Sometimes I just need to let my hair down.
This little session was completely un-planned, I went with what ever came next.
I love being up-side-down so there are inversions…
Do what you can, leave what you can’t.
Practice with awareness.
Shine bright
Enjoy
These standing poses will wake up the back of the legs.
Give the poses and your legs time. Muscles take a while to increase their length, so, just like you would not expect your muscles to grow immediately (think Pop-eye) don’t expect to be as bendy as Olive oil immediately either.
The stretch should feel more like a wide stretch in the main part of the muscle rather than a sharp pointy stretching sensation at the top of the leg near the buttocks.
Keep each stretch within your own capacity and enjoy the sensation of fresher feeling legs.
I’m tired. I don’t feel like doing anything. I especially don’t feel like anyone looking at me…
These are the times when our practice can become a real friend. It whispers to you “relax, take your time, be gentle, take care, breathe smoothly, breathe quietly, becalm”
This practice is perfect as a post-work, pre-evening practice.
Be gentle , listen to your body and don’t push.
Enjoy
Using the wall for support brings a whole new clarity to the leg work in this practice.
The wall gives stability allowing our balance to come more naturally, allowing the feeling within each pose to go a little deeper.
Working from Utthita Trikonasana through to sarvaganasana this practice takes just over an hour. I tried to guide you through savasana so many times but the noise over the hedge was just too much this time. So please settle yourself for savasana well at the end of this session
Shine bright
Lucy
Please work to your own capacity and be gentle with yourself 🙂
Who needs the Gym? Why work out when you can work in 🙂
A 30 minute focus on working towards chaturanga dandasana (the four limbed staff pose).
This pose is a whole body/mind work out.
Undo press-up patterns to engage new muscles, toning the backs of the arms, the core and the legs.
Not suitable if you are pregnant or have carpal tunnel syndrome.
The ability to play with warrior 3 requires an awareness to the standing leg, a good strong action through the arms and an aligned spine.
I hope this little introduction to this stamina building pose will introduce these actions to you.
Please use a good solid wall for the arm balances.
Shine bright
Enjoy
Lucy
I’ll be honest, Navasana (boat pose) does not come naturally to me.
Note to self, it’s a practice, not a perfect. Although it’s much easier than it used to be.
This practice draws attention to the hip, thigh and abdominal area, bringing with it strength and tone.
Please excuse my spelling mistake adha should have been ardha (half), you’ll hear it. As Homer Simpson once said “I am so smart, I am so smart , s m r t , s, m, a, r, t. ”
This sequence is not suitable for people with low back problems, menstruation or pregnancy.
Enjoy!
Lucy
Fly me to the moon
Let me sing among those stars
Let me see what spring is like
On Jupiter and Mars
In other words…
I had this song running through my head during this practice, I love this pose! When you get it correct it resonates through out the whole body. In fact I reckon old blue eyes would have loved it too.
Body…. look after yours, it is the only one you’ve got.
Please be true,
In other words
Please love you!
Enjoy!
benefits
- Strengthens the abdomen, ankles, thighs, buttocks, and para-spinal muscles
- lengthens hamstrings, groins and spine
- Opens up the shoulders and chest,
- Improves balance and coordination
- Improves digestion
- Helps relieve stress
Cautions
- Headache or migraine
- Low blood pressure
- Hamstring issues
Don’t let this mini practice deceive you.
I would like you to see that in just 4 minutes you can be inspired to do a “yoga short asana practice”
It actually took more than an hour, although only 4 minutes is seen here.
It started with silent meditational bare-foot  walk down to the beach, focusing on the breath and the sounds of nature.
Then came the small focus on asana (posture) meditation before finishing with standing ujjayi breathing.
I always try to finish with a focus on gratitude, whether prayer, meditation or contemplation. Being thankful is a great way to see the positives in life (even when it seems there are few).
Too often we think that yoga is just something to be done “on the mat” but in fact true yoga is a lifelong path of constant non-judgemental correction to improve our daily lives from moment to moment.
Gathering and releasing thoughts, letting go of the impulse patterns that no longer serve , is a great way to start the day .
No input from any outside source other than what nature can give to you.
Giving your “watcher within” the opportunity to be heard.
What a blessing.
40 minutes goes so quick! OK so just shy of 40.
Standing poses build strength both mentally and physically. We need to develop strength and flexibility simultaneously.
In this practice i use just the mat.
Look after your body, treat it well.
Shine bright
Lucy