March 2016
As I stand facing the ocean in Mexico and wobble back and forth in the sand, it reminds me of life. The challenges, forgiveness and learning to grow from the mistakes.
Below I included part of an article by Jennifer Partridge, discussing the benefits of challenging yourself.
Come join me and explore yoga together. My classes are appropriate for all levels.
Have you ever been to a yoga class and the teacher demonstrates a perfect balancing pose that looks so easy and simple. Yet when you try it—bam! You meet the floor.
Trying a new yoga pose in class can be scary and intimidating, especially if failure means falling flat on your face. Yoga is not about being perfect. It’s about challenging yourself—knowing that even as you wobble or flop to the ground, every great master has fallen many more times than you have tried.
The same lesson exists in life; the only way to grow is to make mistakes, forgive yourself, and learn along the way. When you give yourself permission to make mistakes, it gives everyone else permission to do the same. If you’re ready to challenge yourself and take some risks, try these yoga poses. You’ll improve—even as you fall—and you might even have some fun.
Warm up your body with a series of sun salutations before you begin. You may also want to prepare some comfortable blankets or pillows around you for a softer falling spot.
Vrksasana (Tree Pose with Eyes Closed)
Stand with your feet hip-width apart. Ground all four corners of the left foot into the floor. Take your right foot and place the sole on your upper inner thigh above your kneecap. If this is too difficult, place your foot below the knee. Never place it directly on the knee. The toes of your raised foot should be facing the ground.
Drop your tailbone so that it’s angled toward your toes, this will engage the lower energetic locks known as Bandhas.
Once you feel stable, bring your arms into prayer position in front of your heart, or raise them to the sky. Now comes the challenge: See how long you can close your eyes. Start by closing one eye first. Once you feel comfortable, try closing both eyes. You will probably wobble; try to enjoy the dance. Take five breaths while in this pose and then return the right foot down. Follow with the left side.
Natarajasana (Lord of the Dance Pose)
Speaking of dance, this next pose will have you looking like a ballerina. Begin in Tadasana (Mountain Pose), which is used as a starting point for many other poses. Activate your right foot. As you exhale, bring your left leg back toward your buttocks with your left hand. Make sure your navel is drawn inward as you move the tailbone down. Keep your torso straight and upright.
If you need to extend the opposite hand for balance, take care not to strain the lower back as your torso moves forward. Pull the shoulders down as you arc into the pose. Stabilize the body on the standing leg, and hold the pose for 30 seconds or longer. To release the pose, exhale, and bring the leg down slowly. Center yourself in Mountain Pose, and then repeat on the other side.