Today is Makar Sankranti; Celebrate with Kite Pose!

Makar Sankranti (Sanskrit: Shankramana = to begin to move) is a Hindu festival celebrated by many people to celebrate the New Year.  Sankrant, usually celebrated on January 14 is based on the solar calendar (most festivals are based on the lunar calendar). Makar Sankranti is the day when the Sun enters and begins to ascend into the Northern Hemisphere. The Sun represents knowledge, spiritual light and wisdom. During Makar Sankranti we are reminded to turn away from the darkness of delusion, and begin to enjoy a new life.  Our bright inner light begins to shine brighter and brighter as we gradually grow into purity, wisdom, and knowledge.

Kite Festivals are a popular way to celebrate Makar Sankranti.

KITE POSE 1 – Patangasana
(this asana is basically Warrior 3 with airplane wings)

HOW TO:

Begin in Tadasana (Mountain Pose).

Take a step forward with your Right leg.

Raise arms next to your ears as you transfer your weight into your Right leg.

Lift your left leg off the mat, and slowly hinge forward from the hips.

Your raised leg, torso and arms should be parallel to the floor. Arms back to sides like airplane wings

Drishti (eye gaze) is out over your front fingers.

(Repeat with the Left leg forward)

 

KITE POSE 2 – Falling Star (aka Soaring Eagle)

HOW TO:

Begin in 5-pointed star pose (legs 3-4 feet apart, arms at sides parallel to the floor)

Transfer your weight to your right leg

Hold for several Breaths

Return to 5 pointed Star

Repeat on the Left side

Makar Sankranti Blessing:
“May the Makar Sankranti fire burn all the moments of sadness and bring you the warmth of joy, happiness and love”

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Yoga pose for New Year’s Day – Gate Pose

January 1, New Year’s Day is dedicated to Janus the god of gates, doors and beginnings. 

Celebrate the beginning of a new year with GATE POSE.

Gate Pose:  Parighasana. (par-ee-GOSS-anna) parigha = an iron bar or beam used for locking or shutting a gate.

How to:

Come to a tall kneel

Extend your right leg out to the side

Inhale, Raise your left arm

Exhale, side stretch out over your right leg

Bring your right arm to the inside of your right leg.  Use the leverage of your arm against your leg to help deepen the stretch, opening your heart chakra to the sky.

Hold for several breaths, then, switch sides

VARIATIONS:
-Bend your Right Knee and place your Right foot on the floor (instead of extending your right leg fully)

-Your right hand can reach down your right leg, possibly holding onto your right ankle.

 Revolved Gate Pose

Come to a tall kneel

Extend your right leg out to the side

Inhale, Raise your left arm

Exhale, twist to the right, and bring your left arm to the back of your right leg. Left arm is in the air

Hold for several breaths, then, switch sides

Bound Revolved Gate Pose

Same pose as above,

Then, bring your right arm behind your back and your left arm under your right leg

Clasp hands or wrists

Seated Gate Pose:

Come to a wide knee low kneel

Extend your right leg out to the side (half straddle, your left leg is bent with your calf under your thigh-low kneel)

Inhale, Raise your left arm

Exhale, side stretch out over your right leg

Bring your right arm to the inside of your right leg.  Use the leverage of your arm against your leg to help deepen the stretch, opening your heart chakra to the sky.

Hold for several breaths, then, switch sides

Grab a partner….

Double Gate 1:

Come to a tall kneel several feet apart from each other

Extend your legs so that the side of your foot touches the side of your partner’s foot

Inhale, raise your arms (opposite of your extended leg)

Exhale, side stretch out over your extended legs

Hold hands or wrists with your partner

Hold for several breaths, then, switch sides

Double Gate 2:

Come to a tall kneel next to your partner (hip to hip)

Extend your legs out to the sides (legs that are not touching your partner)

Rise your arm (the arm closest to your partner)

Exhale and side stretch out over your extended legs

Hold for several breaths, then, switch sides

Double Latched Gate:

Come to a tall kneel facing your partner

Come to Gate pose (mirror image, person A extends their right leg, person B extends their left leg)

Bring your extended/supporting arm to your partners extended leg (your partner brings their extended/supporting arm to your extended leg)

Hold the hand or wrist of your partner (use the hand that is opposite of your extended leg)

Hold for several breaths, then, switch sides

Related Post:  Celebrating the New Year with Traditions to Bring Love and Luck!

