Soul Flow Yoga - June - Two New Classes!

Ask 'Flo'

"Why do we always roll to the right after sivasana?"

If you've taken other classes, you know that you don't have to roll to the right. I'm a firm believer in free will and doing what feels good and right for your body at any particular time!

I love and truly believe in our own needs as that is how we take care of ourselves and self preserve. Whatever the body is calling for, honor it. If you feel the urge to roll to the left, honor it. Create that awareness within so you know what is right for you regardless of what someone is telling you.

I am also a believer of science, anatomy and physiology as it pertains to yoga which is where the below stems.

First:

The body on its right side allows excess blood to saturate the liver - your body's natural deciding organ for good and bad. What stays and what goes is all wrapped up in how well it functions. The more blood delivered there, the more properly it will work in detoxifying the body and ridding it of any unwanted impurities.

Second:

Laying on your right side puts your heart in a better position in the body allowing for decreased blood pressure. You place a lot of strain on the heart, as well as your lungs, stomach and liver. Some of these organs can press into the heart's region, making it even more difficult to work properly.

Third:

Your body has three energy channels that run along your spine - Ida, Pingala and Shushumna. The ida nadi begins and ends on the left side of the sushumna and is regarded as the lunar nadi, cool and nurturing by nature, and is said to control all mental processes and the more feminine aspects of our personality. Pingala, the solar nadi, begins and ends to the right of the sushumna. It is warm and stimulating by nature, controlls all vital somatic processes and oversees the more masculine aspects of our personality.

When laying on our right side, our ida nadi is dominant allowing our bodies to be a bit more quiet, introspected, calm and receptive. All things we want to be as we leave our yoga practice. BUT, you might be craving energy, so roll to the left.

Pregnant:

Only lay on your LEFT side as you grow. When you sleep on your left side, you take the pressure from your uterus off the liver - again on the right side of the abdomen. Lying on the left side while pregnant allows for maximum blood flow to the baby (less chance of constriction to vena cava) and kidney function for the mother. The improved kidney flow will help reduce swelling.

To Ask 'Flo' a question: yogi@soulflowyogi.com or