Training Wheels


Remember the training wheels on your first bike?  Or perhaps you were one of those without? You had the scabby knees to prove yourself a flyer.

Starting out in anything, especially life, it’s a gift to have the support of training wheels, all kinds of wheels; those, who are the ‘wind beneath your wings.’ These wheels give a leg up to learn faster, push doors open, and therefore rise higher.  I suspect these fabulous lives are well earned by greatness in another life.

Most children are given poor or no training wheels.  More still have no bike, never mind a childhood.  But here, I’m questioning differences in those who rolled along with training wheels, and those who got on and fell off a lot, There are different gifts that come from the school of hard knocks.  For one, you tend to be hard headed. Perhaps you don’t consider that a good thing? 2. You are used to flying without a net. Nice if you like heights. 3. You are either more timid, or braver than average. Cultivating balance is difficult. 4. Doors are rarely opened so you stand outside hoping they notice, or you bang the door down.  Early Grace is not a strong suit.

The interesting questions are:  What do we do with what we were given?  What do we expect from what we have? How have training wheels, or lack thereof, turned red lights– green, or not?  Have you become who you set out to be?  Hard to know this.  But if your starting gate were today, what sort of training wheels are in place for the coming leap? When you prepare to fly into tomorrow’s unknown, I hope it’s more than hot air that lifts your wings, and pushes your magic bike forward.  I wish for you the support of those who care deeply for your well being, running along on either side, hot wheels, with silvery streamers.

Pose With Seasonal Notes:

Asana: Makarasana/Crocodile.  There is also a Crocodile Mudra, Makara, which when used mindfully can suddenly galvanize enormous amounts of strength. Makarasana is one of several low lying stomach poses that strengthen the back, open the heart, and prepare the body for Wheel, or backbend.  To move into the Asana, lie flat on the abdomen, bring hands on top of one another, under the chin or forehead.  On the exhale, lift legs and chest, keep elbows open, let hands traction head slightly forward, lengthening neck. You can also turn head to one side, then the other.  Remain lifted for 5 long breaths, or perform this as a Vinyasa, lowering and lifting chest and legs on the breath.

Health Notes: As Makarasana tractions and lengthens spine, especially the cervical, it massages abdominal organs and the reproductive system. Draw energy up from the earth on each inhale, extend it out through entire body on exhale. When done, rest completely, feeling breath massaging the spine, the awareness brought to the second chakra, and the deep connection to earth.

If you have neck issues/injuries, practice with forehead supported on hands, neck in neutral.

Makara Mudra: activates kidney energy which releases reserves of strength against listlessness, dissatisfaction, even depression.

Astrology Notes: We are in the last week of Aires energies, and what an activated Aires time it’s been! We have all danced to Mars, Aires ruler.  We are more expressive, read opinionated, assertive, trigger- happy, creatively high acheivers, pissed off, and frustrated…in short, exhausted from over doing.  You may have noted many people had head issues, as Mars rules the head in the physical body.  This can mean headaches, eye issues, ear and hearing problems, teeth and mouth.  With the full Moon this weekend depend on everything to be even more ramped up.  Do your best to hold the polarity by sitting still, and simply breathing spring in and out, in and out.  That is a big job right now.

Ayurvedic Notes: Though spring tends to be a time of Vata Dosha, these past weeks have been more Pitta, given all the fiery Aires planets.  To balance Pitta Dosha, it is important to relax into a quieter Practice, not make hotter what is already too hot.  Pitta are prone to toxic disorders of the liver. Plus skin and blood issues. (Note Makara Mudra, & Makarasana,) It therefore helps to eat foods that are cleansing and cooling such as fruit, lettuce, asparagus, grains, especially barley.

8 Comments

Alan

Enjoyed the shaktiyoga dance. Reminds me some of Tai Chi T’Chuan in flowing from one form to the next. Some of the knee bending gave me the willies. Keep up the good work.- From the dancing wilderness of Idaho

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Samantha

I love hearing from the wilderness of Idaho…Now, I’ve really arrived. And yes, now that you mention it, there is a Tai Chi flow of similarity between the two. I like that. Your knee is mending, don’t get the willies, soon you too will be Shakti dancing. Can’t wait.

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Nina

Very well explained and easy to follow from the clearness and slow motion of the movie. Nina

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Samantha

Querida Nina de Madrid, Gracias por tu voz Espanol, tu ojo de percepcion, tu claridad profundo! Tu eres una Hija Magnifica! Bienvenidos ShaktiYogaDances a Espana, no? Hasta pronto. Kissitos!

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CarCar

With tears of love & awe & pure joy I watch you bring more dance out into the world.

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Samantha

Love that you get this at its emotional heart-beat, for that is the essence of why-ShaktiDance. The total body mudra of unfolding ourselves layer by layer provokes ‘joy cells.’ You see that, as you see energies moving through the world. Deeply grateful.

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Samantha

Jerri, coming from you, with your designer’s eye and dance-toes, I take it as a high compliment. Makes me feel that all the work of folding in the layers was worth the wait of getting it out. Thank you for the gift of your ‘eagle eye.’

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