Study Point of the Week: Ardha Chandrasana

Move into the pose in one flowing movement rather than pausing in Trikonasana (Triangle Pose), the traditional “launching” pose.

Love, Love, Love

I love this pose, I always have. There is something so freeing in the pose and so calming when I am done with the pose. This month I have worked on keeping the legs more active, from the feet through the inner thigh, and the pose has become even more powerful for me.

Love/Hate relationship

Ardha Chandrasana (half-moon pose) is a pose I used to hate. Actually, I secretly liked it or at least the idea of it and hated that I couldn't do it. I'd start, standing or in Trikonasana (Triangle pose), nice and open feeling and then struggle in the process of getting into balance. Once in the pose I didn't feel open and strong, I felt unstable and saggy.
I think for many people the act of trying it can be a great first step. I've had many students say they were surprised to just get their back leg up in the air at all! Props such as a block under your hand or doing the pose against a wall can then really give you a feel for the strength, balance and openness you can experience in the pose.
Working on other balance poses like Vrksasana (Tree pose) or Virhabdrasana III (Warrior 3 pose) can help strengthen the standing leg and aid in practicing balance. Trikonasana (Triangle pose) gives the same feel of the upper body both in the position of the arms and in the openness of the heart center/chest.
If you also have a love/hate relationship with this pose, take heart (no pun intended)! I now feel that strength and openness when I practice it! If this is a pose you've worked on, I'd be interested to hear what you've done in growing to love it (or hate it) too.

Study Point of the Week: Ardha Chandrasana

Let your focus be opening your heart from Trikonasana (Triangle Pose) all the way through the pose.

Help for the Savasana (Relaxation Pose) Challenged

Do you have difficulties relaxing in Savasana? In our culture, it is simply not unusual to find those who cannot surrender in that position. Savasana is actually stimulating to our nervous system! Now I don’t mean stimulating like backbends or headstands, but a bit. The back body is about stimulating (hence the effect of backbends) and the front body relaxing and surrendering (hence the effect of forward folds). We do Savasana on our backs to keep us a little alert. Savasana is supposed to be conscious relaxation, not falling asleep. But when someone already has a very stimulated nervous system (in other words, stressed -- not uncommon in our world!) then Savasana can further stimulate it, rendering relaxation impossible.

If you need help relaxing, use Asavasana. (Whenever an “A” is placed in front of a Sanskrit word, it changes the word to its opposite.) Lie on your stomach over a bolster. You can see me here in the photo demonstrating it. I like to hang my head just a bit over the edge (letting the forehead have a downward angle helps relax the brain) but if that is uncomfortable for you, rest your head on the bolster, turning it to the other side halfway through the relaxation.

Yoga in Costa Rica - Join Us!

~ Engage the Body and Open Your Heart ~

Want to join us in Costa Rica for a fabulous yoga retreat? We will be at Samasati Yoga and Nature Retreat Center January 24-31st. You will enjoy 3 daily yoga sessions with Laura and assisted by Karen (an early morning wake up, a before dinner stretch, and an evening relaxation.)

During the day enjoy the Costa Rican jungle. You can take a guided eco-tour trip organized by the center, including activities such as a zip-line ride through the jungle canopy, a white water rafting trip, or a kayaking paddle (you have 12 choices!) Or maybe you’ll take a 7-minute shuttle ride to black or white sand beaches and stroll through town mixing with the locals at the local internet café. At the center you’ll enjoy comfortable accommodations with a jungle and/or ocean view, delicious vegetarian meals and a hot tub. You can also have a treatment at their spa.

So?

Before we move on to our next pose, tell me, how did you do with the challenge? Did you do Savasana every day? Did you at least do it more often or longer? What happened?