Emerging

Blog post written by Eliza Skye

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“We didn’t come to earth to get anything. We came to awaken our full potential and infuse this dimension with divine light”

— Derek Rydall

The sprouting of a seed is a slow and brutal event. The seed splits as new growth pushes through the old husk. The strong, fibrous exterior, which survived the long winter, breaks away to make space for the sprout of what will become a plant, a tree, a new life. What we have planted during the long winter now begins its process of emerging, arising from the destruction of what once was, a never ending process found both outside of ourselves and within. Spring is an exciting time, as new ideas burst forth from fertile ground. Many of us may feel the inner work that we have cultivated throughout the winter blossoming through the exterior that we maintain. As with the image of the seed sprouting, this can be an uncomfortable process of bringing the inner self and outer self into harmony. Observe what arises with compassion, and when judgement arises, see if you can find the voice behind that judgement. If great change is part of this emerging, try to identify and let go of

Camatkarasna (Wild Thing)

Also called “Rock Star”, Camatkarasana literally translates to “Struck with Wonder Pose”. This pose is a deep chest opener and also a very accessible arm balance. As with all backbending poses, Camatkarasna is a chest and heart opener, with a strong emphasis in external rotation of the shoulders when practiced correctly. Chest opening poses are known for alleviating mild depression, energizing the body and welcoming joy into the practitioner’s present experience. Wild Thing also has a strong emphasis on opening through the throat, hip flexors and quadriceps. Due to the arm balancing nature of this pose, there is an additional element of engaging the core and arms. Contraindications to this pose include sensitive wrists, any lower back pain or injury, and any rotator cuff injury. Camatkarasna can be modified on the forearms to alleviate pressure from the wrists. There are a lot of potential areas for injury when practicing Wild Thing, so please attend a yoga class with a certified instructor to learn how to enter and exit this pose safely and correctly. 

Lotus Mudra

The Ancient Egyptians observed that the lotus flower retracts into its murky watery home in the evening, arising in the morning to bloom, fragrant and colorful. They considered this process to be a reflection of the sun, setting into darkness every evening, unfailingly rising each morning. The Lotus Mudra symbolizes light emerging from darkness. Taking this mudra awakens the Anahata (Heart) Chakra, with the message that you can stay connected to your roots while simultaneously reaching for the light, and all of this can best be done with an open heart. You can focus on opening the heart to the joys of life, allowing yourself to feel grounded throughout the practice. The mudra is also known for allowing illusion and tension to fade away. It can also be used to cultivate love and affection, ease loneliness and bring in vital energy. 

Metamorphosis

Blog Post written by Eliza Skye

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“Sometimes to change a situation you are in requires you to take a giant leap. But, you won’t be able to fly unless you are willing to transform”

— Suzy Kassem

Metamorphosis is a complete and profound change in the form, structure or substance of a being. We see metamorphosis take place in the life cycle of butterflies, which start out as caterpillars, consuming resources and amassing abundance until they build and enter a cocoon. When butterflies enter this chrysalis, they are unable to move and dissolve into a liquid material. This process occurs through the mysterious presence of imaginal cells. One of the most interesting aspects to this transformation is that the caterpillar and butterfly share no structural similarities. We can look at this profound miracle of nature and relate it to our own lives. Caterpillars begin their shift from a place of abundance and fullness, which is a difficult place to let go of. As creatures who seek comfort, we want to hold onto this place. But, for various personal reasons, transformation must occur, so we build our cocoons. This is where we have a choice - we can feel stifled in the chrysalis, unable to move, whether it’s forward or back. We can also follow the example of the butterfly and choose to become absolutely liquid, surrendering to whatever forces are present in our lives and allow ourselves to listen to the inner wisdom that can guide us to the path of higher meaning. We will always emerge, but it is our process through metamorphosis that determines how this emergence looks. Will we remain crippled caterpillars, crawling on the ground, or will we soar as butterflies?

