Sunday, March 25, 2012

Svarga Djivasana - Bird of Paradise Pose


Welcome to Week 13 of the Yoga Challenge!!! Spring has officially sprung and I hope this new season brings you all good things :) Today's post is from Janet....


Early one dark, wet & rainy Sunday morning, my sisters & I dressed quietly & tiptoed out of the sleepy household to go to yoga class.  It was our annual SF (Sister Fun/Friends) trip to celebrate birthdays together.  Of course, we eat chocolate, craft, giggle, shop & drink merlot as well, but practicing yoga together is uniquely intimate.  I love to be with people I love and doing something I revere with people I love is almost surreal in its wonderfulness.  (I can hear my college writing professor editing that phrase now..yikes!)
This particular morning found us at the Columbia Athletic Club in Kirkland at Heather’s class.  Heather is always an inspiring presence & teacher but there was a moment in that morning’s class that literally took my breath away.  After several asanas, the room was warm & we were well into the practice.  We did a progressive series that I can’t exactly recall except that it culminated in a good portion of the class suddenly floating into the most beautiful pose I have ever seen.  Not everyone did it, and those that did all did it slightly differently. But in the warm, dim studio with light music wafting, I found myself surrounded by birds of paradise. 
If you have not seen this pose, google it for a picture – I feel like it has to be seen to be believed.  It is elegant, surprising, uplifting & deeply inspiring.  I am not at a place in my practice where I can manage this pose myself, but the vision of it has been with me since that Sunday.  I hold it close like a talisman & imagine myself someday joining the flock.  Until that time, I’ve done a little research & learned the following:

Bird of Paradise is considered an advanced yoga pose that challenges your focus, balance, strength and flexibility. It's one of the more difficult poses to do well, since it demands so much from the body. This pose strengthens the standing leg, ankle, knee and thigh. This pose strengthens the legs, improves balance, opens the groins and hamstrings.
Sanskrit Name is Svarga Djivasana, which means “twice born”. 
Some say this refers to the Huma bird, a legendary bird in Persian mythology, said to be phoenix-like, consuming itself in fire every few hundred years, only to rise anew from the ashes.  It is also said to have both the male and female natures in one body, each nature having one wing and one leg.
Yoga Journal describes it as follows:  “Rooted into the earth is the leg of my masculine nature: my stability, my strength, my stamina; and lifting up to the heavens was the “wing” of my feminine nature: my creativity, my flexibility, my compassion.  I felt grounded like a fire consuming itself, but I also felt the flight of my other leg, rising anew from the ashes like the phoenix. And just like the Huma bird, the Bird of Paradise, I felt the sensation of being “twice born”, neutralizing the polarities of my masculinity and femininity into a balance of paradise.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Observations of the benefits of yoga from a non yogi


Well, yoga friends, this post is not from a true blue yogi, but we had no one scheduled for today (I need people to blog again, so PRETTY PLEASE contact me to set up a date!!!) And, last night my hubby said "why I don't I write one for you?" And I thought to myself "why the heck not - this could be enlightening." And so, when I returned from Sacred Sunday Yoga, he was busily typing up the post. Love that man. And I think this is pretty funny. Especially about the yoga skirt. (Which I returned, by the way. Decided it was a little silly for my lifestyle....even though it looks adorable on my sister and I hope she keeps hers!!!)
This post isn’t about a favorite yoga move, class or first hand perspective on why yoga is the bomb.  Instead, this is an account of the benefits of yoga from someone who doesn’t do it but receives benefits nonetheless. 
My wife has been doing yoga for several years now and in the last two I would say has reached addictive levels – I mean, who has a yoga skirt and whose kids know not only what tree pose is but how to do it…better than their Dad????
When we met, 14 years ago, my wife played soccer, did several fun runs a year and jumped around in various aerobic classes.  She was ultra competitive and would do just about anything to win. 
Then, after having blown out an ACL, having two kids and very effectively managing the chaos that is our household she started doing yoga. Maybe it was just her maturing and learning that winning isn’t the most important thing, or maybe she realized that in the end the only one you truly compete with is yourself and yoga is the best way to do that.  Regardless, outside of a circuit or spin class she does once or twice a week, yoga is now her staple…and from my perspective…that is FANTASTIC…you ask why…well, let me list the positive attributes of yoga as I observe them through my wife:

