How a Yogi Shovels the Driveway
If you live somewhere with a winter season, then you know snow removal of some kind is in your future. It’s nice, sometimes, to be out shoveling. It’s quiet when it snows, and the air smells crisp and clean.
But when it comes time to break out the snow shovels, how much attention do you give to how you move your body? Many of us attack the driveway hunched over a handle or plow, leaving us with sore lower backs and shoulders.
Have you ever stopped to think about how to use the time we spend moving snow to practice mindfulness and take care of ourselves?
If you want to turn this inevitable northern climate activity into a mindful moment, then read on to learn some tips on how to tackle snow shoveling like a true yogi.
Start with your stance.
Place your feet in a stance that gives you a solid foundation to lift and push. Spread feet about 2-3 feet apart and stand feet at a slight angle if you’re shoveling—place feet hip distance apart if you’re pushing a plow. Practice standing up straight, even when it feels like something is pulling you down.
Hold on tight.
Keep your shoulders down and elbows hugged in close to the body. Grip the shovel or plow handle with an even grip.
Use that core.
When pushing forward or lifting anything heavy, practice standing and moving with good posture. Engage the abdominal muscles the entire time to protect the low back. Always, always, always lift from the knees.
Give your body some assistance.
Take breaks whenever you need to. Here are two excellent stretches your can do quickly to keep your body from developing sore muscles:
Grasp your shovel in both hands, reaching your hands over your head and behind you to open across the front of the chest and release the shoulders. Take several deep breaths of fresh air.
Holding the shovel out in front of you with both hands, slowly twist the torso to the left and right, trying to look over your shoulder behind you. Twisting motions are beneficial for releasing any tension in the spine and for increasing mobility of the entire body.
Don’t wing it.
A yogi not only observes how they move and use their body—they also observe their surroundings. Take a quick survey of the area to be cleared of snow and come up with a systematic way to move across the space. Move as efficiently as possible.
As a Northern Yogini who shovels snow every winter, I can attest that these tips will not only help to protect your low back and shoulders, they can also be used as tools to practice mindfulness in our everyday life. By paying attention to how our body moves through the world, we not only move with more efficiency and strength, we learn to anchor our mind to the present moment.
