Hip Openers!

Hip Openers are wonderful postures that help restore strength and especially flexibility to the muscles of your pelvis.  Since the hips are the largest joints in your body, we yogis typically call these pelvic stretches "hip openers".  This class of posture benefits everyone, from pregnant women to people new to yoga!  Here's a summary of a few of the "classics".  Read on, then vote in my latest poll (right over there --->)

Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana II) click to see Stretches the groin and shoulders, stimulates the abdominal organs and builds stamina!  Can relieve backaches...especially during the second trimester of pregnancy!

Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana) click to see Stretches thighs, groins, abdomen, and you'll definitely feel it in your hips.  In addition to stretching out the entire pelvic region, it also stimulates the abdominal organs while opening the shoulders and chest.

Bound Ankle Pose (Baddhakonasana) click to see Stretches the inner thighs, groins, and knees.  Soothes sciatica!

Monkey Pose (Anjaneyasana) click to see Stretches the quads, groins, and even the psoas.

Soooo, which is your favorite?

24-hour Party People

  Ten years ago, this movie was made about Factory Records and the Manchester music scene in the 70's and 80's.  My husband made me go see it, even though I felt like a bit of a fraud because I wasn't really a Joy Division fan, I didn't really have a full grasp of who Shaun Ryder was, and really was a bit clueless - but it was a GREAT title, hinting at the fact that some people just don't know when to stop partying, and life somehow becomes this indulgent, decadent 24-hour party.  **Those of you who know my husband know this might be an accurate description of how he goes about things.  (It's hard to keep up with all the fun...)

Today is my husband's birthday, and suffice it to say, we've got a little bit of fun lined up.  3 whole days of it...and I'm wondering if this is what it feels like to be a 24 hour party person (minus the heroin, mind you; that's just plain illegal!).  There's bound to be some over-indulging.  HOW do you fit in a yoga practice?   "Over-indulging" really doesn't seem to have a place in yogic philosophy - a philosophy which teaches the value of living simply, of being satisfied with what you have in the here and now, not necessarily in shutting the place down (which we have been known to do on more than one occasion).   In the midst of excessive partying, however, a yoga practice might be "just what the doctor ordered"!

There are many levels to the beauty of a yoga practice, and that's what I love about it.  Sure, there's physical beauty as you work through your postures, but there is also great beauty in breath work and mindfulness.  The meditative aspects of the practice give you the opportunity to reflect (was that last taco such a good idea?), to re-center (the ground is down, and the room has stopped spinning), and to re-set.  The breath work helps to calm your nervous system (especially one that's feeling a little queasy after one too-many beverages).  The asana actually helps to rejuvenate the body, doing more than just strengthening and lengthening.  You can use your posture to restore things to normal, and twisting postures, in particular, are wonderful at detoxing, physically squeezing your internal organs and "rinsing" the toxins out (ever notice how you have to go to the bathroom after a yoga practice?)

So, are we in agreement?  After a night of heavy partying, first stop is your yoga mat.  Even if you just lie there and meditate, you're still doing yoga...but if you have the energy for a gentle practice, it can be a great boost to your well-being.  And if you don't "learn your lesson", and pick up right where you left off with the excessive partying?  Well, good things there's no "Yoga Police" who are going to come around and admonish you for ignoring the Yamas and Niyamas!  Yoga's a rather forgiving discipline, and will be waiting for you whenever you're ready to step back on the mat.

In the meantime, Happy Birthday, Darling Husband, and I'm looking forward to celebrating many, many more with you!

Don't forget to vote in my latest poll to the right --->

Try Something New!

Jason Crandell said that "Yoga is the perfect opportunity to be curious about who you are."  What he means by this is that even though your yoga mat is a familiar place and your body is a familiar vessel, every time you step onto that mat with your body is a chance to experience something new.  Will you find yourself more flexible this time?  Will one side of your body be stronger than another?  Are you aligned?  Is it hard for you to find balance today?

Our bodies are constantly speaking to us.  If we don't take the time to slow down and listen, we might miss what's being said.  If your body feels the need to make you listen, it will yell or scream at you (a sensation you might interpret as "pain" or "ouch").  Yoga affords us that chance to slow things down and breathe, and observe.  As in any good relationship, it's a good idea to stop and "listen" before you get to that point of pain or ouch.

The act of self-study has an important place in the practice of yoga.  In sanskrit, it's called Svadhyaya (S-vud-hee-ah-ya), and it is one of the 5 Niyamas - the ways in which you relate to yourself.  Whether you've only recently begun a yoga practice, or you've been a regular at a studio or class for some time, your mat provides a good space for you to relate to yourself, to study yourself, and get to know yourself a little bit better.  Each time you try a new pose, slow down and observe your body in the posture.  Listen.  Is your body speaking to you?  Is it telling you that this pose feels great - or is it telling you that this pose is approaching your "edge" of what's good.  Study how your body flows into and out of the pose, and study how it reacts.  Will a modification help your body react better, or will your body be happier if you kick it up a notch and go a little deeper?

9 years ago did I think I would ever have the strength to do a side plank?  Did I ever think I'd have the balance to do Tree pose?  Could I imagine I'd have the stamina to do 9 Sun Salutations in a row?  Not a chance! ...but by spending my time on the mat, listening to my body, I slowly, surely progressed in my practice.  I still can't do a split, and my inversions leave a lot to be desired, but there always needs to be something to work towards, always something new to try.

With a "studious" level of attention to your practice, step-by-step, you'll begin to feel comfortable with your practice, and that's when it's time to try something new...because life gets boring when you stay within the limits.  If you don't give yourself a chance to try something new, you'll never know what's possible!

JUST FOR FUN!  Don't forget to vote in the survey at the top of the blog:  "Which is your favorite brand of yoga pants?"  Only a few days left to respond, until a new question is posted!