“Tidying is the act of confronting yourself.” –Marie Kondo
Weekly Focus: Kriya — action (to clear)
A kriya is an action we take that helps to clear our bodies or our minds. Take time to clear out and declutter — not only your physical space but also your mental space. How do we tidy up our minds to become more clear and aligned? At this time of year, we may notice that the gradual rise of temperatures and the elongated days begins to call us to action! We might feel the desire to move, to be active, to start those projects long set aside. Draw upon those energies to free up some space within the Self. Working on our outer space and our physical bodies can help contribute to a clearing of the mind, if it is performed in a thoughtful, intentional and balanced way. Perhaps there is a pile of clothes you have been meaning to donate for ages, maybe you have wanted to drink more water or get more sleep, perhaps it’s even adding a daily walk to your routine — what conscious steps are you taking to eliminate the old and move into the now?
Passive Pose of the Week: Chandra Kriya Mudra
Use this kriya practice to work on the tidying up of your internal spaces. To take this mudra or hand gesture, begin by bringing the knuckle side of your fingers together, such as a reverse prayer position. Interlace the fingers with the fingers inside the palms and the pads of the fingers touching. Relax the hands into the lap so that the ands slightly cup. Try sitting with this mudra in any comfortable seat as you breath or meditate for 3 – 5 minutes. Notice how you feel upon completion.
Active Pose of the Week: Uttanasana (standing forward fold)
Practice a standing forward fold, and let your body drape. This compression of the belly and this gentle inversion may help to stoke and stir things up, and metaphorically allow us to let go. A little pressure in the digestive system can help to gently stimulate that area, getting things to move through the body with more ease. As you stand with your feet about hips-width distance apart or even slightly wider, let your body fold forward and allow the spine to flex greatly. It can sometimes feel supportive to take this position with the back of your legs to a wall, to feel the strong support of the wall behind you. Try taking some about 5 slow, deep breaths, and maybe even swaying lightly side to side. Roll up slowly through the spine, exaggerating the roll up on the way.