Yoga Releases Your Creative Potential In Life
Yoga is an ancient art based on a subtle science of uniting the body, mind, and soul. Yoga which was once accepted by a select few is now universally practiced. Due to the therapeutic affects on both mind and body, yoga has enabled many practitioners the enjoyment of a profound sense of peace and well-being.
Yoga is not a simple pose or exercise in stretching but is a complete lifestyle. It is a philosophy of life that teaches us how to achieve calmness and helps us to channel energy throughout our entire being uniting the mind and body in total harmony. The basic teaching of yoga is that we are not this body but rather the body is a vehicle for our soul.
With regular practice, yoga can teach us how to develop a much deeper awareness of both our physical and psychological states. The benefit is a greater ease and ability to cope with everyday stresses and situations. Many words can be used to describe yoga such as, inner peace, calm, tranquility, well-being, oneness, higher consciousness, self-realization, happiness and more. However the true value of yoga is one that must be experienced.
While the overall goal of many yoga practices is to assist in awakening spiritual awareness, there also are many physical benefits such as improved functioning of all bodily systems and strengthening of the immune system. Other benefits are a slowing down of the age process and a reduction in stress. Clearer thinking, enhanced creativity, and an appreciation for life are also benefits of a regular yoga practice.
One of the major components of yoga is the “Asanas”. The asanas, or physical postures, help us to develop physically and spiritually by establishing communication between our external and internal selves. It involves a thought process that allows a balance between movement and resistance.
For newcomers to yoga, the beginning stage of practicing asanas should be taken slowly. As you learn, be mindful of correct movement and alignment. I will highlight monthly what the important points are to stay focused on. Establishing a strong foundation and stability within a pose will be our goal. Once our base is established, it is then that we will see how our mind is affected by the changes of our body.
The highest aim of yoga is realization of the true self. This leads to cosmic Love, a feeling of oneness with all & the experience of pure being, unflawed knowledge & infinite bliss.
SETU BANDHASANA or BRIDGE POSE
Yoga with its many branches is constantly evolving. Yoga is a physical practice consisting of postures that realign and help to strengthen and lengthen the body. It is a mental practice that incorporates pranayama or breath work and meditation. And it is also a spiritual practice integrating both body and mind to bring about oneness, joy, peace, and balance.
We all need balance in our lives and balance helps to promote harmony and healing of the body, mind and spirit. When we are balanced we feel that union or oneness with the divine energy of the universe.
Beginning our yoga practice, our first focus will be on creating balance and a sense of feeling grounded, secure, and stable in our foundation.
A yoga posture to achieve this sense of grounded ness and connection to the earth is:
SETU BANDHASANA or BRIDGE POSE
This pose strengthens the muscles of the abdomen and thighs while you hold the posture. It also strengthens the spine, opens the chest, improves spinal flexibility, and stimulates the thyroid.
Lie supine on the floor, and if necessary, place a thickly folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck. Bend your knees and set your feet on the floor, heels as close to the sitting bones as possible.
Exhale and, pressing your inner feet and arms actively into the floor, push your tailbone upward toward the pubis, firming (but not hardening) the buttocks, and lift the buttocks off the floor. Keep your thighs and inner feet parallel. Clasp the hands below your pelvis and extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders.
Lift your buttocks until the thighs are about parallel to the floor. Keep your knees directly over the heels, but push them forward, away from the hips, and lengthen the tailbone toward the backs of the knees. Lift the pubis toward the navel.
Lift your chin slightly away from the sternum and, firming the shoulder blades against your back, press the top of the sternum toward the chin. Firm the outer arms, broaden the shoulder blades, and try to lift the space between them at the base of the neck (where it's resting on the blanket) up into the torso. Stay in the pose anywhere from 30 seconds to 1 minute. Release with an exhalation, rolling the spine slowly down onto the floor. Repeat several times.
“AS MY LEGS SECURE ME FIRMLY TO THE GOUND, I BECOME MORE GROUNDED AND SECURE IN MY LIFE.”
Lisa~
COBRA POSE
We began our Yoga practice last month with a very stable grounding pose. This allowed us to start by connecting our energy to the earth. This month we will continue with moving the energy from the base of the body upward. The pose we will focus on is called BHUJANGASANA the Cobra.
Emotionally speaking, some of the functions and qualities associated with this pose are sexuality, desire, pleasure, creation and procreation. The verb that best fits this pose and the energy it represents is "I feel". This energy is both emotional and sensual.
The lower abdomen and womb area will be the focus. Here is our desire for nurturing, nourishment, warmth and touch. Denying any of these desires can cause serious imbalances in life. Overindulgence may also cause imbalances.