Baddha Konasana (Butterfly Pose)

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Many of us are familiar with Butterfly Pose from our early childhood physical education classes. The signature shape of the legs brings this pose to a place of deep external hip rotation. This means we usually fall into one of two groups - people who love this pose and those who cannot stand it. Some of this has to do with body mechanics - external rotation can be a huge challenge for us, depending on the shapes of our femurs and hip sockets. Baddha Konasana is an extremely versatile pose. You can practice it sitting upright, leaning forward, or reclined. Even among those options, there are many ways to use props to facilitate deeper opening. The knees should never be forced in this pose, and anyone with a history of knee discomfort or injury should be extremely cautious. When the knees are forced closer to the ground, this actually causes the lower back to tense, which means the hips no longer ease open. Instead, you can push the soles of the feet together in a dynamic movement that encourages the groin to open. Many sources claim that this pose alleviates depression, anxiety and fatigue, so I encourage you to observe any changes in your mental well being as you practice Baddha Konasana this month. 
 

Shuni Mudra

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This mudra is known as the seal of patience. When big transformations begin to take place in our lives, the change can bring about feelings of discomfort, as we must learn how to let go of preexisting ideas about who we are and how we show up in life. Shuni Mudra helps us learn how to stay present, which will keep us from looking into the future with fixed expectations. When we learn to stay present with changes, we are more open to the many options that reveal themselves to us, and we can step into growth with a clear mind. Shuni Mudra is said to facilitate discernment, or “viveka”, which is the first of the four qualities necessary for attaining spiritual liberation. We have many opportunities to practice Shuni Mudra, and I recommend trying it when you feel impatience rising in your being. 
 

Resilience

Blog Post written by Eliza Skye

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“Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.”

— Steve Maraboli

Resilience is the ability to recover from situations that challenge us. Challenges are a part of life’s changing nature, and no matter how we carry ourselves, we will occasionally run into these trials. We can choose to meet difficulties in a number of ways, but resilience will allow us to emerge from them in a more powerful place. Resilience is not a trait that people either do or do not have. To be human is to be resilient. We cultivate resilience by developing specific behaviors, thoughts and actions that any human being is capable of. This does not mean that the path will be easy. In fact, the path of resilience is often riddled with obstacles and distress. However, we flourish when we choose to learn from those obstacles and not let the distress overcome our innate sense of joy. Meditation and spiritual practices, which we nurture in yoga classes, help improve the ease with which we can cultivate the trust that resilience requires from us. Spirituality relies on a deep trust in a higher meaning, especially as we witness suffering. A regular yoga practice teaches us how to control the body and the mind. We learn to be present with uncomfortable thoughts and physical sensations in the body. We also learn how to rise above them, into a place of the contented witness. These practices can facilitate a more holistic view of the world, the future, and the power we have in creating our own happiness.
 

Dhanurasana (Bow Pose)

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Dhanurasana is named Bow Pose because the body looks like an archer’s bow, with the arms mirroring the strings. The reason dhanurasana can be such an intense pose is that it is a back bend that works against gravity. Instead of dropping into the pose, you must lift and engage the entire body to hold yourself upright. All backbends activate the Sympathetic Nervous System, which is known as the Stress Response. While chronic stress is never beneficial, putting the body into a stressful pose and mindfully breathing through it can be a very healthy practice. It teaches us about our physical resilience. All backbends are heart and chest openers, which helps undo the regular forward-reaching shapes we take in our daily lives. Other benefits include a deep stretch to the thighs and psoas, strengthening in the back muscles, and a gentle massage on the internal organs. Remember that you are ultimately in charge of how intense dhanurasana can become, so only go to your own edge in this pose and take breaks whenever you need to.
 

