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Dec
09

The Balancing Series… Love on One Foot. Part 4: Dekasana… Airplane!

bal-split-bLovely, lovely… and, despite the exertion involved a nice relief from the previous posture, Dekasana- airplane.

The support of one, or two hands if you wish, certainly helps.  The support of the arms provides leverage, allowing for greater extension through the lifted leg, with that foot active and energized.

With a last inhale in airplane, getting a little bit more from the slight backbend, heart reaching forward and up, maintain straight back and exhale, hinging at the hip, draw the torso forward down the long line of the thigh.

Be conscious of the line, making sure to keep the trunk turned to lay against the supporting leg.  With the forward bending motion, the extended leg reaches, long and upwards, the toes eager and active towards the ceiling or up the wall to the rear.

This is an energetic posture and the torso extends long down the leg, pulling in the opposite direction of the reaching toes.  Long, long… oh so long!  The arms are engaged, with hands either on the floor, on the ankle or one of each, pulling offering assistance to the extension happening through both the torso andhttp://www.mommyom.com/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=761 leg.  A block is absolutely encouraged to offer assistance in support with the hands, to keep the torso properly aligned, if the floor isn’t going to happen without it.  That leverage is important in maximizing the benefit of this posture.

Regardless the height of the leg, the idea is length and energy… down into the floor through the supporting leg and foot and the hands and up through that long, extended leg into and beyond the toes.

Breathe, breathe… BREATHE!!

Feels good, don’t it?!

Category: Postures, strength, yoga  Leave a Comment
Dec
08

If I’d Known Bikram Was Coming….

I’d have cranked the heat… but it is Canada, after all!

bikramIn our neck o’ the woods we’ve seen celebrities of all stripes, most notably the whole Twi-hard phenomenon as they make their homes locally (roughly) to film the monster vampire franchise.

Anywho… a celebrity nearly as big, at least in his own mind, and certainly more interesting, recently graced our northern shores.  With mouth, cocked and loaded, attitude and cash in abundance, the ‘bad boy’ founder of Bikram, Bikram Choudhury, did Vancouver.

“It takes six hours,” the Los Angeles-based yoga mogul said, before laughing: “And I buy all the junk. I love it, you know?”

Here to conduct a lecture as well as judge the Western Canadian Hatha Yoga Championships- who knew?!- Master Bikram, whose efforts and commitment have manifested in a veritable empire founded on heat, sweat and just plain balls(!), boasts more than 350 affiliated studios around the world and the devotion of millions.  Without doubt, were it available to me and given my penchant for celebrity yogis, I’d probably be sitting sweaty and happy on the Bikram train as well.

The roots of Bikram’s methodology lie in a childhood devoted to hours of practice, where he became more and more aware of the positive effects of heat on his body and it’s response to yoga.

“When room is more hot, then I can sweat more, I can stretch more, I can push more, I can go more deeper and deeper and inside the body, it hurts less and you never get injury,” he said, recalling early days in India when he’d shut doors to keep in the heat.

“So I developed this with my own practice,” he said. “Years and years and years and years.”

Guru to any number of celebrities, Shirley McLain chief among them… oh, and Tiger Woods as well, along with the likes of Madonna, Elle Macpherson and the lovely George Clooney.  Despite his roster of notable clientele, when it comes to giving them the celebrity treatment, Bikram states emphatically,

“This is the way I run my kingdom: my way or the highway,” he said in a tone that leaves little room for dispute. “I don’t listen to anybody. You need my help: Come to me, shut up, forget who you are. I will take care of you. And I do my job.”

For anyone perhaps considering taking Bikram to a more competetive level, take a peek… Here’s Mari Dickey, number one woman at the competition.  A little inspiration:

Category: news, people, strength, Trends  One 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
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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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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