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Sun Flower Breath

I like to use this Active Breath as an energizer when I need a little lift or following a warm up in yoga.

SUNFLOWER BREATH

Take a nice wide stance (Feet 3-4 feet or so apart)
Turn toes out slightly
INHALE circle your arms up over your head
EXHALE circle your arms down and bend forward
I like to allow my fingertips to brush the mat
INHALE reverse swan dive up, arms over head
EXHALE fold forward circle your hands to the mat
Repeat several times.

You can do this active breath fast or slow; you can make these movements large or small.

Variation 1:  Bend your knees and you bend forward
Variation 2:  Just move your arms with your breath omit the forward fold)

LEARN MORE Yoga Energizers HERE

LEARN MORE Pranayama (Breath Control) HERE.

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Frog Pose for Leap Day!

Leap Year occurs about every four years in order to keep our calendar in sync with the seasons.

Celebrate Leap Year with Frog Pose:
Stretches hips, groin and inner thighs

Begin in table Pose
Slide knees out as wide as is comfortable
Align ankles and knees and Turn feet outwards
Try to transition to your forearms
On your next exhale, begin pushing your hips back as far as is comfortable
Hold for a few breaths
Gently transition back into table pose or lower body to the floor

Extended Frog Pose…
Extend your arms farther out in front of you,
lowering your chest closer to the floor

Take it deeper….
Begin in Sphinx pose (belly on the mat, forearms on the floor)
Bend both knees
Reach hands back and hold feet
Fingers point in the same direction as your toes
Lift elbows into the air (pointing to the ceiling)
Gently press the soles of your feet towards the floor
Life your chest as high as possible
Hold for several breaths
Slowly return to your belly

Half Frog…

Begin in Sphinx
Bend left knee
Reach back with your left hand and hold your left foot
Fingers point in the same direction as your toes
Lift elbows into the air (pointing to the ceiling)
Gently press the soles of your feet towards the floor
Life your chest as high as possible
Hold for several breaths
Repeat on the opposite side.

Another Frog Pose:
Begin in a low kneel
Slowly slide your knees out to the sides
Keep your toes touching (behind you)
Place your hands on the mat, palms down
Slide your hands under your knees
Hold for several breaths

Learn More Animal Poses Here

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Welcome to the Year of the Dragon! Celebrate with Dragon Pose!

“Gung Hay Fat Choy!” (Happy New Year in Cantonese)

The Dragon is the 5^th sign in the Chinese Zodiac, following the Rabbit.

If you were born in 1904, 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988 or 2000 your sign is the dragon.  Find your Chinese Zodiac Sign HERE.

Celebrate the New Year with Dragon Pose (Yin Yoga Variation of Runner’s Lunge)

Dragon Pose is great for the hips, groin, quads and can help with sciatica.

How to:

Baby Dragon (Modified Lunge)

Begin in Down Dog
Step your Right Foot forward, between your hands
Bring your Right knee directly over your right ankle.
Drop your Left Knee to the floor
Hold
Repeat on the Left

Variation:

If you want to go deeper….

Opt. 1:  Bring both hands to the Big toe side of your front foot
Opt. 2:  Bring your Forearms to the floor on the big toe side of your front foot: Baby Dragon Flying Low
Opt. 3:  Bring the top of your head to the floor on the big toe side of your front foot

Baby Dragon Flying High (Balancing Modified Lunge)

Begin in Baby Dragon
Bring your Hands to your Right knee
Hold
Repeat on the Left

Twisted Baby Dragon (Twisted Modified Lunge)

Begin in Baby Dragon
Bring your Left hand to the Big toe side of your right foot
Raise your Right Arm
Open your Right Arm out to the Right Side (twist to the side of the front leg)
Hold
Repeat on the Left

Variation:

Opt. 1:  Bend your Left Knee and hold your Left Foot with your Right Hand

Baby Winged Dragon (Modified Lunge with Hip Opener)

Begin in Baby Dragon
Bring both hands to the inside of the right foot
Allow your right knee to roll out to the right side
Come onto the little toe side of the Right Foot

Variation:

Opt. Bring your hands to Blocks

If you want to go deeper….

Opt. 1:  Bring your Forearms to the floor on the big toe side of your front foot
Opt. 2:  Bring your Forearms to the floor on the big toe side of your front foot, then use your right hand and apply a gentle pressure to your right knee, pushing out.

