
Returning to school and work after a summer of increased freedom and flexibility need not drain the liberation from your body, nor from your mind. Embrace the possibilities…and don’t be shy…these asana (seats/poses) can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere!
From a supine position on the floor, bend your knees and place the soles of your feet on the earth. Walk your heels hip-distance apart, bringing your heels as close to your sitting bones as is comfortable. Allow your breath to deepen, your arms to extend on the mat in the direction of your heels, and roll your shoulder blades down and away from your ears. Begin to root down through your arms and into the four-points of your feet (big-toe mound, baby-toe mound, inner and outer heel) and then allow the energy to rebound back up your legs as you begin to lift the pelvis off of the earth towards the sky. Send your tailbone towards your heels, your navel towards your heart, and encourage your inner thighs to remain parallel to one another, while your knees align over your ankles. Firm your shoulder blades to the back of your body and if available clasp your palms together behind your back, interlacing your fingers. Allow your sternum (chest bone) to lift as you breathe from your belly, to your ribs, all the way up to fill your lungs.
Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Image 1). Enjoy for three to five breaths, and then slowly, one vertebra at a time, unravel your spine all the way back down to the earth beneath you. For those new to yoga, or should you be experiencing any discomfort or find yourself healing a spinal injury, please enjoy this variation.
Urdhva Dhanurasana begins from a place of stability in your bridge pose. Should you wish to explore, begin to extend the arms above your head, rotating your palms under, finger-tips now pointing in the direction of your heels. Set your palms shoulder-distance apart, draw the upper arms in and the shoulders back and down. Then, grounding through your palms, lift onto the crown of your head. Pause, reset your arms shoulder-distance apart (forearms relatively perpendicular to the mat), breathe! Then, firmly grounding through your feet and palms, begin to extend your arms as you lift the crown of your head, spine and pelvis from the earth towards the sky. Expand through your heart, extend through your spine, lift your inner thighs as you firm your outer thighs, send your tailbone to your heels and lift your navel to your heart. Urdhva
Dhanurasana (Image 2). Enjoy for three to five breaths, and then slowly re-bending your elbows, softly lower the crown of your head to the earth. Then tucking your chin to your chest, gently unravel your spine, one vertebra at a time, all the way back down to the earth beneath you.
Enjoy and receive the incredible benefits of the asana. If you wish, take a moment to slowly hug your knees towards your heart, softly rocking from side to side, massaging your lower back and sacrum.
Extend your legs out onto the earth, extend your arms down by your sides, close your eyes for a moment, and feel the abundance of breath and space available in your being. May every new breath bring infinite possibilities of new life and new beginnings.
Setu-Bandha Sarvangasana and Urdhva Dhanurasana create freedom and flexibility throughout the spine, open the chest, neck and shoulders, stimulate the abdominal organs, digestive system and lungs, reduce stress, anxiety and fatigue.
Enjoy in isolation (while waiting for the photocopier, during a board meeting) or experience as the perfect conclusion to a complete yoga sadhana (practice).
Jennifer Findlay
is the Director of Yoga at 889 Yonge - a Yoga & Holistic Lifestyle Spa in Rosedale. In these photos Jennifer is wearing: “The Essential Pant” by Zobha, “The Cami” by Beyond Yoga, and a Love Heals bracelet all available at 889Yonge.
www.889yonge.com
For Mom and Baby
by Julie Watson