Whelmed

The holiday season has officially started. I can already feel it: it makes me feel like there is more to do than hours in the day, more things to accomplish, more people to see/meet the needs of, more places to go. It's this time of year when I need yoga most of all, but feel like it is harder to fit in. I remember some tv show, it feels like a Seinfeld episode but I may be way off, talking about the feeling of being whelmed. Can one not overwhelmed or underwhelmed, but just be whelmed? I looked up the definition (thank you, thank you, Google dictionary) and apparently whelmed=overwhelmed. That's too bad. Really, right now, I would just like to be whelmed; feeling at peace in a stressed out season and hoping others can feel that, too.

In honor of made-up words, today's practice will be an attempt at whelm-ness. Remember to breathe!

Whelmed

Are you breathing in? Are you breathing out? In any situation, the breath can change everything. Come down into your body from the headspace you are currently occupying. How are you breathing?

1. Vajrasana (Diamond Pose)
2. Simhasana (Lion's Breath Pose)
3. Ujayyi pranayama (Ocean sounding breath)
4. Sasangasana (Rabbit Pose)
5. Threading one arm under the other to twist. Repeat other side.
6. Cat/cow
7. Pretend your spine is a jumprope and create circles. Circle other direction.
8. Kneedown Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
9. Parighasana (Gate Pose)
10. Table
11. Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog)
12. Three-legged dog, drawing circles with non-planted knee
13. Uttanasana (Forward Fold)
14. Tadasana (Mountain Pose). Raise arms above head. Hold for 10 breaths.
    
15. Virabhadrasana III (Warrior III Pose)
    
16. Virabhadrasana I (Warrior I Pose)
    
17. Simhasana in Virabhadrasana I
18. Adho Mukha Svanasana
    
19. Repeat steps 12-19
20. Dandasana (Staff Pose)
21. Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Fold Pose)
    
22. Janu Sirasansana (Head to Knee Pose)
23. Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana (Revolved Head to Knee Pose)
24. Repeat steps 20-23 on other side
25. Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose)
26. Tarasana (Star Pose)
27. Upavista Konasana (Seated Wide Angle)
28. Take both hands 6-8 inches behinds sitz bone, fingers facing towards toes, bend knees and lift torso
29. Setu Bandhasana (Bridge Pose)
    
30. Ardha Sarvangasana (Half Shoulder Stand). Move legs in opposite circles.
31. Halasana (Plow Pose)
32. Supta Matsyendrasana (Supine Twist). Repeat other side
33. Savasana
34. Nadi Shodna (Alternate Nostril Breath). Practice Nadi Shodna for 5-10 minutes.