Shivalinga Mudra

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Shivalinga Mudra is also called the Mudra of Resilience. The shape the hands create is similar to a mortar and pestle. The left hand is the mortar, with the fingers cupped together in front of the abdomen. The right hand rests in the bowl that the left hand makes, with the right thumb extended toward the sky. After finding this shape, call to mind a situation that tests the strength of your resilience and mentally place it into the left hand. Slowly begin to circle the right hand, “grinding” that thing away. You can even blow away the imaginary dust that is left behind in your left hand bowl. The right hand also represents the masculine and destructive force of Shiva. Destruction is an aspect of change, however unpleasant the word feels to us. In order to enact a conscious change, we can choose to take charge of what we would like to destroy. In addition to cultivating resilience, this mudra helps alleviate depression and increase energy. You can do it as often as you like, though it is recommended to practice Shivalinga Mudra twice a day for four minutes.
 

Prosperity

Blog post by Eliza Skye

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“When you are able to shift your inner awareness to how you can serve others, and when you make this the central focus of your life, you will then be in a position to know true miracles in your progress toward prosperity.”  -Wayne W. Dyer

When we talk about prosperity, it is natural to think of wealth and the accumulation of objects that we desire. However, in yoga, prosperity is the control of shakti, the energy of consciousness. Prosperity and wealth isn’t about possessing anything. It is the steady flow of energy and prana. Wherever the mind goes, prana goes, so it is good to check in with your mind. Are you dwelling on what you are lacking? In that case, energy goes to the idea of lacking or not having enough. If the mind is fixated on an object, whether it’s a particular possession such as a car or nice clothes or simply the idea of having money, there is a good chance the energy will go there. However, none of those things inherently bring happiness or authentic prosperity. Prosperity feels most at home in a generous heart, so the more you give selflessly, the more you will receive naturally. This is the steady flow of energy. It is only by emptying the cup that one can fill it.

Pose: Vajrasana (Diamond/Thunderbolt Pose)

This sitting pose is perfect for an asana practice, as well as seated meditation. It is often used as a transitional pose for many of our floor postures and flows, but it can be practiced with mindfulness just like other more technically challenging asanas. This pose stimulates the vajra nadi, which helps aid in digestion. It can even be practiced immediately after eating and help to move food through the body. Due to compression in the knees, the flow of blood collects in the base of the torso, which helps flood the internal organs (such as the stomach, liver and reproductive organs) with extra oxygen and energy. Vajrasana also stretches the ankles and knees, though it may be too much for some people, so props are always an option. Sitting with good posture can help to alleviate sciatica, open the chest and promote proper alignment of the cervical spine (neck). Feel the balance of the energetic channels in the body and let the prana flow steadily.

Mudra: Kubera Mudra

All mudras (or hastas) are hand positions that help to bring about certain focuses to the body or the mind. Kubera Mudra is for the fulfillment of desires, or the mudra of intention. It doesn’t matter how long the mudra is practiced for - it is the intensity of the focus of the mind that determines how effective Kubera Mudra is. It can be very effectively practiced when setting an intention before a class, before the start of a project, or at any time of new beginnings. The three fingers coming together represent the different choices one must make in order to find the best path toward whatever goal is desired. The mudra intensifies whatever the mind is fixated on, which is why it is very important to be clear about what you desire before you take this hand positioning. Otherwise, there can be increased strength directed toward a distraction rather than something that will truly serve you.

Visual Focus: Tree of Life

The Tree of Life is another sacred geometry symbol that is found all throughout the world in many different traditions. The Tree of Life symbol does not have one central focus, but two. This connects with the idea of the soul’s separation from the divine source, as well as the Darwinian model of competition/separation from other human beings. The tree of life also speaks to the idea of the duality between “good” and “evil”. Some say the Tree of Life also has a “bad” counterpart, which is the Tree of Knowledge. This can be seen in story of Adam and Eve - the Tree of Life is the abundant garden and the Tree of Knowledge is what allowed humans to fall from their divine spiritual nature. However, when we look at the Tree of Life, it is simply a part of a larger image (which we are working toward this year!), so while we imagine duality exists, it is simply an incomplete picture of the whole of creation. It is our human experience, which is only a small portion of our spiritual experience.