The World, Upside-down
Please excuse this post if it is completely nutty. It's either 3:30 or 4:30 in the morning here in Seattle, which equates to my normal East Coast wake up time. However, that does mean that it is dark as the inside of a goat (ok, that's nutty, right?). Umm... what to do? Right, blog post.
My brain, feeling completely weird right now, might as well be upside-down. So, why not do some head and hand stands?
I feel balanced in a headstand, but keep it against the wall for the handstands. I started learning handstands against a wall, and, geezum, it is really hard to give up that crutch. Recently, someone mentioned that it's better to begin trying off the wall, and fall over quite a bit, then to start against the wall and never come off it. It's too late for me, but, if you're interested, maybe that's useful.
It's rain in the forecast all week, here, but driving around is fun. I'm hoping to get to check out lots of studios on my way. Maybe some new ideas, too. If you have ideas, let me know! All sequences accepted in any form and layout and will receive my eternal affection.
The world upside-down
Be really conscious of your breathing in the upside-down poses. If you are feeling a hard time catching your breath or are dizzy, don't force yourself into the pose. Come to an upright position, and gently focus your eyes on a point in front of you on the floor. If you have high blood pressure, please be especially conscious. New practitioners of head and hand stands might want to start the practice with the safety of a teacher present; personal practice can grow from there.
- Vajrasana (Diamond Pose)
- Take your arms parallel to the floor directly in front of you. Flex at the wrist and rotate arms. Pause. Circle wrist. Flex wrist forward and back.
- Seated Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon Pose) Side Stretch. *In Kripalu and Bikram yoga, Ardha Chandrasana is the pose where from Tadasana you bring both arms overhead and to one side.
- Repeat other side
- Uttana Shishosana (Puppy Pose). Hold for 5-10 breaths, rolling wrists if they are tight or sore
- "Thread the needle" in Puppy Pose, taking one arm under the other to twist gently
- Repeat other side
- Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
- Yoga Mudra (Symbol of Yoga)
- Uttanasana with Yoga Mudra arms
- Coming up to standing, slight back bend
- Switch grip of hands in Yoga Mudra, but continue
- Parsvottanasana (intense West Stretch) with Yoga Mudra arms
- Repeat other side
- Release hands, let them swing gently side to side
- Garundasana (Eagle Pose) arms. Circle arms to open shoulders. Repeat other side.
- Utthita Tadasana (Five Pointed Star Pose)
- Trikonasana (Triangle Pose) (bind if you can and enjoy doing so)
- Repeat steps 17 and 18 on other side
- Tadasana
- Garundasana (Eagle Pose)
- Virbhadrasana III (Warrior III) with Garundasana arms
- Virbhadrasana I (Warrior I) with Garundasana arms
- Virbhadrasana I
- Tadasana
- Repeat steps 21-25 on other side
- Bring the mat to the wall. Taking forearms shoulder width apart, take feet to the wall, making a 90 degree angle with the body. The elbows shoulder be directly under the shoulders.
- Lift one leg and then the leg. Hold for 5-10 breaths.
- Garbasana (Child's Pose)
- Sirsasana (Head Stand)
- Garbasana. Hold for one-two minutes
- Try jumping into Handstand (both feet simultaneously). If you can do it, stick the pose, if not, have fun playing with it
- Adho Mukha Vrkasana (Handstand Pose). Either walking feet up wall, kicking up against the wall, or (bless your heart) just going for it
- Garbasana. Hold for one-two minutes
- Viparita Karani (Legs up the Wall Pose)
- Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclined Cobbler's Pose) against the wall
- Savasana
