What Floats Your Boat?

What gives you that internal lift and makes you feel a little lighter inside? Could it be music, art or food? Or is it a walk in nature, an inspiring yoga class or an engrossing book? In the yoga pose called Navasana, or Boat Pose, LIFT is the key ingredient to making your boat float. And when your boat floats not only will you strengthen your core, but your heart will soar.

To practice Navasana, begin seated with your legs stretched out in front of you. Bend your knees and hold the backs of your thighs. Sit up super tall and lift your feet up but don’t rock the boat backwards. Breathe in and lift your heart area towards the sky. Breathe out keeping your back tall like the mast of a boat. See if you can balance with no hands. Maybe even extend your legs. Is your boat strong? Can your boat float without rocking on the waves of your breath?

To strengthen your core, pull your belly toward your spine. Keep breathing and challenge yourself to hold Navasana for 30 seconds or more. Keep lifting your heart with every inhale, simultaneously focusing on all the things in your life that give you joy. That’s the part that buoys your heart.

Images: Collage with a young Yoga Teddy Bear pop-up shop practitioner by K. Mae Copham. Featuring Yoga Teddy Bear Show Me Mats, on sale now with free shipping only while limited supplies last (so if you enjoy this playful, unique, full size, high quality, suitable-for-adults mat, get it now or forever hold your peace because they won’t be re-ordered. Disclosure: They may fly, but they don’t float.) 

Pictures of K. Mae Copham in Central Park by Robert Oakley.