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Nov
10

The Balancing Series… Love on One Foot. Part 1: Garudasana or Eagle Pose

bal-eagleMaybe it’s autumn, maybe it’s my current serene state of mind, fair & balanced, but I’m all about incorporating the Balancing Series into my practice these days.

So, if you’re looking to cultivate strength, balance and open-ness… look no further!  The Balancing Series provides you with a well-rounded and challenging set of postures to help you achieve all three!

It’s a personal favourite of mine, and one that I look forward to as I’m sweating through the warrior series in anticipation of the sweet serenity and focused stillness of standing on one foot.

I know it may not be everybody’s cup of tea.  Balancing postures, while providing a beautiful payoff, require a heck of a lot in return.  Passive it ain’t.  You will work… your. butt. off!  Heh heh.

But, truly, the balancing postures embody the foundations of yoga and are so worth getting to know better despite the degree of  physical endurance.  The rewards extend, literally, from head to toe and I encourage you to incorporate it, in part or in full, regularly into any practice.

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Category: health, Postures, Practice, strength  Leave a Comment
Oct
28

Eka Pada Rajakapotasana, or Half-Pigeon… or, Blissful Agony

pigeon_01

Historically throughout my years of oscillating practice, the pleasure of Eka Pada Rajakapotasana- or One-Legged King Pigeon OR just plain ol’ Half Pigeon- has, quite frankly, eluded me.  In fact, more often than not, when given the opportunity to avoid it, I’ve been more than happy to do so.

Frog Pose: Mandukasana

I tend to be tight, tight, tight through the hips.  Hamstrings?  No problem… there’s nothing like the sweet surrender into a deep and delicious forward bend.  Shoulders?  Mmmmm… Eagle me, baby!  Hips?  Well… another story.  At a Boot Camp a few years back part of the evening practice required we remain in Frog Pose for a seemingly endless amount of time.  By the end of the week I had discovered any number of ways to support myself in the posture: blankets, blocks, complete and utter denial… let’s say, I really came to understand “going to my happy place.”

But, I digress… be these hips as they may, lately, and perhaps it’s a function of now being in an actual class where I am bound, gagged and manhandled more consistently encouraged into Pigeon, I’ve found a little more joy in this wonderful hip-opener.

OK… perhaps ‘joy’ is overstating it a tad, but I am definitely better able to embrace the discomfort a little more, breathe into the tension of the tendon and muscle, and allow some much needed open-ness through this tight area of the hips and groin.  Honestly, after squeezing out three over-sized babies I wouldn’t have thought it ever to be an issue.

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Category: Postures, Practice  One Comment
Jun
08

Shake, Shake, Shake! Utkatasana…

utkatasana-yoga-art-chris-carter-020908-137x255

Chris Carter, Artist

This is a posture I really do like…  oh yes.  In fact, it’s a posture I play with a little to give the old thighs something to really scream about!  As I near the end of my series of Sun Salutation A, I’m already anticipating the bliss in the delicious agony that is Powerful Pose… or to some, Awkward Chair Pose.

It’s a posture that challenges your focus.  Not unlike other postures, there’s a lot going on at once.  Utkatasana requires- no, demands- attention to everything happening in your body, with muscles calling out in unison, in synchronistic pleasure and pain, from nearly head to toe.

I really couldn’t describe it any better than the lovely Shiva Rea does here, so I’ll let her do the honours of offering the posture step-by-step.  I’ve included a little video supplement too…

Credit for watercolour yoga imagery goes with thanks to Chris Carter, watercolour and ink artist.

Category: Postures, Practice, strength  2 Comments
May
14

Savasana… Worth the Effort

savasana

How often can you say that you let go, relax, completely?  Even if you are one who meditates, meditation is still an activity of engagement and distinct focus.

Savasana, as in any yoga posture, requires a certain focus. However unlike in meditation, rather than constantly directing attention to non-attention, shall we say, it is a practice of directing attention to complete and total relaxation.  An emptying from the scalp to the toes, from the spine to the internal organs.

Allowing oneself to sink, heavy into the earth, easing all tension from muscles and joints, allowing the eyeballs to roll back in the sockets, the tongue to lay heavy at it’s root and the stomach and neighbouring organs to lower into the wall of the spine… oh, while remaining awake of course.

This pose is about letting go entirely.  Proper relaxation is integral to healthy functioning of mind and body providing a clarity of thought, aiding in judgment and desicion making.   And in today’s hectic and increasingly stressful environment, at work and in the home, true relaxation is difficult to come by and to many, difficult to justify.

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Category: health, Meditation, Postures, Spirit  One Comment
Apr
29

In Another Life… I’d Be a Dancer…

So, in this one, I’ll settle for just enjoying the pose to it’s fullest!  Dancer’s Pose, or Natarajasana is one of the loveliest postures I know.

In the balance postures, and in particular Natarajasana, which many find difficult, it is the focus that brings light to the posture… think:  80% focus, 20% physical ability.  That should take some pressure off!

At a recent retreat, the woman with whom I shared my ‘tent-alow’, a fellow Canadian and true yogini in almost every sense of the word, surprised me the morning of our first practice, when I happened to be on my mat directly to her rear, in the row behind.

Not classically built for flexibility, or so I thought, my roommate approached the posture as we all did, but then somehow, she seemed to leave us.  As the bodies surrounding her found their place of focus and some comfort in varying degrees of the pose, for the most part, extended, reaching forward… it was as if her torso, her heart within her breast, along with her foot, clasped in both hands, were being pulled towards the sky by a string held by Shakti herself.  Her body became a circle, arced round, strong, unwavering and perfect.

