25 Oct, 2017
Grounding in Body + Earth
Tree Pose
Sanskrit
Vrksasana, Vrksa (tree) - Asana (pose)
Benefits
Tree pose promotes structural and emotional grounding and stability. It is one of my favorite poses, as it allows me to root down with the lower half of my body in resonance with the earth. My core is strong, activated by fluid breath, and engaged. While my lower half roots down, my upper body connects with the strength of the trees around me, and allows for centering of the heart and mind.
Governing chakra
The Root Chakra, Muladhara, governs physical and emotional properties of grounding, stability, security, and awareness of one's presence within their surroundings. An element of earth, and one of our first chakras to develop, the root chakra reflects belonging, guardedness, and survival from our earliest self. Based in the root of the spine, we depend on this energy wheel to balance our emotional beings, creating a strong foundation for the rest of our six chakras that will develop above. When we are balanced in our root chakra, we feel empowered and confident. We are able to stand on our own, moving forward as open individuals, well rooted into the slow energy that connects us with the earth.
Reflection
We are thinkers. We are solvers.
We are consistent contemplaters throughout our surroundings.
We step forward, question, wonder, and decide. Then we pause. We look out. We breathe. We find our hearts and soften our minds.
When we still ourselves in a moment of respite, we look out into our path. Without even a sound, a thought, a motion, we find our souls in perfect alignment with our bodies, our earth, and our purpose. We grow taller through our breath. We find strength that has been stored deep within, waiting to radiate out and prove to our bodies and our minds just how strong we truly are.
As we gaze out, we absorb the purpose of this place that makes up the world that we are in. We realize that we can never be lost when we are able to ground ourselves, like we are in this very moment. Whatever happens in life, we know we have the ability to apply our courage and our faith.
Let go of all dis-ease that’s being stored in your being.
Don’t hold back. Be in every moment.
You know you are strong. Now it’s time to find out just how strong your truly are.
Pigeon Pose + Variations
Sanskrit
Eka Pada Rajakapotasana, Eka (one)- Pada (leg)- Raja (king)- Kapota (pigeon)- Asana (pose)
Benefits
Pigeon pose is a powerful hip opener that releases tension of the hips, thighs, and lower back, while increasing flexibility and range of motion. Although it may be mostly an intense stretch from our quadriceps, this slow-moving, yin pose also brings space and air to our groin, gluteous maximus, psoas, and abdominal muscles. Pigeon Pose serves the body with restorative benefits ranging from the opening and relaxation of the hips, to the gentle compression of our abdominal organs, encouraging new blood flow and a deeper absorption of oxygen. In Chinese Medicine, Pigeon opens the channels of our Liver and Gallbladder Meridians, allowing for release of energetic stagnation and enabling a stronger flow of energy to support optimal organ function. If you have extremely tight hips like me, you can adapt this pose into many different variations that will slowly expand your mobility and lengthen continuously as the flow evolves. For a softer introduction to this pose, you may try adding a blanket or bolster under the hip and glute of the front knee or under the upper body as it folds forward. Please note that this pose must feel safe and secure at all times in the front knee. Although it is encouraged to position the front leg parallel with the front of the mat, our own individual knees and hips may wish to adjust the angle to best compliment our own limitations of comfort.
Governing chakra
The Sacral Chakra, Svadisthana, is our governed water-energy wheel that is based in the genital area, about three inches below the naval. This chakra reflects a mantra of being alive within our emotional and physiological selves. Serving as the center for our deepest feelings, sensations, and creative nature, we rely on our Sacral Chakra to reflect the energy of our reproductive organs, hips, sacrum, womb, lower back, bladder, and kidneys, initiating a fire for pleasure and enjoyment of life activated by all senses. By practicing poses such as Pigeon, we are opening our bodies physically, allowing us to safely interact with our emotions behind our most sensitive organs in relation to our world in and around us. Furthering the development of our Root Chakra, the Sacral Chakra challenges us to apply our grounded nature to our surroundings so that we may experience a strong flow of pleasure and adaptation. Being a governed water element, our Sacral Chakra energy flows with circulation and menstruation, to orgasms, urination, and even our tears. Water possesses qualities of resilience, and with a strong second chakra, our internal and emotional selves, along with our associated organs, can move, adjust, and experience life with the same levels of strength and fluidity.