice! I want to know! Keep it up for7 days and let me know how you feel then. I bet you will be surprised...!
Yours for smiling during your home yoga practice and at least doubling the benefits you normally gain.
Laura Venecia Rodriguez, the Beginners' At Home Yoga Coach