Big night out? Loosen up with this 20-minute pre-date yoga sequence

Mandy Burstein. Courtesy Mandy Burstein.

Got butterflies?

Nerves are normal before a big date. The excitement of being wooed and clicking (or not) with a new beau can turn your mind to mush and set your heartbeat thumping.

Fortunately, yoga can help you to relax and put your best self forward for the anticipated match-up, says Mandy Burstein, who teaches teen yoga classes at several San Diego area studios and maintains a highly popular Instagram following (@zengirlmandy) and blog at zengirlchronicles.com.

If you have a home practice, before you primp and prime, follow Burstein's lead through this 20-minute pre-date yoga sequence...

 

Just breathe. Lion’s breath is my favorite. Take a big inhale through the nose and deep cleansing exhale through the mouth, firing out negative energy. When dating, it’s important not to bring past relationships and bad experiences to the current one. You need to come to it from a new place.

Mind a mantra. Work from a place of self-love. Repeat, “I am love,” “I am supported,” “I am beautiful,” or create your own. Focus on healing and loving yourself first so you can spill that love over in to the world.

Get grounded. Child’s pose is the quintessential, go-to pose for settling down before going in to a nice flow. Starting off with a heated practice can fuel anxiety. Think of the earth element, rather than fire.

Open your heart. From Cat/Cow, I’d move to Down Dog, an inversion, to get fresh blood flow to the brain and to reset your mentality about getting to know someone new. Take lots of Sun Salutes with jumping and hopping to the front and back of your mat –this will energize you in to an upbeat, happy, joyful place. Try a big back bend like Camel, to open the heart space and make room for this new life experience.

Free your true voice. Move to Bridge, which opens your throat space. All the words you’ll speak to this new person should come from a really kind, authentic place. Don’t just say what he wants to hear. Whether you continue dating or just remain friends, let it be an honest new partnership and build from there.

See it, feel it. Seated on your heels, place your palms in a receiving bowl Mudra honoring the notion of giving and receiving. Visualize your ideal partnership, perhaps your folks, or a twosome in your life you respect. Hold on to some of the qualities you can learn from this power couple.

Let it go. Lie in Savasana and surrender negative, judgmental tension stemming from yourself or dating drama gossip from others. Your mind/body is a container. You get to choose what to fill it up with. It’s better to put in good, positive thoughts and energy than bad.

Calm your senses. Frankinsense is the ‘king of oils.’ It helps you deepen breath and smells like Christmas. Dab it on your wrists, shoulders and the tip of your lip, as it’s of the more digestible essential oils. Amazing for anxiety, it can get you in to the right head space before you go out.