What do we do with all the bad
news and violence swirling around us in our modern world? How do we cope? How do we feel safe? How do we adjust our focus to feel good about
the world in which we live?
A good place to start to feel
good - and feel safe - is in your own body.
Yoga allows us to look inside and cultivate positive qualities within
ourselves so that we can be a light in the world. The more lights there are in the world, the
brighter humanity will shine. Here are
four poses that will help you start to feel good about the world today. Give them a try.
1.
Peaceful Warrior. (Baddha Virabhadrasana)
This
beautiful pose embodies the idea of both internal and external peace. From a standing position, take a big step forward. Bend your front knee so you can see your toes. Turn your back heel down. Keep your knee over your ankle and open your
arms wide front to back in a straight line (Warrior 2 pose). Take slow, deep breaths, then turn your front
palm up and reach forward just a little to make space in your back ribs. Gently see-saw your arms by lifting your
front arm to the sky and sliding your back arm down your leg. Make sure your front knee stays over your
ankle as you look up at your hand. You
can even drape your lifted arm around your head. Close your eyes and feel peaceful inside as
you breathe deeply. Next do the same
pose with the other foot in front.
2.
Gate Pose. (Parighasana)
Have
you ever noticed that you hold your breath when you’re nervous or afraid? Gate Pose creates space in between your ribs so
that your breath can flow more freely. Breathing
freely is critical to both feeling good and feeling safe. Start on your knees, using a blanket under your legs if needed. Stretch one leg to the side. Slide your hand down your extended leg while
your other arm reaches up and over your head.
Bend at your waist and look up to stretch open your side ribs like a gate.
Breathe deeply and luxuriate in the stretch for a while. Then switch sides.
3.
Crab Pose (Ardha
Purvottanasana)
Think of this
pose as a way to open up to the sky above - the sun, the stars, and the whole
Universe. Also called “Reverse Table,”
this pose is a playful way to stretch your shoulders, hips and thighs while you
also strengthen your wrists and your core. Start seated with your knees bent
and your hands on the floor behind you with your fingers pointed toward your tail. Press your hips up high so that you don’t see
your knees any more. Yogi’s choice: drop
your head back, look up at the sky or look forward. Breathe deeply, pressing upward with your
inhale and relaxing in the pose with your exhale.
4.
Side Splits (Upavistha
Konasana)
Also
known as “Wide Angle Seated Forward Fold,” this pose provides a means to
release the fear that’s naturally held deeply within our hip joints. Sit on the floor and spread your legs apart as wide as
you can. Keep your spine long and tall
as you lean forward. Stretch your arms out in front of you and if you can
reach, rest your forehead on the ground it feels nice. Close your eyes and reflect upon all the
things in your life that bring you joy.
Say to yourself “I trust the process of life.” Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Life is too short to focus on
all the bad stuff. That doesn’t mean we
ignore the world around us, but we can take little time-outs from the news in
order to focus on our bodies and the things that bring us joy. In so doing, we’ll add just one more drop to
the ocean of love that has the ability to swell in the heart of humanity and
carry us forward to peace. Namaste.
