body

Okay—so I recently started doing jujitsu, and regardless of the challenges I’ve faced—I’m hooked! But why? Jujitsu, also sometimes known as “the gentle art,” is more than just an ancient Japanese grappling style -- it is a life-altering practice that can truly heighten a person physically, mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually. Read on to find out more about the martial art of Jujitsu, and its benefits for the mind, body, soul and spirit.

A dear friend gifted me the book How Yoga Works by Geshe Michael Roach. After tearing away the wrapping paper to expose a yellow cover displaying the chin mudra and the title How Yoga Works, my initial thought was, Okay, an instructional book about yoga…nice.

Wellness Wednesday 56: Dolphin Pose / Ardha Pincha Mayurasana

Benefits:

Strengthening pose.

Stretches shoulders, hamstrings, and calves.

Can help calm brain, relieving stress.

Can relieve symptoms of menopause.

Foundation & General Alignment:

Start on hands and knees, lower onto forearms and bring body up like downward dog.

Weight is evenly distributed on forearms and feet.

Heels are on ground.

Wellness Wednesday Week 55: Bridge Pose

Benefits:

Strengthens legs.

Opens hips.

Tones belly.

Foundation & General Alignment:

Start while lying on back.

Knees are bent.

Both feet are firmly planted on the ground.

Hips are lifted up off ground.

Hands are clasped behind back.

Body is in a straight line.

Back is straight.

Okay, I know this might not be everyone’s favorite subject to touch on, but pee is actually really important. In fact, just from looking at the color, you'll be able to tell a lot about your health. That said, not many people care about the color of their pee, or give it a second thought. They want to get in and out of the bathroom as quickly as possible, and I get that. But if you want to really see where you stand in terms of health, you need to pay more attention to your pee.

Wellness Wednesday 54: Locust Pose / Salabhasana

Benefits:

Strengthens entire back of body.

Stretches the front of the body.

Can help relieve stress.

Foundation & General Alignment:

Start laying on stomach, hands are flat on ground by your side, and tops of feet are flat on ground with toes pressing into the ground.

Either at the same time, or one after the other: lift both arms and legs.

Keep front of body engaged.

“Everything in nature is made up of five basic elements: earth, water, fire, air, and space. Knowledge of the five elements allows the yogi to understand the laws of nature and to use yoga to attain greater health, power, knowledge, wisdom, and happiness. This arises out of deep intuition of how the universe operates.”      
-- Dr. Swami Shankardev Saraswati

Wellness Wednesday 53: Standing Split / Urdhva Prasarita Eka Padasana

Benefits:

Stretches the hamstrings, and calves.

Can strengthen thighs, knees, and ankles.

Helps calm the brain.

Foundation & General Alignment:

Start standing in forward fold, one leg lifted. Hands can be used as second base for balance.

Keep foot of lifted leg facing the ground.

Hips are squared, lifted one is not “popping” out.

Just like reality is layered, so too is the body comprised of concentric fields that stack on each other and overlap, working with each other in order to create perfect health in this manifestation vehicle we call the body. By understanding the layers in the body and what their functions are, it becomes easier to see and hear the inner workings by the symptomatic language the body is speaking.

Wellness Wednesday 52: Wild Thing Pose / Camatkarasana

Benefits:

Helps strengthen abs, legs, back, and arms.

Improves balance.

Stretches sides of body.

Great heat opener/backbend.

Foundation & General Alignment:

Can start in wheel or downward facing dog. If starting in down dog slowly roll body over until you’re completely turned around.