When she leaves she is of one mindset, when she returns from class she is of another (I’ll let you decide which one is ‘good’ and ‘bad’)
            Slowing down and living in the moment
            Muscle tone – long and lean
    Increased flexibility (wink wink!)
            Hot yoga clothes
            Passion for something positive
            Focus on self – how often does she get to do this?
            A great option for birthday/Christmas/valentines day presents
    Ability to relax
    Did I mention the flexibility???
So, while I may be as flexible as a 2x4 and as interested in doing yoga as my wife is in joining me on the squash court, I am glad that she is passionate about yoga for all the above reasons.  Most importantly however because it makes her happy!!!

Monday, March 12, 2012

Virabhadrasana III - Warrior III Pose


Happy Daylight Savings!!!! This week's post comes from Cynthia...

Ah! The fantastic warrior III! 


I love trying to grab the floor with every possible inch of my foot. 


I Love the challenge of gaining and staying perpendicular.


I love thinking that if I could choose a superpower, flying would be the one for me. I would probably get a superpower that wasn’t so fun, like being able to climb any tree. It would be neat at first, and then I would realize it wasn’t quite as fantastic as a superpower should be.

Yoga has been a fantastic find for me.

As a child of the 80s, I grew up with and love the fast-paced, booming music, aerobics class. Step, step, step, kick, kick, kick, move, move, move. 


It took me quite a while to embrace the lack of constant movement during yoga.



But in warrior III, I am moving without moving. My mind is moving and my body is constantly adjusting so I stay in the position. So much to do while in warrior III….

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Sarvangasana - Shoulder Stand

And, here we are in March already! I hope everyone is enjoying the Yoga Challenge thus far! I love reading all the different posts and getting new perspectives - please keep them coming! Thanks to everyone for participating. On that note, we need to fill some dates for March and April (refer to the Blogger Calendar on the right hand side of the blog.)
Please email Amy at amyneu28@hotmail.com with a date of your liking. Now, on to the Good Stuff....

My name is Elizabeth Bono and I have been practicing yoga on and off for
about 12 years.  I have taught senior/chair yoga off and on for around 9
years.  My favorite pose is Shoulder Stand or Sarvangasana  (of course I
have never done this with my seniors!)  The reason this is my favorite is
that I feel it opening up my shoulders and neck and I just feel very relaxed
afterwards.  Here is some additional information about shoulder stand:

The Shoulder Stand (Sarvangasana)

Next to the headstand, this posture is considered one of the best asanas.
But without the deep breathing with this exercise, it does not have much
therapeutic value and will not be considered a yoga posture.

This asana is sometimes called a "candle" because the body is kept straight
as a candle in this posture.

This asana is equally important for both men and women. It can be tried by
persons of all age levels.

The main benefit of the shoulder stand is to get the thyroid gland working
at peak efficiency. It's the thyroid gland which is mainly responsible for
your correct weight and youthful appearance. 
The shoulder stand also regulates the sex glands. 
It vitalizes the nerves, purifies the blood and promote good circulation,
strengthens the lower organs and helps them to stay in place. 
It gives a healthy stretch to the neck muscles. 
It is beneficial for people suffering from poor circulation, constipation,
indigestion, asthma and reduced virility. 
This pose is especially recommended for women after childbirth and for those
suffering from painful menstruation, other female disorders, and seminal
weakness. 
The Sanskrit name for this posture sarvangasana means 'all the body'.

Time:

Retain this position for fifteen seconds to six minutes, adding fifteen
seconds per week.