DAILY This simple pose offers several layers of healing. 1. As a basic stretch, it lengthens hamstrings, and spine. 2. As a restorative pose, it allows the body to ground down and release toward earth, softening ego so it does not push too far too fast. 3. Done with a partner, it adds connection and joy in supporting one another. Begin pose in Dandasana~Staff Pose, sitting tall, with legs parallel. Lengthen spine forward, gently walking hands out, or you can place a strap behind the feet and slowly pull the torso forward. ( Keep elbows open out to the side so the lungs fully operate.) If hamstrings are tight, bend the knees, strap around feet, then very slowly extend legs, bit by bit. If you overextend hamstring stretches, you run the risk of tears at the hip insertion. These take a long time healing, so do not let ego run amuck telling you to stretch faster/longer. Tortoise wins this race every time. As a restorative pose, place folded blanket under the hips, then pull a bolster, with more folded blankets, and or blocks – if needed into groin, between legs. Extend torso over the supports, resting the forehead on something. You should feel the sweet support of the bolster under your belly. As the forehead~Third eye, Anja, 6 chakra rests on its support, feel your intuitive body expanding as it connects earthward. All supported poses not only nurture the physical body, but allow it to expand, release and open to subtle body layers, inviting spirit to enter the stillness. If partnering, and if you are very flexible, sit facing one another, soles of feet pressing against each other, reach forward and grab partner’s hands, or wrists, If this is not yet possible, you can take turns bending your knees and gently pulling the partner toward… Read more »
Read moreSearch Results for: Paschimottanasana
Urdhva Mukha Paschimottanasana
Hamstring Stretching Pose Asana: Urdhva Mukha Paschimottanasana/Hamstring Stretch on your back: Lying on your back, bring the legs up, or one leg up, and hold the feet, or calves, or use a strap to pull the leg(s) gently toward your chest. Each time you exhale pull the legs a little closer to the chest, and though the legs are straight, keep them soft so hamstrings are not strained. Health Notes: Lengthens leg muscles, can help relieve backaches, and prevent hernia. As in Paschimottanasana/forward fold, helps tone kidneys, and abdominal organs.
Read moreBird Songs
The Birder turned his head to better hear the call. He listened as though his ears extended six feet, then smiled as the repetition of exact tone and glottal dissonance reached him. I watched his eyes follow the sound, and though he could not yet see the bird, he stood in patience, waiting for feather and beak to emerge from shadowy greens. Soon all would be known. When he sighted the bird, he raised his binoculars and I could almost see his ears retract into his skull. Spying on him, I grew sad that I had not taken time lately to stop and listen. In observing his utter pleasure, I felt enormous loss. I used to make daily quiet time to see that which was hidden, to meander over a foggy beach. Now, I’m only distracted, cruising at Mach 10, so it’s hard to hear anyone beyond a tweet, which ain’t no birdsong. How much richness are we willing to forgo? To be truly rich- we need depth. To hear, we must really listen, and for that we need to-be-here-now. How many Peony un-furlings, sweet cat-nuzzles, laughter with old friends, and pillow-talks with partners are we willing to ignore…never mind mysteries calling from ‘shadowy greens?’ There’s something to be said for dropping out, or at the very least- drawing a line in the sand beyond which we will not speed up. Is that possible? Stopping long enough to hear unspoken feelings, to absorb and offer feed back, may be a dying art. It has certainly become a generous art, and when offered-no small gift. Careening through the year, bouncing from one stop-gap measure to another, the receptive feminine has become ignored and abused. She, that takes in and nourishes, is growing weaker and weaker. Sensory overload is shutting down systems,… Read more »
Read moreHeadaches
The common, miserable, achy-breaky headache is almost always stress-related. Therefore read notes for Anxiety & Stress as well. Astrologically, headaches come under the rulership of Mercury, thought process, as well as Mars, which rules the head. Mars is a fiery, hard-driving, take no prisoners-planetary energy. Headaches occur more often for Aries and Ayurvedic Pitta types as they tend to have a fierce life force. Headaches are the gift to bring bodies back into balance when over-thinking, over anxiousness, and over-criticalness make us feel less-than, and fearful. I am not addressing migraines here, other than to say that if the fundamental biochemistry of the body can be improved, very often the migraines disappear. Some wonderful work with increasing levels of serotonin, (This is the neurotransmitter that fights pain, by exploring ways and means of expanding blood vessels, has had success. If you are at the mercy of too many headaches, start by changing your diet. Duh. The health of the digestive system leaves you less vulnerable to the ‘Sirene’s call.’ Stabilize blood sugar levels. Low sugar or hypoglycemia triggers migraines in some. Stop and eat if you are getting tired and run down. Don’t eat sugar or caffeine. Eat foods with magnesium, and take vitamin supplements of the same. The magnesium improves the flexibility of blood vessels and supports the function of serotonin receptors. This is particularly important if you do have migraines. Partake of more B’s, especially B2- riboflavin. It mitigates headaches because it facilitates oxygen use by the tissues, especially skin nails and hair. It helps with eye fatigue and helps prevent cataracts, It aids in the metabolism of carbs, fats, and proteins. B2 is found in poultry, spinach, yogurt, asparagus, avocados, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, nuts, eggs, fish, meat, and currants. Sometimes you can abort a headache if you take… Read more »
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