As always, BACK OFF IF THERE IS ANY PAIN!

Dragon Pose (Lunge)

Begin in Down Dog
Step your Right Foot forward, between your hands
Bring your Right knee directly over your right ankle.
Up on your Left toes, Left knee remains off the floor
Hold
Repeat on the Left

Variation:

If you want to go deeper….

Opt. 1:  Bring both hands to the Big toe side of your front foot
Opt. 2:  Bring your Forearms to the floor on the big toe side of your front foot-Dragon Flying Low
Opt. 3:  Bring the top of your head to the floor on the big toe side of your front foot

Dragon Flying Low (Balancing Lunge)

Begin in Dragon Pose
Bring your Hands to your Right knee
Hold
Repeat on the Left

Variation:

Opt. 1:  Bring your hands together in Prayer Position at Heart’s Center
Opt. 2:  Bring your arms over your head, interlace your fingers, index fingers pointing up
Opt. 3:  Begin in Opt. 2 and add a mini back bend

Twisted Dragon Pose (Twisted Lunge)

Begin in  Dragon
Bring your Left hand to the Big toe side of your right foot
Raise your Right Arm
Open your Right Arm out to the Right Side (twist to the side of the front leg)
Hold
Repeat on the Left

Variation:
Opt. 1:  Bend your Left Knee and hold your Left Foot with your Right Hand

Winged Dragon  (Lunge with Hip Opener)

Begin in Dragon Pose
Bring both hands to the inside of the right foot
Allow your right knee to roll out to the right side
Come onto the little toe side of the Right Foot
Hold
Repeat on the Left

Variation:

If you want to go deeper….

Opt. 1:  Bring your Forearms to the floor on the big toe side of your front foot
Opt. 2:  Bring your Forearms to the floor on the big toe side of your front foot, then use your right hand and apply a gentle pressure to your right knee, pushing out.  As always, BACK OFF IF THERE IS ANY PAIN!

Dragon Split
Begin in Baby Dragon
Slowly slid your Right foot forward, straightening out the Right Knee

Variation:
Opt:  Place a block under your right thigh

If you want to go deeper….
Opt: Slowly fold forward out over your Right Leg

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Bear Pose to celebrate Winnie the Pooh Day (The Birthday of Winnie’s author A.A. Milne)

“Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.” -Winnie the Pooh

I love the wisdom of Winnie the Pooh (and his friends).  I have read the A.A. Milne books and the Benjamin Hoff  books, “The Tao of Pooh” an the “The Te of Piglet.”

“The hardest part is what to leave behind, … It’s time to let go!”

So much of what A.A. Milne’s characters have to say is great advice and perfect for the Yoga Mat.
“Just because an animal is large, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t want kindness; however big Tigger seems to be, remember that he wants as much kindness as Roo.” –Winnie the Pooh

To celebrate A.A. Milne’s Birthday ( born the 18th of January 1882), and his beloved characters, let’s practice…

Bear Pose:

Lay on your back

Raise both arms and both legs into the air

Rotate your wrists and ankles

“Always watch where you are going. Otherwise, you may step on a piece of the Forest that was left out by mistake.”

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WORLD PEACE DAY NOVEMBER 17 Celebrate with a Peaceful Yoga Practice

Shanti, Santhi or Shanthi (from Sanskrit शान्तिःmeans peace, rest, calmness, tranquility, or bliss)

In honor of World Peace Day, try a Peaceful Yoga Practice:

Begin in Salutation Seal (Anjali Mudra or Hrdayanjali Mudra) for a few minutes of Centering:
Come to a comfortable seated pose, bring your hands together in Prayer Position at Heart’s Center.
Insure your hands and fingers line up, press your hands together gently.
Bow head slightly

Try chanting the Buddhist Compassion Mantra  ” OM MANI PADME HUM” (translation: ‘Hail the jewel in the lotus’)

Switch the cross of your legs for balance

Do a few Cat & Cow Stretches to warm up your spine

Rainbow Side Stretch (each side)

Seated Twist (both sides)

Transition into table,

Thread the needle stretch (each side)

Down Dog, Walk the Dog

Rag Doll

Recenter, perhaps repeat ” OM MANI PADME HUM”  (3x’s)

Active Crescent Moon Side Stretch

Come to the top of your mat
*Beginning Sun Salutation A to Down Dog

Step your Right Foot forward into Lunge
Bring your Left hand to your left hip, Left Heel rotates Down to the mat,
Invert your Right hand (Palm Facing Up),
Inhale into Peaceful Warrior (variation of Warrior 1)-hold for a few breaths

Straighten your Right Leg, turn hips and torso to the left side and add a mini side stretch toward your back leg,
Peaceful Triangle (variation of Triangle)-hold for a few breaths

Inhale back to torso center

Exhale and transition into Lunge (Right Foot forward)
One hand on either side of your front foot, up on your back toes or down on your back knee.