Cobra is good for people with low back pain, the cobra pose helps to relax and relieve stress on the muscles of the back and abdomen. The cobra pose also works to expand the chest and strengthen the arms, shoulders and muscles of the upper back.
Lie down on your belly. Stretch your legs out with your toes pointed. Bring your hands, palms down, under your shoulders on the floor. Keep your elbows close to your sides.Squeeze in your buttocks and press the pelvic bone down on the floor. Place your forehead on the floor.
Begin to lift up. First, lift the head slightly. You are raising your forehead, eyes, nose, chin and throat from the floor. Then, very gently, allow your upper body to lift up. Don't put any pressure on your hands yet. Press the crown of your head away from your shoulders. Imagine that you are being lifted up and pulled forward from your chest.
Now, press your palms down and lift your chest up a little higher. Your navel can be off the floor, but your pelvis remains in contact with the floor.Your elbows are close in towards your body. Your shoulders are relaxed downward. The crown of your head is stretching upward.
Expand your chest as you breathe into your chest. Take a few breaths here.
Release the press of your palms and allow yourself to come back to a relaxing posture. Rest your head to one side and relax.
Breathe. Feel the effects in the letting go of the posture. Always take the time to receive the benefits of the letting go of any posture. Repeat a few times.
“I rise joyfully to meet and greet every new opportunity in life.”
Lisa~
Lisa Daniel is a fitness professional with many years in the health care field. Lisa is a figure competitor, certified Yoga and Pilates instructor, licensed Massage Therapist and Reiki practitioner. She believes that to have true health and fitness we must enhance and balance mind, body, and spirit. Her goal is continued spiritual evolvement and the opportunity to share her knowledge and experience with others.
The Bow focuses on the pancreas, adrenals, digestive system, and muscles. It helps to massage the abdominals and the solar plexus and stimulate digestion. The verb and energy of this pose can be best described as “I can”.
This pose expands the chest and mobilizes the entire spinal column. The Bow Pose is a good exercise to improve posture and strengthen the back muscles.
Emotionally speaking, the energy of Bow has to do with "belonging." If your energy is open you will feel a belonging to everything and firmly grounded within the universe. A deeply fulfilling emotional life is a result of the energy flow from this pose.
If you feel closed or blocked in this area, and not quite understanding deeper meanings of emotions, or a connectedness to a higher or greater purpose in life, then practicing Bow would benefit you.
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Begin by lying flat on your tummy with your chin or forehead on the ground.
Bend your knees and allow your feet to come close to your buttocks. Reach back and hold your ankles.
Squeeze your buttocks and press your pubic bone and hip bones downward.
Lift your head and chest. Press your feet back into your hands, helping you lift the front of your body. Your thighs may come off the ground allowing you to lift your chest even higher. Raise your knees further by pulling your ankles with your hands.
Continue breathing regularly and try to increase the stretching in the chest and the backward bend for a relaxed body and mind.
Breathe while in the posture and hold the posture for 1 minute.
To release the posture, first lower your legs and release the grasp of the ankles. Release your legs, chest and head. Relax. You may still feel the pulsing of energy in your belly.
“My Mind and Body are completely one with the universe. I am open, flexible and strong.”
The Camel focuses on the area located around the heart. The glands associated with this area are thymus, the lungs, heart, arms, and hands. The verb and energy of this pose can best be described as “I Love”.
Camel pose opens the heart, and by opening the whole front of the body, helps respiration. Camel Pose is a wonderful pose for those with rounded shoulders and generally for improving posture. The chest, the hips, thighs, biceps, ankles and shoulders experience work in the opening. This posture improves spinal flexibility while allowing for deeper breathing and greater vitality. Do not practice this pose if you suffer from high blood pressure, a herniated disk or any other lower back problems.
Emotionally speaking, the energy of Camel can be quite affecting, especially if you are stuck emotionally or withdrawn. This poses releases emotional tension. The practice of this posture and with meditation to calm your mind and focus on the present will definitely make you a stronger, happier person.
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Begin by coming up onto your knees. Have your knees hip width and thighs perpendicular to the floor. Rotate your thighs inward slightly. Place padding under your knees if they are sensitive. Press your shins and the tops of your feet firmly into floor.
Draw your hands up the side of your body as you start to open your chest.
Reach your hands back one at a time to grasp your heels.
Bring your hips forward so that they are over your knees.
Let your head come back, opening your throat.
If this is difficult, try curling your toes under and come to the balls of your feet if you cannot reach your heels when the feet are flat.
Stay in this pose anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute. To exit, bring your hands onto the front of your pelvis, at the hip points. Inhale and lift the head and torso up by pushing the hip points down, toward the floor. Sit back on your heels into Child’s Pose for a few moments.