Posts Tagged ‘stretching’

Energy!

Wednesday, January 7th, 2009

There are days when I feel absolutely wonderful, vibrant and energetic…but like everyone else, there are days when I feel not quite so fabulous. So my magic trick for feeling better is, surprise, yoga!  Energy begets energy in the case of yoga, instead of depleting your resources.

So stand up, nice and tall, tail bone tucked under and shoulders pulled back and down. Step into a wide-legged stance, feet about shoulder length apart, and lift your arms to shoulder height.  Keep the knees soft and just start swinging side to side.  Move all the way through the knees, and hips, and torso, swinging freely and as fast as you can.  Allow your head to move side to side along with your arms.  Go for a minute, if you can, for two minutes.You’ll feel yourself recharging, coming alive.  And before you let those arms down, drop only one behind you and lift the other one high, opening up the front of the body.  Keep the neck soft, and lift the arm high and behind you.  Then switch hands, dropping the raised arm down behind you and lifting the lowered arm up and over. Really open up the front of the body, stretch yourself and let the inhale expand your body.  Bring both arms down and and press both feet firmly into the ground, press you hands together at heart center and just allow yourself to feel the inhale and exhale, eyes closed and rolled up to the third eye.

You probably already feel a little better.   Step out into the rest of your day, or if you still want to add to that nice little refresher, jump into a few .  You can do the variation which is posted in Asanas, or find a full version on my website .  I’d offer a link, but I haven’t figured that out yet. Be patient.

In case none of that works, and sadly, there are days when it doesn’t, a good nap can sometimes be just the remedy. :)

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Sun Salutation Variation!

Wednesday, December 17th, 2008

I teach a lot of classes, and one of them happens to be a gentle and accommodating class which allows people of all abilities to join in one of the most satisfying activities the body will ever know.  Usually a good ‘sun salutation’ just adds to that satisfaction…opening up the body in wonderful ways making the rest of the day possible!

For people with knee replacements, however, sometimes lowering oneself to the mat is a challenge.  I have adapted the ‘sun salutation’ for those of you who would like a standing only variation.  You need to deliberately engage your muscles, and allow yourself to feel the full force of this wonderful stretch!  If you don’t immediately follow the inhale/exhale pattern, do not worry.  Let the movements become part of the body, and as they do, you will find that the breath will follow and enhance the entire process.

Step 1Step 2Step 3Step 4

Step 5Step 6Step 7Steps 8 & 9

Step 10 Step 11

You can repeat this up to 10 times, or as many as feel good.  Really stretch your spine out.  You’ll feel good and because its done with a wall, you are perfectly safe.   But remember, ANY exercise should be undertaken only after confirming its appropriateness for you.

Watch for videos coming soon, and wish me luck since none of this is my specialty.

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I Admit It, I’m Not Perfect

Friday, December 5th, 2008

I stand in front of a class everyday, or almost everyday, and wonder why anyone would choose to listen to what I say.  Its like playing Simon Says…and I’m Simon, and even scratching my nose becomes something to imitate. Its a pretty intimidating place to be, when all of your actions and movements are something to be copied.

uh….no, please don’t stand bend like that, it looks painful…

It doesn’t matter how many times I say ‘please bend your knee in this asana, it will help straighten the spine.’  Someone  always wants their body to stretch the same way as mine, or their neighbor, or that really cool acrobat in Cirque Du Soleil.  And there they stand, awkwardly stretching themselves forward, their shoulders curled, their chin reaching desperately foward, their belly caved in.  Ouch!  It doesn’t look good, it doesn’t feel good, it isn’t doing ANYONE any good.  Ease off and breathe.  That is what it is all about.

Now I don’t stretch to my full length as I instruct, I stretch only as much as the least flexible person in that class.  I wobble incessantly during a balancing pose (and sometimes without even trying) and I loudly announce all the strange sounds my bones and muscles make while I move through an asana. I’m not perfect, okay, I don’t have the ideal form, and possibly I never will. But I sure do feel good, and I smile a whole lot more than so many others I know.  And if you can do that, smile, I mean….then you’ve got good form. Perfect form, in fact. Its the smile that’ll give you away as a true yogi or yogini.

I have perhaps wandered along different streams and paths, but I’m on the same journey as the rest of the world.  So don’t copy my form, don’t try to look like me, just listen to my words. In my words I share the wisdom of all my teachers and gurus and guides.

Journey on…just don’t let it pain!

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