Step your Left Foot next to your Right foot

Look up with a flat back,

Exhale Fold Forward

Inhale reverse Swan Dive Back to Tadasana

Repeat from * with Left Leg forward

Half Moon Balance (Modification:  Hold Left Foot with Left Hand) -each side

Goddess

Yoga Squat

Table

Down Dog 

Child’s Pose

Roll to Sit
Fish Pose
Knees to Chest
Bridge or Wheel
Happy Baby
Rotated Stomach Posture

Savasana-” OM MANI PADME HUM”  (3x’s)

 

 

 

 

—————————-

Peaceguy’s Prayer

May the people on this planet be changed.
Changed from hatred to love,
Changed from greed to giving,
Changed from selfishness to selflessness,
Changed from apathy to action,
Changed from jealousy to joy over someone’s accomplishments,
Changed from intolerance to acceptance,
Changed from being destructive to being constructive,
Changed from fighting to peace,
Changed from killing to protecting life,
Changed from censorship to freedom,
Changed from ignorance to education,
Changed from fearing our differences to rejoicing our variety.

May we each take it upon ourselves to feed the hungry, cure the sick,
house the homeless, educate the illiterate, love the unloved,
compete to do the right thing instead of winning at any cost,
make heros that teach our children to
make the world a better place instead of glorifying violence and war,
stand up and speak out against things that are wrong
instead of sitting back and waiting for someone else,
demand honesty from our governments,
demand honesty from ourselves.

May we each take responsibility for our own actions
and realize that by refusing to change ourselves,
we condone all the evils in the world.
If one person changes they teach others by example,
who in turn change and teach more,
one person becomes as a pebble rolling down a mountain,
picking up more pebbles as it continues,
becoming an avalanche of change.
It can happen, it must happen, it will happen.

(To make this prayer work, you have to change yourself. 
Copyright 1997 Don Morris. Feel free to use this anywhere and any place. All I ask is to reference this website if you do.)

LEARN MORE about Peace Guy’s Mission HERE 

 Please note International Peace Dayis always celebrated on September 21.

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Daylight Savings ends this Sunday (Nov. 6, 2011)…..Celebrate with Trace the Clock Poses

Daylight Saving Time (U.S., except Arizona & HAwaii) began Sunday, March 13, 2011, and ends Sunday, November 6, 2011.. Move your clocks ahead 1 hour in spring and back 1 hour in fall (“Spring forward, fall back”).

“I object to being told that I am saving daylight when my reason tells me that I am doing nothing of the kind… At the back of the Daylight Saving scheme, I detect the bony, blue-fingered hand of Puritanism, eager to push people into bed earlier, and get them up earlier, to make them healthy, wealthy, and wise in spite of themselves.”
― Robertson Davies, The Papers of Samuel Marchbanks

Celebrate with some Trace the Clock Stretches….

Trace the Clock (body)

Imagine you are the hour arm on a giant analog clock.  Stretch to each hour point on the clock.

Begin in Tadasana (Mountain Pose)

INHALE arms up, interlace your fingers together, index fingers pointed up (12 o’clock)

EXHALE Move arms to the 1 o’clock position and stretch, INHALE

EXHALE Move arms to the 2 o’clock position and stretch, INHALE

Continue on stretching at each point on the clock, clockwise two times, then repeat stretching in counter clockwise position two rotations. I like to change the cross of my fingers before beginning the 2nd revolution.

Note: 6 o’clock stretch is a forward fold

Variation-instead of stretching at each our mark on your clock, try a continuous stretch moving between each hour smoothly in both a clockwise, and counter clockwise position.

Trace the Clock Eye Rotation
Eye yoga stretches can help improve vision and focus.  It can help ease eye strain and stress.
More Table Poses Coming soon….  

Come to a comfortable, seated position.

Keeping your head level, look up with your eyes.

