Late yoga post
This is the yoga post that I didn't get around to posting this morning. When I was going to make the post I got side tracked by organising my knitting needles and put one set of each of the sizes of needles I own in my new knitting needle roll. Yes I am that sad. It made me think of the beginning of Amelie when she is telling you about her parents and you see her dad cleaning out his tool box and her mum cleaning out her handbag. I was cleaning out my project bag and organising needles.
The yoga was good and stretching, I felt so good in Savasana at the end. Like I had worked.
Blossom and Grow
Before you begin: Chant "Lokah Smasta Sukinoh Bhavantu" (May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words and actions of my own life contribute to happiness and freedom for all)
Prepare your body: Sun Salutations, Standing Poses, Ardha Matsyendrasna, Paschimottanasana, Upavistha Konasana
1. Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose) - Begin in Baddha Konasana. Bend the knees and press the soles of the feet together. Reach down and press your thumbs into the soles of your feet, opening them up like a book. Take your gaze up toward the sky and breathe deeply as you open your hips for 5 breaths.
2. Vikasitakamalasana (Blossoming Lotus Pose preparation) - Sit firmly on the ground and spread your legs wide. Bend your knees and brace the outsides of both feet against the floor. Hold on to the ankles or shins. Take your awareness to the lowest part of your spine, and with an inhalation extend up. Fix your gaze on a steady point on the horizon and stay for 5 to 10 breaths.
3. Parivrtta Vikasitakamalasana (Revolved Blossoming Lotus Pose preparation) - Exhale as you lean forward, placing your left shoulder in front of your left thigh. Thread your left arm under your left thigh and place it on the floor behind you. Inhale as you reach your right arm jup and gaze toward your right thumb.
4. Parivrtta Vikasitakamalasana (Revolved Blossoming Lotus Pose) - Bend your left elbow and reach your left hand up near the small of your back. Reach your right arm behind your back. Grasp your right wrist with your left hand. Stay for 5 breaths gazing over your right shoulder.
5. Parivrtta Vikasitakamalasana II (Revolved Blossoming Lotus Pose II) - From there, press your right palm down firmly into the floor as your turn the chest open to the right. Keep both sitting bones firmly on the ground as you twist in your upper spine. Stay for 8 breaths.
6. Vikasitakamalasana (Blossoming Lotus Pose) From Baddha Konasana, inhale and lift both feet off the floor, keeping your heels pressed together. Exhale as your thread both arms under your knees. Inhale as join each thumb and forefinger together. Open your chest, lift your heart, and take your gaze up toward the heavens. Hold for 5 breaths.
7. Utthita Vikasitakamalasana (Extended Blossoming Lotus Pose) - Exhale as you release your arms form under your knees. With your first two fingers grab your big toes and on an inhalation extend both legs up and into a straddle. Gaze up toward the heavens as you stay for 5 breaths.
8. Vikasitakamalasana (Blossoming Lotus Pose preparation) - Return to the Blossoming Lotus preparation and observe any transformations that have occurred in your body and mind as you take 5 deep breaths.
9. Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose) - Finish the sequence by coming back to Baddha Konasna. After 5 to 10 deep breaths, repeat the whole sequence, twisting to the other side.
After you finish: Supported shoulder stand stay for up to 20 breaths, transition to Plow pose for up to 10 breaths.
The yoga was good and stretching, I felt so good in Savasana at the end. Like I had worked.
Blossom and Grow
Before you begin: Chant "Lokah Smasta Sukinoh Bhavantu" (May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words and actions of my own life contribute to happiness and freedom for all)
Prepare your body: Sun Salutations, Standing Poses, Ardha Matsyendrasna, Paschimottanasana, Upavistha Konasana
1. Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose) - Begin in Baddha Konasana. Bend the knees and press the soles of the feet together. Reach down and press your thumbs into the soles of your feet, opening them up like a book. Take your gaze up toward the sky and breathe deeply as you open your hips for 5 breaths.
2. Vikasitakamalasana (Blossoming Lotus Pose preparation) - Sit firmly on the ground and spread your legs wide. Bend your knees and brace the outsides of both feet against the floor. Hold on to the ankles or shins. Take your awareness to the lowest part of your spine, and with an inhalation extend up. Fix your gaze on a steady point on the horizon and stay for 5 to 10 breaths.
3. Parivrtta Vikasitakamalasana (Revolved Blossoming Lotus Pose preparation) - Exhale as you lean forward, placing your left shoulder in front of your left thigh. Thread your left arm under your left thigh and place it on the floor behind you. Inhale as you reach your right arm jup and gaze toward your right thumb.
4. Parivrtta Vikasitakamalasana (Revolved Blossoming Lotus Pose) - Bend your left elbow and reach your left hand up near the small of your back. Reach your right arm behind your back. Grasp your right wrist with your left hand. Stay for 5 breaths gazing over your right shoulder.
5. Parivrtta Vikasitakamalasana II (Revolved Blossoming Lotus Pose II) - From there, press your right palm down firmly into the floor as your turn the chest open to the right. Keep both sitting bones firmly on the ground as you twist in your upper spine. Stay for 8 breaths.
6. Vikasitakamalasana (Blossoming Lotus Pose) From Baddha Konasana, inhale and lift both feet off the floor, keeping your heels pressed together. Exhale as your thread both arms under your knees. Inhale as join each thumb and forefinger together. Open your chest, lift your heart, and take your gaze up toward the heavens. Hold for 5 breaths.
7. Utthita Vikasitakamalasana (Extended Blossoming Lotus Pose) - Exhale as you release your arms form under your knees. With your first two fingers grab your big toes and on an inhalation extend both legs up and into a straddle. Gaze up toward the heavens as you stay for 5 breaths.
8. Vikasitakamalasana (Blossoming Lotus Pose preparation) - Return to the Blossoming Lotus preparation and observe any transformations that have occurred in your body and mind as you take 5 deep breaths.
9. Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose) - Finish the sequence by coming back to Baddha Konasna. After 5 to 10 deep breaths, repeat the whole sequence, twisting to the other side.
After you finish: Supported shoulder stand stay for up to 20 breaths, transition to Plow pose for up to 10 breaths.