On a Beach Somewhere

“It's like you’re sitting on a beach somewhere, breathing in the salt of the ocean,” says Amanda Lehmann, a yoga instructor in Sweet Be Wellness’ Salt Room. This unique and revitalizing space, right here in Greeley, uses a halogenerator to grind and diffuse pure sodium chloride into the air. Lehmann says, “The salt particles carry positive ions which collect anything that doesn’t belong in the blood and purifies it.” This treatment clears client’s airways, opens up their lungs, relaxes their muscles, and works as an anti-inflammatory.

Over the last decade, Lehmann has uncovered the countless health benefits of yoga and mindful breathing. Today, she sees the benefits of these practices multiply when paired with the salty air in the studio’s salt chamber. Lehmann incorporates restorative yoga into the salt room experience to deepen client’s breath and strengthen their bodies. Tailoring each session to her client’s needs, Lehmann helps her clients reconnect with their bodies. She says, “When they come in to see me, they’re coming in to remap the nervous system to find peace more continuously throughout the day.” 

However, beyond a session in Sweet Be’s salt room, Lehmann says that simply taking time to move at home helps de-stress from the busyness of life and finds that relaxation is more than just “sitting back and letting go.” Rather, you have to “Actively participate in your body’s relaxation,” and recommends taking 6 minutes a day to move your body and practice deep breathing. 

1. Seated Twist

   1. Seated twist stretches the chest, shoulders, and back, alleviating neck and back pain. In a seated position with both legs stretched in front of you, bend your right knee and keep your left extended. Place your right hand behind you, exhale, and twist to bring your left elbow across your body and place it on the outside of your right knee. Sit tall with your shoulders down and breathe deep for 30 seconds. Switch sides, repeat.

2. Seated Meditation

   1. The seated meditation pose helps strengthen your spine and enables good posture. This pose is essential for those sitting at a desk for the duration of the day. Simply sit on the floor with both legs straight out in front of you. Bend your right leg and place it in your pelvic area, then bend your left left to intertwine with the right. Sit in a comfortable seated position with your spine straight, shoulders down, and chin up. You can incorporate deep breathing exercises while in this pose, as well.

3. Forward Lunge

   1. The forward lunge pose has a wide variety of benefits for your body. This position opens up your hips, stretches your thighs, knees, ankles, and waist, and lengthens the spine. Begin in downward dog position, with your hand above your head and feet shoulder-width apart. Bring your right leg forward to a 90-degree angle directly above your ankle with the right thigh parallel to the floor. Keep your arms on each side of the right leg, resting your left knee on the floor behind you. Switch sides, repeat with left leg. 

4. Three-Part Breathing

   1. Three-Part breathing helps you breathe deeper and slower. All in one breathe, start by breathing into your belly button, hold, then breathe into your sternum, hold, then breathe into your collarbone. Release the breath, emptying the lungs from bottom to top.

5. Square Breathing

   1. Square breathing decreases stress and focuses your energy on your body. The square breath is a four-part, 5-second pattern. To start, inhale for 5 seconds, hold your breath in for 5 seconds, exhale for 5 seconds, hold your breath out for 5 seconds. Repeat as desired. 

6. Alternate Nostril Breathing

   1. Alternate nostril breathing helps clear your head and eases anxiety and depression. Start by closing your right nostril with your thumb, inhaling through your left nostril, then closing the left nostril with your index finger and exhaling out the right. With the left nostril closed, breathe in the right, close your right nostril, then breathe out the left.