Maybe I’m off base, but it seems to me in the West there’s a notion that spirituality is for the privileged. For people who don’t have to worry so much about the mundane necessities of life. For people who have time and space to contemplate why they’re here and what their purpose is. But that’s not true; spirituality is for all. It’s everyone’s birthright.
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.
Benefits:
Stretches knees, hips, and abdomen.
Improves posture.
Can help strengthen back muscles.
Foundation & General Alignment:
Start in Cobra pose, bend one knee in at a time and grab foot with hand. Gently push/pull foot towards back of thigh.
Tops of feet are pressing into ground, toes flat on ground.
Legs are engaged, flexed.
Shoulders are back.
Benefits:
Grounding pose.
Stretches ankles and knees.
Can help calm the brain.
Foundation & General Alignment:
Butt is firmly planted on the ground.
Legs are folded and feet are resting on tops of thighs.
Hands can be on the ground for support or rest on knees.
Back is straight and head is looking forward.
Shoulders are back and away from ears.
Prana is everywhere, in everything. The “life force” exists even in those things we deem “un-living” or “without life.” Yogic thought—Hatha yoga, to be specific—is grounded in nature. Without nature, we cannot exist here in this life, and we cannot exist here in this life without prana. Prana exists in all of nature.
Benefits:
Helps strengthen the leg.
Stretches the thighs and knees.
Improves balance.
Foundation & General Alignment:
Start standing on one leg, other leg bent.
Bent leg comes up like tree pose.
Reach down and pull foot across standing leg. Rest foot/ankle on thigh.
Keep foot flexed, not pointed.
Hands can be on hips -- wherever is most comfortable.
Pelvis is in a natural position.
Prana is, quite simply, life. It is the life force, nourishing body, mind and soul both literally and figuratively. Prana flows within the body by way of breath (the element of air), but also enters the body by the other four elements: earth, water, fire and the ether. The ether, or space, is the element of the soul. It is the element we aim to embody during meditation, as we move inward to find space. Prana is essential to accessing this endless space, and so we prepare for the process of locating space by practicing pranayama.
Great side opener.
Helps tone core.
Strengthens back.
Start standing in Tadasana with arms above head and fingers interlaced.
Gently bend to one side, make sure not to force body over.
Keep feet firmly planted on the ground, legs are engaged.
Belly is toned and pelvis is in a natural position.
Head is looking forward, in natural position.
It seems that in our society, yawning has become an indicator of “being bored”— or being rude for that matter—when in reality, this is likely far from the truth and is a misunderstanding.
As a retired yoga teacher and massage therapist—and simply a person who has spent countless hours dedicated to learning how to relax and take good care of myself—I feel a particular need and responsibility to write this article as an encouragement to the world at large to yawn as much and as often as possible.
Benefits:
Can help relieve stress and mild depression.
Stretches the shoulders, and hamstrings.
Strengthens shoulders and arms.
Foundation & General Alignment:
Start by laying down on stomach.
Pick upper body up and use forearms to hold it up.
Can stay on knees or lift up legs and put weight on tucked toes.
Palms are flat on ground for extra balance.
Keep shoulder back and away from ears.
Can be looking down or straight ahead.