By:
Virginia Iversen, M.Ed
Many
of us have recently made New Year's resolutions, in the hope that we will be
able to transform our lives in the year to come. Frequently these New Year's resolutions
are physical in nature, particularly if you are a Yoga student or are studyingto be a Yoga teacher. Other spiritual seekers may have made New Year's
resolutions that are more central to their internal emotional and psychological
landscape. In either case, the strongest foundation from which to create and
make New Year's resolutions is to be clearly grounded in the truth of what you
really need.
Many
of us make New Year's resolutions with only an ambiguous sense of what our real
needs are physically, emotional and financially. Before formally resolving
to take certain steps in the year to come, clarifying what you really need and
want in all areas of your life is critical to the transformative practice of
Yoga. "Satya" is a Sanskrit word that is literally translated to mean
the truth of reality. Satya also refers to the accordance of one's speech,
thought and action. All too often, many of us are discordant in our inner
thoughts, speech and action. This discordance can create a pervasive underlying
feeling of anxiety and frustration.
In
order to move away from a space of anxious survival into a space of expansive
well-being and thriving, it is important to clarify what you truly need at
every level of your heart, mind and spirit, before implementing your New Year's
resolutions. One of the best ways I have found of getting in touch with the
truth of my own heart is through the practice of backbends. Back bending Yoga
asanas are very powerful tools for releasing the constriction around the heart
and throat chakras. When this constriction is released, the underlying truth of
your own being is more readily accessible to you.
*
Camel Pose or Ustrasana
Camel Pose is a very powerful back bending Yoga posture. This posture is generally
accessible to most Yoga students who have some experience. The posture can also
be modified to accommodate beginning Yoga students or Yoga students who are
particularly tight throughout the front of the body. This pose is usually
practiced after a full series of Sun Salutations, standing asanas and balancing
postures. It is frequently practiced just prior to seated postures, inversions
and finishing poses during a Yoga class.
When
you are ready to practice Camel Pose, come to a kneeling position on your Yoga
mat. If your knees are sensitive, place a folded blanket underneath you for
padding. Keep your knees hip distance apart and the top of your toes flat on
your Yoga mat or curled under with the weight of your body resting on your
toes, if you have enough flexibility today. To warm up, place your hands on
your sacrum with your fingers pointed towards the ceiling. With an inhale;
gently lean backwards against your hands as you expand your heart area with
your breath. With your next exhale, move slightly back towards an upright
position. Continue this process for several breaths.
If
your neck is healthy, you may wish to drop your head back, in order to open up
your throat area more fully. If you have any neck or upper back issues, please
continue to gaze at a point just in front of your Yoga mat, while keeping your
head upright. If you would like to enter more deeply into Camel Pose,
place your hands on the back of your heels with your fingers pointing down
towards the Yoga mat. With each inhale; expand your chest more fully with your
breath. With each exhale; gently release the intensity of the posture by moving
a few inches back towards an upright position. Continue this wave-like motion
with your breath for a total of five breaths, and then release the posture and
move into Extended Child's Pose, before proceeding with the rest of your Yoga
practice.
If
you were working on refining some New Year's resolutions that you have recently
made, you may wish to pause for a few moments after you practice Camel Pose, in
order to enter some reflections in your journal that arise from the center of
your being when you ask yourself the question, "What is it that I really
need and want in the year to come?" The answer to this question will help
you to become clearer about your own internal truth, or Satya, which will help
to guide you in refining your New Year's resolutions. In this way, the
resolutions you make and keep during the year to come will truly reflect the
light and the love in your own heart.
Virginia
Iversen, M.Ed, has been practicing and studying the art of Yoga for over twenty
years. She lives in Woodstock, New York, where she works as a writer and an
academic support specialist. She is currently accepting Yoga and health-related
writing assignments and may be contacted at:enchantress108@gmail.com.
2 comments:
Satya, help to guide us in refining your New Year's resolutions. Thanks for sharing this valuable article.
It is important to clarify what you truly need at every level of your heart, mind and spirit, before implementing your New Year's resolutions. Really the article is very informative.
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