“The beginning is always today.” –Mary Wollstonecraft
Weekly Focus: Atha yoganusasanam (Sutra 1:1 “Now begins the practice of yoga.”)
Spring is here. Risen from the sleep of winter, we have now arrived. Steady in this place, an opportunity to start anew. A reminder that every moment is a chance to start over + try, try again. As we sit at the threshold of Spring, we look out + see possibility all around us. Possibility to change, to be open, to grow into ourselves. Each day of Spring offers a new sign of growth in nature — much as in ourselves. We might even notice that from morning to night, new leaves sprout, flowers open. Whatever effort we decide to put into the world, we can never fail if we always give ourselves the opportunity to start over. Following our intentions, creating ripples, is hard work, it requires great effort. Our practice is there to remind us that we can always start anew. With time, we can get stronger, throwing larger stones to the water + watching the ripple effect grow outwards, impacting not only ourselves, but the whole of our collective.
Passive Pose of the Week: Parsva Garbhasana (fetal pose)
This position serves as the reminder that every moment is a chance to be reborn, or to start fresh. Perhaps we pause to take rest in the middle of a stressful day, or a day where things just aren’t going well. Try finding this pose for 3 – 5 minutes, making it comfortable with whatever you have around. Lying on your side in the fetal position, you can use a pillow or bolster behind the head, and if it is available to you, even bring a blanket, pillow or bolster between the knees. Just fall into the side that feels natural. Take deep breaths, feeling the ribs + the breath push towards the ground, finding a rooted space.
Active Pose of the Week: Tadasana (mountain pose)
A pose that signals our arrival. We are here, we are ready to practice, we are present in the moment. Stand with your feet hip-width distance apart. If this feels illusive to you, here are a couple of helpful tips:
- Bring two fist between the archers of your feet. This is about hip-width.
- With your toes pointing forward to start, turn one foot in, bringing the toes to touch the inner arch of the opposite foot. Pivot back to center from here. This is about hip-width.
- If “hip-width” feels a little off-kilter, slightly narrow or widen the feet so that you feel firmly rooted.
Once you find this stance, find the shoulders slightly active, but still dropping away from your ears. Be careful not to jut the ribs forward. Think about pulling the bottom of your ribs towards the top of your hips. This position should feel strong + stable.