“Intuition will tell the thinking mind where to look next.” –Jonas Salk
Weekly Focus: Ajna (third eye chakra)
During Winter, we tend to think of the natural world around as being “dead,” when really, it is just asleep. There is still life teeming beneath the dirt, within the trees, hiding in the nooks + crannies. Everything is taking time to re-charge. Much like Winter, it may look on the outside as though we are stagnant, but when me meditate the work is being done far within ourselves. We deeply connect to our inner self + fuel our intuition for the upcoming year, to help guide us forward. Taking so much time to become intimately familiar with the Self may help us to find more confidence in our innate knowing + intuition. This intuition will be important in the months ahead, helping us to know when to act, when to hold back, with whom to engage, to avoid, etc. The body may be resting but the mind is honing a skill. When do you most notice your intuition in life?
Active Pose of the Week: Garudasana (eagle pose)
Find your focus + connection to ajna in this twisty balance. To find eagle pose, stand on one leg and cross the opposite leg over top (similar to crossing your legs in a chair). Squeeze the thighs towards one another. Now cross the arms in front of you, one under the other. Either hug the shoulders or press the forearms together. Stimulate your third eye by pressing the thumbs to the forehead or nesting the forehead into the arms. If you want to increase the balance challenge, you might shift your gaze to the third eye as well, or even close the eyes. A big part of intuition however is knowing yourself, so only increase the challenge if it feels true to how you feel in that moment.
Passive Pose: Makarasana (Crocodile Pose)
Find connection of the third eye to the back of the hands, attuning + becoming aware of ajna. Come to lie on your belly, stacking one palm or each forearm on top of the other. Allow your third-eye (forehead center) to rest on top of the hands/arms. Take your feet as wide as you necessary to feel comfortable here. If it feels OK, you may even turn the toes to the sides, with the inner arches of the feet dropping to the floor. Notice your belly as it gently presses + lifts from the floor with your breath. Then, bring a great awareness to the forehead + focus on that point for 10-15 breaths.