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

Celebrating the New Year dates back to Babylon around 2000BC (4,000 years ago).  The Babylonian New year began with the First New Moon after the Vernal Equinox, a time of planting and rebirth.  Jan. 1 has no real astronomical or agricultural meaning.  In 46BC, Julius Caesar established January 1 as New Year’s Day.  This day was dedicated to Janus the god of gates, doors and beginnings.  Janus (who January was named for) had two faces, one looking forward and one looking back.

Cultures all over the world celebrate the New Year with diverse traditions and superstitions.

Here are a few of my favorites….

• Sing ‘Auld Lang Syne’ at Midnight**
• Pay off Bills/Debt before the first of the year (no debt in the new year)
• Wear new clothes on Jan. 1 (so you will get more new garments in the coming year)
• Fill your Cabinets with food before 1/1. (Never be hungry in the new year)
• Place money in every wallet (for prosperity)
• A tall dark haired man should be the first visitor to your home (lucky)
• Christmas Tree bonfires (purge the old) -Netherlands
• Ring bells 108 times (chase away troubles)-Japan
• Make loud noises at midnight (drive away evil spirits)
• Do some work on 1/1 (brings success)
• Eat 12 grapes at midnight (12 months of happiness)-Spain
• Midnight Kiss (good relationships)

In Greece, New Year’s Day is also the Feast of Saint Basil. At midnight on New Year’s Eve, St. Basil fills children’s shoes with gifts

Foods that bring luck when eaten on New Year’s Day

• Black-Eyed Peas*
• Cabbage
• Pork
• Rice
• Circular Food like a doughnut (symbolizes coming full circle)

*Black-Eyed Peas Recipe

• 2 T. olive oil
• 3 C chopped onions
• 4 chopped garlic cloves
• 15 oz vegetable stock
• 4 C dry black-eyed peas
• 5 C water (use more if needed)
• 2 15oz cans whole tomatoes
• 3 T. tomato paste
• 2 T. dark brown sugar

Heat oil in a large pot (high heat)
Sauté onions and garlic until the onions are translucent
Add remaining ingredients
Bring to a boil.
Turn the heat to low and simmer for 2 hours or until the peas are tender. (Add water if necessary)
Salt & Pepper to taste

**Auld Lang Syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

And there’s a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie’s a hand o thine,
And we’ll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

Related Post – Yoga pose for New Year’s Day – Gate Pose

Find more Good Luck Rituals Around the World HERE

More Calendar Theme Yoga Poses

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