Archive for November 3rd, 2009

You and Your Yoga Mat – And What You See

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

Shoulder Stand -Sarvangasana By Michelle Cross

So when you go to a yoga class or do some self practice, the yoga you practice is all about you. After all it is just you, your yoga mat and what you do. You may like to think of your yoga mat as your magic carpet that takes you to new places within your body and mind…the journey of yoga! How wonderful!

It is a nice idea to contain your space to your yoga mat, apart from enjoying the energy of a class, the other people in it and the teacher, it is your time to practice, become aware, open and learn. So there is no point looking at the person next to you. If you are doing self practice this is a lot easier of course, you do not have another person next to you, you do however need the commitment to observe yourself.

So let us look at the beginning of a class or you self practice – a simple step to help you explore your yoga is when you close your eyes. This helps you to bring your awareness inwards so you can start to focus on yourself and let go of distractions. When you close your eyes, your ears and other senses become more receptive. You are more receptive to what the teacher is guiding you to do. By closing your eyes the intention is to allow you to observe your self – your mind (is it thinking of lots of thoughts of the day), how your body feels lying in Savasana or sitting crossed legged (is it tired or open to what you are about to do, how does it feel as you lie down on your mat). You are also more aware of your breath (is it shallow, short, deep, subtle?). All of these are key to start your yoga practice so you know how you feel initially and what is going on within your body and mind.

Then of course after these quiet moments of preparation when you open your eyes the journey of yoga develops as you explore further your body and mind and breath on your magic carpet…

Of course you still observe and be aware of your Self as you practice, keeping a mindful eye this time on how your body, mind and breath are in the postures. When you are holding postures you close your eyes again and take yourself inwards and observe the changes as you have been practicing or how you feel in that moment in the posture. Is your body opening, your “heart” expanding, your mind becoming quieter and your breath synchronising with your postures? Your practice will develop and evolve.

Towards the end of your journey on your magic carpet, you close your eyes again to do final relaxation at the end of the class. This is the time to observe the difference within and without from when you started the practice to how it is coming to an end. How is your energy, your thoughts and have you let go? Has the union of body and mind and breath bought you to a place of peace and harmony…? I hope so!

And as you open your eyes at the end of your practice, really open your eyes to how marvellous you, yoga and your yoga mat are!

Michelle Cross

http://www.yogarelax.co.uk

http://www.michellecross.co.uk

Michelle Cross teaches Hatha Yoga and is passionate about assisting people to find their own Yoga within, leading to health, wellness and abundant happiness.

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Yoga Balancing Postures For Kids – Eagle, Tree, Dancer

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
Kids YogaBy Kristen McCarthy

Practice yoga balancing poses for kids and you can fly like an eagle or be as still as a tree. Yoga for kids expands your imagination and tests your inner focus.

Play with eagle pose for kids and imagine that you have long feathers and massive wings. You perch high up on a tree and watch the world below you.

What do you see?

Or play with dancer yoga pose and become a beautiful ballerina with a tutu and crown. You twirl and bow on stage in front of the bright lights.

Can you hear the audience applaud?

Play with tree yoga posture to become an ancient tree in a redwood forest. Your roots reach deep into the earth and your branches touch the sun. You provide a home to thousands of animals, insects, and birds.

Can you feel the earth below you?

Balancing yoga postures for kids:

Eagle, dancer, and tree yoga postures have three things in common:

They are balancing postures

They begin standing in mountain pose

They require

To try any three of these balancing yoga poses, come to the front of yoga mat, and stand with your feet together in mountain pose.

Place your hands at your heart center with palms touching.

Find spot to gaze at in front of you. It could be the horizon outside of the window. It could be a picture hanging on the wall. Or, it could be a dirty fingerprint by the light switch that mom and dad haven’t noticed yet.

Now you’re ready to test out your balance with these three hatha yoga poses:

Eagle yoga posture: Imagine what it feels like to be inside the body of an eagle. Steady your breath and feel your right footfirm on the ground. INHALE and bend your knees, EXHALE and spread your arms out to your sides like wings. You are the soaring eagle. As you INHALE bring your hands to your waist, cross your left leg over your right leg. Your left toes can touch the floor or wrap around your right leg. You are the perched eagle. Hold for three breaths and then repeat on the opposite side.

Dancer yoga posture: Imagine that you’re a ballet dancer. Steady your breath and feel your right foot firm on the ground. INHALE and lift your left heel towards your bum. EXHALE, and grab your foot and feel it press into your hand. INHALE and stretch your left arm straight into the air and lengthen your torso. EXHALE as you lean your body forward and allow your left leg to rise into the air. Breathe here and imagine you are on stage. Repeat on the opposite side.

Dancer yoga posture: Imagine that you’re a ballet dancer. Steady your breath and feel your right foot firm on the ground. INHALE and lift your left heel towards your bum. EXHALE, and grab your foot and feel it press into your hand. INHALE and stretch your left arm straight into the air and lengthen your torso. EXHALE as you lean your body forward and allow your left leg to rise into the air. Breathe here and imagine you are on stage. Repeat on the opposite side.

How far can the eagle see?

Can you hear your applause as a dancer?

How old is the ancient tree?

When you steady your mind and breath then kids yoga will allow your imagination to soar.

Kids yoga benefits:

When you practice kids balancing postures you are doing more than activating your imagination.

In eagle yoga posture you: strengthen your legs and build your inner sense of determination and will.

In dancer yoga posture: you stretch your quadriceps, lengthen your spine, and challenge your inner focus.

In tree yoga posture you: open your hips, and strengthen your ankles, and ground your body and mind.

So keep practicing yoga for kids and you’ll be able to bend metal with your mind in no-time (well, maybe not, but you’ll be able to do lots of cool stuff).

Namaste Super Yogi

Kristen McCarthy is a Yoga Alliance certified Hatha Yoga teacher and creator of http://www.kidsyogaonline.com

 

 

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