What do you call the Hindu god of eggplant?
Baba Ganesha!
Anyway, I think it's sort of cute.
Ganesha is a Hindu deity with an elephant head (to be incredibly simplistic about it). What I didn't know, but learned today from wonderful Wikipedia, is that Ganesha (or Ganesh) is also associated with the sound of "Om." According to the site, "The term oṃkārasvarūpa (Aum is his form), when identified with Ganesha, refers to the notion that he personifies the primal sound" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesha).
To honor Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, here is an elephantine practice!
What do you call the Hindu god of eggplant?
Ganesha is also associated with the Mula Bandha and the first chakra. Some of the following poses help open and support energy in the Muladhara, therefore supporting the flow of prana throughout the whole physical and energetic body. This really works for my personal needs right now: I am really looking for rooting and grounding, a new place to call home, and this sequence should help support that.
1. Sukhasana (Easy Pose)
2. Begin your practice, even if alone, with three Oms (or Aums)
3. Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
4. Roll back and forth, side to side on your feet to find balance. Use this rocking motion to massage the ball and heel of the foot as well
5. Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
6. Sun Breaths (see Sun Breaths post for how to do this pranayama) in Tadasana
7. Utthita Vaya Muktyasana (Standing Wind Relieving Pose)
8. Tadasana
9. Vrksasana (Tree Pose)
10. Repeat steps 5-9
11. Uttanasana (Forward Fold Pose)
12. Pada Hastasana (Hands under feet forward fold)
13. Maha Mudra (Great Seal)
14. Include Eka Hasta Bhujasana (Elephant's Trunk Pose) if feeling warm and peppy
15. Repeat steps 13 and 14 on other side
16. Janu Sirsasana (Seated Head to Knee Pose). Repeat other side
17. Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Fold Pose)
18. Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle). Interlace the fingers in between the toes, massaging the area in between (as well as the upper foot)
19. Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclined Bound Angle Pose)
20. Ananda Balasana (Happy Baby Pose)
21. Savasana After coming out of Corpse Pose, end your practice with three Oms
