“All beings are flowers blooming in a blossoming universe.” — Soen Nakagawa
Weekly Focus: Expansion (blooming, emergence)
The lush landscape of Summer encourages us to expand, bloom + grow. There is always room to increase our awareness + knowledge. Not much is more breathtaking than a field of wildflowers on a sunny summer day. Signaling beauty, vibrancy, abundance — what inspiration do you take from the colors around you? We so often stay safe + protected in our own spaces. What happens when we allow ourselves to take up space? To emerge from the shell of ourselves + let our inner beauty shine outwards. We must know the Self to let it bloom, expand + radiate. Let’s begin to peel back our own layers and reveal the colors within.
Passive Pose of the Week: Supta Baddha Konasana (reclined goddess / recline bound angle)
A posture of openness, expansion + receptivity, allow yourself to blossom. From a reclined position, bring the soles of your feet together and open wide like a book. If it feels challenging or uncomfortable for your knees to just hang out in space, try grabbing some blocks to prop under the knees. Not yoga blocks at home? No problem. Folded up bath towels or folded pillows can also come behind the knees to offer support. The prop beneath the knees will give feedback to the body that signals it is OK to be heavy and relax.
Active Pose of the Week: Vasisthasana (side plank)
A post to expand yourself and emerge with strength + balance. Come into a full plank position with your hands under the wrists and your legs long. From here, pivot your weight to one side balancing on one leg + one arm (same side). Your body will open up to the side. The top arm can reach straight up or over your head. If you would like to feel more grounded here, take the supported version. For a supported side plank, start in a tabletop position (hands and knees). Now, extend one leg long behind you and pivot on the opposite knee opening your chest to the sky. Same options for you top arm apply. What difference do you notice between these two variations?