Visvamitrasana (pronounced “vish”) I recently taught myself how to contort my way into this posture (it looks so pretty in all the yoga journals). It took a long time to learn and several attempts resulted in falling back on my butt, and nearly yanking my shoulder out of it’s socket, ouch. You can not muscle your way into these strange shapes. I think it’s extremely liberating to finally, let go of trying, open up and expand fully into new space. I like how yoga teaches us never to know whether we can or can’t do something. It seems the minute we let go of the attachment of how things might or should turn out, or the way things “ought” to be, we can fall into these really beautifully places, both physically and psychologically. Yoga teaches to let go of attachments to end results. Act for the actions sake. I’m still not fully open or at totally at ease in this particular asana but it’s so much fun to explore.
Dolphin is a great way to open and strengthen all of the muscles of the upper back, shoulder girdle, and chest needed for forearm stand, head stand and hand stand. Often it is taught in preparation for these inversions.
Why Warrior?One of yoga’s primary yamas or ethical practices is Non-Harming, ahimsa, or literally non-violence. Why then are there several strong warrior, virabhadra, postures within yoga?!The best answer may be found in the underlying meaning of the conversation between two characters from the ancient text Bhagavad Gita. God-incarnate Krishna talks with fearsome warrior Arjuna on the eve of a battle. Could it be that the warrior is actually average yogis, people like you and me, struggling mightily against the enemy forces of self ignorance, avidya, on the “battlefield” of life? Krishna is our “higher self” atman always present to offer aid and comfort as he leads us to self- realization.And so the name virabhadra is a subtle acknowledgement and reminder in powerful postures of our commitment to fight the good fight.Any time we overcome our own ignorance in any given situation and do “the right thing” sometimes in the face of great adversity, we are acting in ways of warriorship.
Paschimottanasana (Western Intense Stretch or Seated forward Bend)
This a wonderful “counter-pose” to Purvottanasana or Eastern Stretch. It lengthens hamstrings and opens the entire back body. Emphasis on using legs grounding into mat to lengthen the spine and slide entire ribcage forward, away from pelvis. Hands take hold wherever they land. Shoulders sliding away from ears, neck relaxed. The Drishti or gaze is inward toward oneself or just beyond toes for more advanced practitioners. At the same time the back of the body is rounding evenly forward, the front of the spine has a feeling of lengthening. It’s important to take care not to over arch in any one place, think equal space between each vertebra. Release and broaden muscles in lower back. Ride the breath like a wave, inhaling down the back of the spine, exhaling up the front. Relax and take your time with this asana. As always, never force. Roll out slowly or inhale out leading through the crown of head, using legs, not lower back to return to an upright position. Cobbler pose is nice after this intense seated forward bend.
