Inspirations: Balancing

Ardha Chandrasana

Half Moon Pose Asana: Ardha Chandrasana/Half Moon Pose.  Begin from the long low side stretch of Utthita Parsvakonasana/Extended side Angle Pose.  As you lift up and out, over the R leg, balancing, with the R arm, parallel to that leg, feel yourself lifting into your dreams, opening your heart to the moon, to that feminine Self within that holds and nurtures your dream-space, no matter the disappointments. Health Notes: When we lose our ability to dream, or to renew lost dreams, we lose our juice, and thus begins the slide away from life. Ardha Chandrasana, strengthens leg muscles and increases balance.

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Solstice Asana

Partnering Solstice Asana: Partnering: Sun and Moon to one another, releasing, trusting, taking turns holding the power for each other. Moon lies on her back, legs up to fit into the hip crease of the sun, who faces her.  Luna places her hands on his chest, and Sol places hands on the floor, either side of her head.  Breathing together, the moon bends her knees and lifts the sun up over her head, where he lies relaxed, trusting, letting legs hang heavy.  When the partnering feels secure, sol can lift the legs up and out, and lift the arms off the floor to open out and fly.  He can also bring his soles of his feet into Baddha Konasana.  When ready to dismount, clasp each other’s hands, with elbow to elbow, and sol bring the feet slowly to the floor.  Change places.  Feel your moments of discomfort in not trusting, and the exhilaration of release that comes when you do and move fully into the duet. Health Notes: Partnering builds trust, balance, strength, and learning your limits with and by another body.  It can build a profound Practice of trusting another to take you flying safely.

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Vrksasana

Tree Pose Asana:Vrksasana- Tree Pose.  Stand in Tadasana, bringing R foot up as high as possible inside L thigh, toes point down.  Press foot into thigh and thigh into sole of foot. Inhale, lifting arms up, balance.  Pay attention to how you are standing on the foot.  Is weight evenly distributed?  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 spring light. Do both sides, of course. Health Notes: Vrksana strengthens leg and ankle muscles, increases balance, and offers a place of stillness, even when it ‘dances’.

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Dekasana

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, and front reaching arms of Vira III. (In fact, this Pose is not mentioned in any of the classical Yoga references consulted, so you can ‘enliven’ it as your Practice wishes.) Health Notes: Both poses are wonderful for balance, strengthening legs and abdomen.  Now more than ever we require balance, and strong legs to move forward, even in tiny steps.

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Urdhva Upavistha Konasana

Upward Facing Open Angle Pose Asana: Urdhva Upavistha Konasana. You can move into this pose either from a seated position, or by rolling back and forth, massaging spine, with knees curled at chest. Roll up to Sitts Bones, slowly extend legs up, grabbing big toes, or legs, while  keeping a steady Drishti/focus for balance.  You can also take the stately approach, extending one leg at a time from a seated position.  Once you are holding the big toes, open both legs out as far and as high as possible.  Bring lower back and chest forward toward thighs. Health Note: This is not only a Pose to strengthen and lengthen the legs, and abdominals, but it lifts the heart, and demand we learn steadiness when things (a pose) are difficult. Against the odds, when we open the heart and build muscle, we can rise. (Read change.)  Any of the Upavista Konasana Asana assist blood to circulate better in the pelvic area.  It can relieve mild sciatica and prevent development of hernia.  It helps regulate menstrual flow, stimulating the ovaries.

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Eka Pada Galavasana

Crossbow Balance Asana:>Eka Pada Galavasana A great pose of strong polarity where we are tethered to earth, yet lift off and ‘fly high’ through the power of holding the center. You can come at this from Utkatasana, (or tripod headstand.) The easier is from Utkatasana:  Feet together, extend arms up, bend knees, lift Bandhas, lengthen back, drop tailbone. Now, lift R shin across L thigh, R knee opens to the side, flex R foot. You are in ‘Number 4.’  Reach both arms forward until hands are on the floor, elbows parallel. Bring the R shin across back of both elbows, (R toes pointing same direction as hands). Release your weight into the arms and begin to extend and lift L leg back. If this is too much, keep L leg bent and close to torso.  Release, by bringing feet to floor, or jump back into Chaturanga, or slowly tilt forward into Tripod Headstand, and lift both legs up.  Yogi’s choice. Health Notes This pose is good for abdominal muscles, and it massages internal organs. It strengthens wrists, arms and neck, and as always, being up side down, or sideways, is an opportunity to change a POV.

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Virabadhrasana III

Strong Warrior Pose The third of the Vira’s, or Power Poses, steps out on the R foot, lifts L leg, arms and torso up and over until the entire line of the body is a flat table top, hips even, L leg rotated inward, foot flexed, and standing leg strong.  Keep neck part of back and do not lift head up.  Drishti is the floor, or R foot.  If the lower back feels at risk once extended, enter the balance by bending standing knee.  This also helps if your balance is tottery, and or the hips uneven. Health Notes:  As in all three Vira’s this pose builds thigh muscle, increases back resiliency, grounds the body into standing strong on the earth.

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Hamsasana

Swan Pose Asana:Hamsasana/Swan-Another beautiful, impossibly difficult bird pose. The difference between last week’s Mayurasana/Peacock Pose, and this week’s Hamsasana lies only in the position of the hands.  In the Swan, fingers face forward, toward the head, making this more difficult than the Peacock. begin on all fours, Bend elbows, with forearms as close together as possible, and rest diaphragm on the elbows, chest on back of upper arms.  One by one, extend legs back, keeping them together, strong and straight. On exhaling take body weight onto the wrists and hands, lifting legs off floor, if possible.  Stretch the back and head forward until entire body is a plank of power, parallel to floor. Try not to place pressure on the ribs.  To come out of pose, lower head to floor, then legs, then knees.  Release wrist discomfort by doing hand rotations or stand on hands in Padahastasana. Health Notes: Abominals are strengthened, circulating more blood to abdominal organs, thus improving digestion, helping cure stomach ailments, and spleen.  It releases stomach toxins, and helps those with diabetes.  It produces strong forearms, elbows and wrists.

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