Cozy Yoga Life by Shannon Caldwell
Welcome to Cozy Yoga Life, the podcast for yoga teachers who crave more from their practice and lives. Join us as we embark on a journey beyond the physical postures, exploring the depth and richness of yoga through authentic conversations infused with warmth and wisdom.
In each episode, cozy up as we delve into the art of intentional living, navigate the intricacies of introspection, and craft a holistic approach to well-being that is infused with simplicity and balance. Whether you're a seasoned yoga teacher or just stepping onto the path, Cozy Yoga Life is your sanctuary for exploring the intersection of yoga and real-life challenges.
Tune in, unwind, and let Cozy Yoga Life satisfy your craving for more—more authenticity, more simplicity, and more richness in every facet of your yoga journey.
Cozy Yoga Life by Shannon Caldwell
11-Minute Mindful Meditation: Alignment
In this short and grounding 11-minute guided meditation, we explore the theme of alignment—coming home to yourself through breath, stillness, and quiet reflection.
You’ll be guided through calming 4-count breathing, gentle body relaxation, and an intentional check-in with your mind, body, heart, and intuition. This meditation is perfect for moments when you feel scattered or off-center and want to realign with your inner truth.
Together, we’ll set the sankalpa (intention) of alignment and reflect on what that means through the lens of yoga philosophy.
✨ Ideal for:
– Daily mindfulness practice
– Re-centering during transitions
– Cultivating inner clarity
– Practicing yoga off the mat
Because wherever you are in your journey...It’s all yoga.
Connect with me:
- Subscribe to my YouTube channel
- Send me a DM on Instagram
- Visit Cozy Yoga Life
- Join the Insiders Circle
I'm Shannon Caldwell, and this is Cozy Yoga Life. I've spent the last 25 years living and teaching yoga, and I'm here to help you bring that wisdom into your daily life with clarity, comfort, and always a dash of coziness. Welcome, Cozy Crew. We're gonna do something a little different today. I am going to take you through a mindful meditation. So I invite you to get comfortable, find your coziest space, and settle in. Once you're settled, wherever you decided, wherever you are. Allow yourself to arrive fully. Let this be a moment of stillness, of tuning inward. You are going to gently inhale for a count of 4... 1, 2, 3, 4, and exhale slowly for 4... 1, 2, 3, 4. Continue. Until you find what is a natural rhythm for you. Inhaling for four, exhaling for four. In through your nose, 2, 3, 4. Gently out through your mouth, 2, 3, 4. Inhaling and exhaling. Let your breath smooth out the edges of your day. Let your breath carry you into your body. Inhaling for 4. Exhaling for 4. With your breath in a quiet, gentle pattern, let your mind move deeper into your body. Noticing where you might be holding on to tension. Starting at your head, in your jaw. Soften the hinge, unclench your teeth. Let your tongue rest easy. All while continuing inhaling for 4 and exhaling for 4. Down to your shoulders. Let them drop, feeling heavy and low. No need to carry anything right now. Inhaling for 4, 3, 2, 1, and exhaling for 4, 3, 2, 1. Now feel into your hips. Imagine space and ease across your pelvis. No bracing. No gripping. Inhaling for 4 Exhaling for 4. Continue down traveling to your knees. Let them unlock, soften and melt. And as you inhale, let the breath unwind another thread of tension. And as you exhale, let that breath invite you deeper into the calm. Let's settle into the stillness. Let the quiet settle around you. Let the quiet settle within you. This is your sanctuary. Now gently bring your awareness to your sankalpa, your intention. Let it be a whisper from your heart: alignment. Alignment of thought, action, and purpose. Alignment with your truth, with your values, with your beliefs, with the flow and season of your life. What is alignment? Alignment is not perfection. It's not rigid. It is a dynamic state of integrity. A feeling of yes, in your body. Yes, in your breath. Yes, in your soul. As the Yoga Sutras suggest, yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of your mind, and when your mind is still, you are able to return to your truest self. That is alignment. Now gently scan through four layers of your being. Start with your mind. Is your thinking clear, scattered or conflicted. No need to fix or adjust. Just observe. Now, move to your body. Does your body feel in harmony with how you're living? Is there resistance or resonance? Again, no need to answer. Just observe. Shift your awareness to your heart. What emotions are present? Is your heart saying yes, no... or not yet? Finally, your gut, the deep inner knowing. What does your intuition say about where you are right now? Allow yourself space for clarity. If the answers don't come right away, that's okay. Sometimes clarity doesn't speak in words. Sometimes, we need to sit in stillness and wait. Let the answers rise in their own time. You may leave this meditation without a clear yes or no, and that's part of the journey. You're going to begin to return gently to the space around you. Notice the ground beneath you. The sounds nearby. Wiggle your toes and fingers. Take a full, cleansing breath in, and a long, easy exhale out. As you carry this feeling into the rest of your day, remember, alignment doesn't always shout. Sometimes it whispers. Sometimes, it's just the absence of resistance. That wraps another episode of Cozy Yoga Life. Until next time, may you move with intention, rest with purpose, and live in alignment. Remember, it's all yoga. Be sure to check out the latest blog. Come say hi on Instagram.
