On Castbox.fm — Elizabeth Cunningham | Yoga for Life
How can yoga principles and breathwork enhance movement practices and overall well-being?
Yoga principles extend beyond the mat, offering insights that reshape how we move and manage stress.
I want you to get that you can use your breath in any moment, in any circumstance for whatever you’re doing, to calm yourself down to expand your movements to be able to tap into your parasympathetic nervous system.
~ Elizabeth Cunningham (4:34)
The conversation highlights the role of breath and yoga principles in enhancing physical movement and mental clarity. Elizabeth shares how her personal experiences with spinal fusion surgery and back spasms led her to rediscover yoga, which ultimately relieved her pain and transformed her perspective on movement. She emphasizes how breath control can calm the nervous system, improve posture, and foster creativity, encouraging people to integrate these practices into everyday life.
Elizabeth explains how posture and breath awareness serve as foundational tools that extend beyond yoga into disciplines like parkour or even daily interactions. She underscores the importance of breath for managing stress, preventing injury, and achieving flow states. Through humor and hands-on demonstrations, she aims to make yoga accessible and practical for all movement practitioners.
Takeaways
Breath as a tool — Breath can calm the nervous system, expand movement, and bring awareness to the present moment.
Posture alignment — Proper posture starts with engaging the core, which prevents lower back pain and fatigue.
Breath and movement — Inhalations create expansion, and exhalations drive contraction, aligning with physical movement patterns.
Breaking assumptions — Approaching yoga and breathwork with a beginner’s mindset fosters creativity and discovery.
Applicability of breath — Breathwork applies not only to physical practices but also to daily conversations and stressful situations.
Resources
Elizabeth Cunningham’s website
Elizabeth Cunningham @elzcunningham
Art of Retreat — Official site for Art of Retreat, a leadership and education retreat for movement professionals.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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