Move your eyes to 1 o’clock, 2 o’clock etc…..

It should take 10-20 seconds for each complete rotation

Repeat in a counter clockwise revolution.

When you have complete tracing the clock in both directions,

Rub the palms of your hands together vigorously creating heat.

Close your eyes and place your warm palms over your eyes.

Enjoy your one hour longer weekend!

“Time, time, time, see what’s become of me,
While I looked around,
For my possibilities;
I was so hard to please”
–Paul Simon (from A Hazy Shade of Winter)

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November is National Peanut Butter Month | Celebrate with Empty Peanut Butter Jar

“Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like unrequited love.”  –Charles M. Schulz, Charlie Brown

Empty Peanut Butter Jar is a fun spinal warm-up exercise.

Begin in Table Pose:
Come to your hands and knees
Wrists and Shoulders in alignment
Knees and Hips in alignment
Back in neutral

Imagine you are in a giant, almost empty Peanut Butter Jar.
You need to use your body to get the peanut butter out of the jar.

You can move forward and back,
You can move from side to side.

You can do circles,
You can do a worm like body motion.

Move in anyway that feels right.

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More Table Poses Coming soon…. 

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Who let the Dogs out? Another day another Down Dog Pose and a few variations.

Let explore Dog Yoga Poses, beginning with the one everyone is familiar with….

Down Dog or Adho Mukha Svanasana (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

Start in Table Pose (hands under shoulders, knees under hips
Curl your toes under and straighten your legs in an inverted ‘V’ pose (straighten legs without locking your knees)
Press into your Palms and Heels (heels coming to the floor or working towards the floor)
Raise your sit bones into the air
Upper Thighs roll inward
Press the base of your index fingers into the mat
Head is between your arms (avoid allowing your head to hang)

Supported Dog Pose
     Raise your hands off the floor by placing your hands on a block or rest your hands on the seat of a chair.

Wrist Pain?
     Roll your fingers into fists or roll up your mat so that the base of your hands is higher than your fingers.
You can also try placing your hands on a yoga wedge

Try some Down Dog variations:

Walk the Dog
Come to Down Dog
Pedal your legs, bending first one knee then the other.
This is an active pose

Three Leg Down Dog
     Begin in down Dog
Lift your Right Leg off the mat
Try to lift your right leg to hip height as if being pulled by the right ankle
Hold for several breaths
Lower your leg on an exhale and switch sides

Dog at a Hydrant
     Begin in Three Leg Down Dog (Right Leg in the air)
Bend your Right knee bringing your Right Foot towards your Right Hip
Hold for several breaths
Lower your leg to Down Dog on an exhale and switch sides

Dolphin Pose (Forearm down dog)
     Begin in a forearm table, Elbows under your shoulders, fore arms on the floor
Curl your toes under and straighten your legs

Half Dolphin (I find this more challenging than Full Dolphin Pose)
     Begin in Down Dog
Lower your Right Forearm to the mat
Hold for several breaths, then switch sides

Twisted Dog
     Begin in Down Dog
Lift your Right Arm off the Floor
Bring your Right arm in front of your body
Hold onto you your Left Leg with your Right hand
Pull your Chest to the Left
Drishti is up to the ceiling
Hold for several breaths, then switch sides

Core Strengthening Down Dog
     Begin in Down Dog
Bring your Right Knee to your Belly
Hold for several breaths, then switch sides

Balancing Down Dog
     Begin in Down Dog
Bring your Right Hand to Right Ankle
Raise your Left Leg
Hold for several breaths, then switch sides

Other Dog Poses

 Up Dog or Upward Facing Dog (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana)
     (This pose is a more challenging variation of a Cobra Pose)
Lie on your belly
Bring your hands under your shoulders
Curl your toes under
Inhale, press into your hands
Straighten your arms
Lift your head, neck, shoulders, chest and torso off the mat
Thighs are firm and legs are a few inches off the mat
Tip Head up slightly
Drishti is where a wall and ceiling would normally meet

Puppy Pose or Extended Puppy Pose  (Uttana Shishosana)
     (this pose is a combo of Down Dog and Extended Child’s Pose)
Begin in Table Pose
Walk your hands forward a few inches
Push Hips halfway back towards your calves (hips and buttocks remain in the air)
Forehead to the floor
Elbows remain off the mat
Keep a slight curve in your back
Hold for a few breaths, then rest in Child’s Pose

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