Daily Breath Journal | Yoga Inspiration, Creative Exploration, Shared Transformation — Page 2

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to Daily Breath Journal. I invite you to respond and build on Daily Breath’s explorations for nurturing life. This Journal is to support and grow the teacher within. It is to create Sangha, a lively community for all of us who question and quest a healthier, more profound life. This was the ancient, and original meaning of Yoga. It was an entire life style. Through the emotional, physical, and intellectual adventures of Daily Breath, we come to understand and inter-connect energy on many levels. All life is energy. All life is Yoga. It is a question of how we choose to use it.

Looking forward to your ideas, and feedback. Blessings,

Aires Overview

August 12, 2010

The zodiac gives birth when 0 degrees of Aires arrives, usually around March 21st. Aires energy is the thrust of new spring life. It wants to burst forth, make love, move, take-charge, grow. It feels the force of creative light, wishing to manifest as expressive will. Mars, Aires ruling planet, has charge over the head [...]

Vernal Equinox/Spring Quadrant

August 12, 2010

Spring or Vernal Equinox March 21 Spring quadrant includes energies of Aires, Taurus & Gemini Astrologically, the seed force bursts the year open on the Vernal or Spring Equinox, between March 19 and 21 when the sun arrives at zero Aires. ‘Equinox’ literally means ‘equal night,’ when day and night both hold twelve hours. It [...]

Autumn Equinox/September 22

August 12, 2010

Beginning of fall Fall quadrant includes energies of Libra, Scorpio & Sagittarius In The northern hemisphere,the autumn Equinox, September 21-22, occurs when the Sun crosses the celestial equator, hitting zero degrees of Libra. This marks the half way moment when night and day are equal, the harvest is gathered, and we turn inward toward longer [...]

Bakasana/Crane Pose

August 12, 2010

Asana Bakasana/Crane Pose. If you are a beginner, place a block under your forehead until you feel safe enough to lift off. This is a powerful pose that lifts the mula bandha roots up as you press hands down into the earth to fly. Begin in Down Dog. If you are advanced, jump into the [...]

Eka Pada Bakasana/One Legge Crane Pose

August 12, 2010

Asana: Eka Pada Bakasana/One legged Crane Pose. Many bodies struggle with this as it requires strength, balance, and flexibility in equal measure. You can enter it from Bakasana, extending one leg back. You can enter it from Plank, pulling one knee into the upper arm, releasing the back leg up. You can also enter it [...]

Bhujapidasana/Shoulder Pressing Pose

August 12, 2010

Asana:Bhujapidasana/Shoulder Pressing Pose. Spread the feet, bending the knees in order to place palms about 18 inches apart, between legs so you can rest the back of thighs on upper arms. Bend elbows, and exhale as you lift feet off floor, squeezing the knees over the arms. Interlock ankles, lifting abdominal muscle and mula bandha. [...]

Breaking Down Barriers

August 12, 2010

Pluto’s rulership provides energy to break down blocks, especially those that keep us from evolutionary progress. Pluto helps to integrate the Self, when it works productively, and when not, it is an annihilator. It is changing large structures holding humanity back. Being impersonal, it doesn’t care how we re-structure, only that we do. Best to [...]

Sagittarian Capacity

August 12, 2010

As night takes over lady day, Sagittarian fire lights the dark with great ideas, wonderful stories, and enthusiasm. But are we overly optimistic? Is more simply too much? When the large, gaseous planet Jupiter is involved, we all need to be mindful of over-expecting, over-eating, over-indulging. Early winter is a good time to stretch thighs [...]

Eka Pada Galavasana/Crossbow Balance

August 12, 2010

Asana: Eka Pada Galavasana. This is a pose where we are tethered to the earth but lift off and ‘fly high’ through our power to hold the center. You can come at this from a standing position, or a tripod headstand/Salamba Sirsasana. From the headstand begin with the feet in a down dog position, pull [...]

