By:
Virginia Iversen, M.Ed
As the
sun is beginning to peak through the high clouds, we are all reminded that
spring really is on its way, albeit quite slowly this year. It is a few days
after the spring equinox, and the rays of the sun are just beginning to exude
their usual warmth. Slowly, the ice and snow that has lain steady all winter,
is beginning to melt and enliven the seedlings in the earth. In this same way,
you may be feeling the exuberance of new life and energy stirring within you
during this time of the year.
Many dedicated
Yoga students and teachers begin new undertakings during the spring, as they
set into motion the steps necessary to accomplishing their goals in the months
to come. This sense of power, direction and self-esteem are all related to the
solar plexus, which is the location of the Manipura Chakra, in the Yogic
understanding of the human energy body. The solar plexus is also
known as the Third Chakra. It is associated with the glowing, yellow of
the energizing rays of the sun as it moves towards its zenith point during the
summer solstice.
This
inner sun can be enlivened and stoked by a regular practice of Yoga postures,
breathing exercises and visualization practices. This is particularly true of
flowing, vigorous Yoga poses that increase the flow of energy and fresh oxygen
throughout the body-mind complex. It is not uncommon for our vital life force
energy to be dampened during the cold, winter months, particularly if you live
in a temperate geographical area that receives abundant snow and has single digit
temperatures for much of the winter!
By
regularly practicing a series of flowing Yoga postures, such as the Sun
Salutation, you will stimulate the flow of new energy and vitality for the warm
spring and summer months ahead. If you regularly practice a series of Yoga
postures, heating pranayama exercises and empowering visualizations, you will
truly be ready to spring into action in the coming months. As many Yoga
practitioners begin to transition from the internal focus of winter to the more
active, outgoing energy of summer, engaging in a balanced flow of asanas and
breathing exercises will help to generate new energy and enthusiasm for
building the life of your dreams.
The Sun
Salutation, or Surya Namaskar, are a series of twelve Yoga postures that are
linked together by the breath and with the vinyasa of linking the poses
together by flowing in and out of Downward Facing Dog and Urdhva Mukha
Svanasana, or Upward Facing Dog. This series of Yoga postures enlivens the
entire body, both through the postures themselves and by riding the wave of the
breath, as each postures flows into the next. If you would like a detailed
description of each posture of the Sun Salutation, please refer to a reputable
Yoga website or manual that outlines the full flow of this ancient practice.
You may also wish to take some classes with a certified Yoga teacher in your
neighborhood, in order to learn the correct flow and alignment of the
postures.
A very
holistic way to support your body and mind in the process of transitioning from
the internal, quieter season of winter to the more active, energetic seasons of
spring and summer, is to engage in a Yoga practice that is balanced between an
active sequence of flowing, standing postures, including Surya Namaskar A and
B, with the more internally-focused practice of Yin Yoga poses. Yin Yoga poses
are deeply effective at releasing tension that resides in the connective tissueand fascia of the body. These slower moving postures are a wonderful balance to
the more active flowing sequences, which heat the body and prepare you to
spring into action in the sun-drenched months ahead.
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 specializes in writing
customized, search engine-optimized articles that are 100% unique. She is
currently accepting Yoga and health-related writing orders and may be contacted
at: enchantress108@gmail.com.
© Copyright 2015 – Virginia Iversen / Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division
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