Keeping up dampened spirits
We’ve experienced the wettest, coldest, most un-summery weather we’ve had in a very long time. While economists are predicting global financial doom, the weather forecasters have been predicting meteorological gloom.
When the climate has been wet for a period of time, it gets to you. Your clothes won’t dry, your house smells damp and you may even begin to feel your internal organs becoming heavy with dampness.
What can a yoga practitioner do to keep her spirits up and to maintain optimum health?
A specialised yoga practice
Here’s a yoga practice that will create balanced energy, enhance your mood, and eliminate excess dampness from your inner organs. It’s a strong practice so make sure that you respect any limits your body needs. For instance, any of the abdominal exercises that follow can be done with bent legs.
I’ve used the Sanskrit words (the language of yoga!) for the names of the poses. These can always be referenced in Light on Yoga, by BKS Iyengar.
Warm-up phase
Lying down abdominal exercises, as per Asana, Pranayama, Mudra, Bandha, Swami Satyananda Saraswati. These are the poses in the Abdominal/Digestive section that will serve to warm up your internal organs and strengthen your core!
Dynamic:
Adho Mukha Svanasana to Adho Mukha Virasana x 6
Step-back lunges x 6, Tadasana/Uttanasana/Lunge/Adho Mukha Svanasana/Lunge/Uttanasana, Tadasana
Then, integrate the following standing poses with lunges:
Trikonasana
Parsvottanasana
Prasarita Padottanasana
Here’s some more abdominal exercises:
Legs on wall at 60 degrees, raise legs to vertical x 6
Lying down, knees bent at a right angle, feet on wall, hands clasped behind head, “crunches” x 5
Dolphin Pose
Preparation for Sirsasana or classical version of Sirsasana
Setu Bhandasana Sarvangasana
Sarvangasana
Halasana
Cool-down phase
Ardha Jatara Parivartanasana
Chair Bharadavajasana
Chair, standing marichyasana
Paschimottanasana
Marichyasana 3
Viparita Karani, 5-10 minutes
Savasana, 5-10 minutes
Bhastrika pranayama
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