Tittibhasana/Firefly

August 12, 2010

Asana:Tittibhasana/ Firefly. An easy entrance to this Pose is from a low Malasana, feet open and wide, Sitts bones dropped toward the floor. Place palms inside the feet, fingers face forward, open the elbows, placing back of thighs over upper arms. Keep chest relating to the floor, lift lower Bandhas, release feet out, stretching toes. [...]

Urdhva Upavistha Konasana/Upward Facing Open Angle Pose

August 12, 2010

Asana: Urdhva Upavistha Konasana/ Upward Facing Open Angle Pose. You can move into this Pose from rolling back and forth, massaging spine, with knees curled at chest. Roll up to Sitts bones, slowly extend legs as far as possible. Grab big toe, legs, or outside of feet, while keeping a steady Drishti/focus for balance. You can also [...]

Visvamitrasana/One Arm, One Leg Side Extension

August 12, 2010

Asana: Visvamitrasana/one arm, one leg side extension. Standing in a ‘short dog,’–Adho Mukha with hands 4-5 ‘ in front of feet, lift R leg up and over R arm. Turn and open torso to L, placing L arm on side, then lift it up, gaze up. Press L soul of foot down, extend R leg [...]

Vasisthasana/One Foot-One Arm Extended Balance

August 12, 2010

Asana Vasisthasana/ One foot/ one arm extended balance. Come into Pose from Down Dog, move into plank. Open to left side, balance on R hand, under R shoulder, and stack L feet on top side of R foot. Open the chest and reach L arm up, opposite R arm. Remain here for 5-10 breaths. You [...]

Dekasana

August 12, 2010

Asana: Dekasana/lifted Vira III. This is a new pose, but very like the old pose of Virabradrasana III. Move onto one leg, lifting the other up behind as you tilt forward, parallel to floor. Keep the hips level. In Dekasana, lift the torso up, arms back, as though in flight, instead of the flat back, [...]

Vrksasana/Tree Pose

August 12, 2010

Asana: Vrksasana/ Tree Pose. Stand in Tadasana, bringing R foot up as high as possible inside L thigh, toes point down. Inhale, lifting arms up, balance. If you are touched by ‘Nirvana’ sway into ‘Dancing Tree’ by shifting hips away from R knee, open arms to sides, lift chest higher and feel the whispers of [...]

Chaturanga Dandasana/Four Limb Staff Pose

August 12, 2010

Asana: Chaturanga Dandasana/Four Limb Staff Pose. This pose is usually part of the Sun Salutations. Move into it Down Dog, then Plank Pose, keeping shoulder blades into back ribs, belly contracted, tail bone down, toward pubis. Lower torso to height of elbows which are bent at 90 degrees, snugging the ribs, don’t let belly drop! [...]

Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana/Two Footed Inversion Pose

August 12, 2010

Asana/Pose: Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana . This looks like a graceful bridge or arc, as though the feet lowered out and away to the floor from Salamba Sirsasana/ headstand. Begin flat on back, placing palms under shoulders, fingers pointing to feet. Bring feet near hips, knees parallel. Exhale, straighten legs, and bear weight on the [...]

Purvottanasana/East Stretching Pose

August 12, 2010

Asana: Purvottanasana/East Stretching Pose. Begin by sitting with legs extended, hands by hips, fingers toward feet. Either bend knees, soles of feet on floor, or lift the hips up with legs straight, soles of feet on floor. Take a breath, extend head back, hands placed under shoulders. Remain until the heart opens an inch. If this is [...]

Dolphin

August 12, 2010

Asana: Dolphin. From Down Dog, bend the elbows, pressing them inward, under the shoulders, spread the fingers wide, releasing energy. Keep the back long, lifting tail bone high, pressing heels down, breathe into the back, shoulder blades lengthen toward tail bone, head is between upper arms, not touching floor. Feel the joy of diving into [...]

Eka Hasta Vyaghrasana/Tiger Pose

August 12, 2010

Asana: Vyaghrasana/Tiger Pose, Come onto hands and knees, exhale pulling R knee in toward forehead, inhale as you extend R leg back and up. Repeat 5 times, and do other side. Eka Hasta Vyaghrasana/One armed tiger. Begin on all fours, bend R knee, lifting R foot up and back, reach back with L hand and [...]

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