Monkey breath

Yoga Junky - Weybridge Surrey - Yoga with the emphasis on fun - Yoga Classes also at Esher Surrey (St George's Hall)
              (from http://www.allaboutweybridge.co.uk/aaw/weybridge/yoga-junky.htm)




One of my goals for this trip was to see a monkey. Preferably, have it crawl into my lap, and begin to give me hugs. Maybe a sweet, monkey-breath kiss. 


So, I did get to see my monkeys. In fact, I was awoken one morning to the glorious melody of the howler monkeys, well, howling outside of my window. At first, I was like, "Damn howler monkeys! Waking me up!" Then, I realized that this isn't exactly a usual occurrence, and I should feel completely and overwhelming grateful that a howler monkey was waking me up.  


I didn't, however, get to hold one or get a hug.


A good breath-work warm up, and a salute to the monkeys, is "monkey breath." It helps warm up the body as well as the lungs. You also look pretty ridiculous, which gets extra points in my book.


Monkey breath

To do the monkey breath, stand bringing your feet 2-3 feet apart, hands by your side. Tilting to the left (in "I'm a little teapot" fashion) bring your right hand into your right armpit, making a loose fist. Exhale "Ha!" Tilt to the right (body in one plane), bring the left hand to the left armpit in a loose fist. Exhale "Ha!" Repeat, moving progressively quicker from side to side until warm and giggly. 
  1. Samasthiti (Equal standing). 1-2 minutes of monkey breath. 
  2. Urdhva Hastasana (Upward Arm Pose)
  3. Uttanasana (Forward Fold Pose)
  4. Low lunge
  5. Inhale, bring hands through heart center above head, exhale, straighten front leg into runner's lunge and bring arms extended directly in front of body, hands still pressed together
  6. Repeat step 5 6-12x
  7. Hold Runner's Lunge, bringing torso over extended front leg
  8. Table
  9. Rock in Table, bringing sitting bones towards hips, and then bringing weight forward towards hands in a modified Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (Upward Facing Dog Pose), repeat multiple times
  10. Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Pose)
  11. Repeat steps 4-10 on other side
  12. Supta Kapotanasana (Reclined Pigeon Pose). Wave torso over forward bent leg to come into pose
  13. Kapotanasana (Pigeon Pose)
  14. Adho Mukha Svanasana
  15. Repeat steps 12-14 on other side
  16. Low lunge
  17. High lunge
  18. Virabhadrasana I (Warrior I)
  19. Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II)
  20. Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)
  21. Parsvottanasana (Intense Stretch)
  22. Parivrtta Trikonasana (Revolved Triangle)
  23. Windmill arms up to standing
  24. Monkey breaths 1-2 minutes
  25. Vinyasa to repeat steps 16-24 on other side
  26. Vinyasa to Upavistha Konasana (Seated Wide Angle)
  27. Hanumanasana (Pose of Hanuman... the Monkey g-d!). Use props, if needed. Lots. 
  28. Move through Upavistha Konasana to repeat Hanumanasana on the other side
  29. Upavistha Konasana. Fold forward and hold 1-2 minutes
  30. Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose)
  31. Gomukhasana (Face of Light Pose). Repeat on other side
  32. Savasana
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