“Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.” –Maya Angelou

Weekly Focus: Sahasrara — the crown chakra

Sahasrara is the Sanskrit name for the chakra located in the crown area of the skull. It is the seventh and highest of the seven primary chakras. It is usually represented by the color violet. This wheel, or vortex, of pranic energy is said to be the center of one’s spiritual connection to the divine and yogic teachings assert that it gives us the ability to experience a connection with God, or the universal Consciousness.

This week, we focus on utilizing the tools we already contain to help us in our journey of Self reflection. We are well-equipped with the tools to sit with curiosity, to listen to our internal guidance, and to notice how we fit into the world. Sahasrara serves as our connection to this consciousness. All that we need to see and understand our universal connection lies within.

Summer holds a vibrant and vital energy, where one may feel inspired and in touch with the world around them. Sahasrara is our crown chakra, meaning “thousand-petaled.” This chakra relates to our connection to the universal consciousness and spiritual awakening. This transcendence is what so many yoga practitioners seek, the ability to see ourselves interconnected with all things and to step out of the day-to-day.

When we allow ourselves the opportunity to step out of the day-to-day, we can shift towards a space of observation and awareness. We may experience a freedom in recognizing that the daily details of life, the small upsets and frustrations, the tasks we give ourselves, may not matter as deeply as we once felt. Each moment is an opportunity to experience life, and to live fully.

Do you ever have those moments where you are so transfixed by a landscape or an activity that you feel in-step with everything around you? Perhaps you don’t notice the passing of time, or your mind feels content and satiated, calm and still, clear and free of excess? These are the small moments where we might experience the beauty of our universal connection.

The tools we needed to aid in this journey find lie within each one of us. We are on a favorable path towards alignment, and it is our choice to seek this connection. When we make the conscious choice to self-reflect and to work on our personal journey towards our own awakening, we might see more clearly these tools within. 

Here are a few practices to help stimulate Sahasrara:

1. Build a daily meditation practice. Start small. We love using meditation apps to help keep us focused. Even just [5]-min a day might have a big impact.
2. Spend time alone outside without music, screens or distractions. Take yourself on a walk or just enjoy a bench at the park. Give yourself some time to simply look around and take everything in.
3. Spend a few minutes weekly in a gentle headstand variation. This can even mean a wide leg fold with the crown of your head resting on blocks. Focus on the feeling of your head against a surface and breathe deeply, for 5 – 7 breaths.

Passive Pose of the Week:  [Ardha] Padmasana ([half] lotus)

pronunciation CLICK HER

Settle into this traditional meditation posture and allow your crown chakra to blossom.

• Find yourself seated on the floor.
• Bend your right knee and take hold of the foot, placing it to rest atop the left thigh, near the hip crease.
• Bend your left knee and grab hold of your foot, placing it over the right leg to rest atop the right thigh and hip crease. 
• Close your eyes and breathe slowly for 2 – 3 minute before switching the cross of the legs.

This pose is basically a pretzel, let’s be real. While Lotus is the “traditional” posture for meditation, it certainly isn’t the only one. If you are preparing for a seated meditation and simply do not enjoy or cannot get into lotus, do whatever you can to make your seat very comfortable. Sit on a blanket, lean against a wall, support the legs with blocks — there is not right or wrong way to sit while meditating. Allow yourself to be comfortable, so that you can shift your focus from physical sensation to internal thoughts.

Active Pose of the Week: Salamba Sirsasana (headstand)

pronunciation CLICK HERE

Activate the crown chakra in supported headstand. From a kneeling position, interlace your hands and place them on the floor in front of you.

• From a kneeling position, interlace your hands and place them on the floor in front of you.
• Let your elbows be about shoulders-width distance. Nestle your head into the basket of your hands, making sure the crown of the head is on the floor.
• Walk the feet closer to the body and lift the legs up and overhead. 

If you feel any reservation about headstand pose don’t force yourself to take it. Bearing weight on your head is no joke, and for some of us, it may cause discomfort. Rather, seek other ways to mimic the sensations of headstand without getting your feet into the air. A favorite option for us is to come into a wide leg fold and take our feet nice and wide. Let the feet widen as much as needed so that you can get the crown of your head to the floor or perhaps a block. Give yourself extra kindness and place a blanket beneath the head, so soften and support.

Join us in class this week to practice honing in to Sahasrara! See the fulll schedule HERE.