From my place in the posture, I could but stare in blatant longing.  When I asked her about it later, expressing my admiration at the sheer beauty of it, she simply shrugged, claiming it was a favourite, but added quietly, “I feel love in that pose…”   Mmmmmm… the power of yoga!

I found this wonderful video, which in addition to being a brief but thorough education in Natarajasana, addresses many people’s propensity to turn slightly, which allows for taking the posture deeper, but with the wonky alignment twists the spine awkwardly, while torquing the hip outward.

Ahem.  I suppose I’ll be taking a better look at my alignment.


Category: Postures, Practice, Spirit  One Comment
Apr
08

Comfort, Style, Beauty… Hyde!

hyde-main

Yoga wear has definitely found its way into our wardrobes.  Clothing for yoga has transcended the mat, the studio, the gym.  Women… and men… can be seen wearing it just about anywhere… and everywhere, from picking up the kids, to the grocery store, to the mall.  It’s not just for yoga anymore, that’s for darn sure.

That said, the reason for the popularity of yoga clothing for everyday, and everywhere, is that in recent years, it’s become more than a matter of just comfort.  Hey, we all know you can find comfort pretty readily… say, your p.j’s or a pair of old trusty sweats (a pet peeve of husband)…. No, it’s more than that.

With Hyde, it’s comfort and a whole lot more.  With Hyde, it’s a matter of originality.  Unique fit.  Wearability, whether on the mat, walking the dog, or standing in line at the grocery check-out.  Not to mention, just sheer style.  Oh, and maybe most importantly, affordability!

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Apr
02

Bridge Pose, or…. Setu Bandha Sarvangasana

It was a lovely practice today.  Short but lovely.  Only half an hour as girl-child was left on the computer… please don’t judge.  Ahem.

Anyways, this posture is near heaven for me.  It’s a posture in which I can remain for days… or at least, many, many moments.  I love looking down my abdomen, torso straight and strong not to mention the power in my thighs.  Oh, my thighs.  I just love the delicious tension in this pose… feeling the work in my core… and my dear bottom!

It’s a beautiful, strong posture and is known to offer many benefits, not the least of which is rejuvenating tired legs (the thighs, remember?!), as well as stretching the chest, neck, and spine and stimulating abdominal organs.  Additionally it’s said to improve digestion and aid in the discomfort of menstruation.

I’ll bow to a higher authority to provide the technicalities, but for the love of Oprah, this is one of my favourites!

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Feb
20

Cobra… Serpentine

As a self-proclaimed Baron-o-phile, I like an athletic, robust practice.  In the past when I’ve been away from the mat, it’s Baron who’s brought me back, whether with his Bootcamp in a Box, or my own practice that I’ve designed and memorized, mind and muscle, around his books.  Like I said, a Baron-o-phile.  His was the first practice that resonated with me, that worked for my body and my expectations for a practice.  Athleticism combined with flexibility and a little spiritual thrown in for good measure… it worked for me.

But lately I’ve been looking for something else in a practice to bring me back on a regular basis and here in the sticks, I rely on books, DVD’s and CD’s to do it.  There are programs around, but I have to drive a distance and some days… well, I just don’t trust my reliability… to throw down a mat in my living room, let alone get it together to get in my car and to town… in the dead of winter.  Ahem.

So, as mentioned in a previous post, I decided to go in a new direction.  To Shiva… and her Fluid Power.

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Jun
27

Tree Pose… Or Vrksasana

OMG… One of my favourite postures.  I can stand in Tree Pose for (insert ValleyGirl accent here) like, forever.

From Mountain Pose, the trusty and so very foundational, Tadasana… I’m presuming toes are already spread, three points engaged, arches drawing up, with big ol’ quadriceps pulling kneecaps heaven-ly… bring weight to left foot.  With the help of a hand, bring the right foot up, sole of foot to inside of thigh.  Thanks to a ‘bit’ of lovely inner thigh flesh, I am able to bring my foot right below my crotch, to rest… ‘thank you’ inner thigh flesh.

I like to bring my attention to the energy between foot and thigh to establish a secure, steady posture.  In pressing one against the other with each responding in kind, there’s a fantastic and stabilizing force that helps to ensure the steady… as well, eyes relaxed, gaze fixed- read:blurred- down the length of the nose.  Shoulder blades are drawing down either side of the spine towards the tail bone, which is drawing towards the floor.

Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh… Hands to Namaste.  When you feel a good stability, one where you might just feel like staying there all day, bring arms up overhead.  Conscious of shoulder blades drawing down and long.

Don’t forget to breathe, of course.  A nice ujayii.  Relaxed, yet engaged.  After a count of however many makes for a thorough appreciation for the posture for you, gently bring foot down.  Rest, breathe in Tadasana, and regain your stable foundation.

Repeat on other side.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh.

I love this posture.  In it I feel strong.  Everything is active.  While I have a natural sense of balance I love the confirmation this posture gives me.

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Feb
20

Ardha Uttanasana

Half Standing Forward Bend

Ohhhhhh… revel in this extension.

From folded position in Uttanasana, inhale and lengthen your spine forward. The gaze is lifted forward, the crown of the head is as though it’s being gently pulled from the long neck and the spine is extended. Shoulder blades are long down the spine towards the hips and depending on one’s flexibility, the fingertips can stay on the floor or rise to the shins.

The last wonderful, full inhale before folding once again into a brief Uttanasana and descending to plank. Mmmmmmmmmm……….

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