Yoga Pose of the Month is: Supta Baddha Konasana     

(in sanskrit supta = reclined, baddha = bound, kona = angle, asana = pose)

I call this the pose of poses when the body is desperate for relaxation, release and repose.  This pose does so much good for a stressed, anxious, depressed, overworked, overindulged, ailing and pained body and mind.  It is wonderful for any ailment as the spine (train track of the nervous system) is grounded into a soft cushion and supported.  The energy of the brain (don't we all overindulge the brain with miscellaneous thoughts?) gets to release to the back skull.  The heart is opened as are the lungs so the body can become oxygenated well, and the organic body is opened.  The shoulders relax (finally) and the pelvis and hips can release with supports.  Need I say more?!  

I teach and practice this pose whenever I run a Full Moon Restorative class, in many of my privates, and in my own practice.

Set up can be simple or complex.  First, you can simply lie down in your bed without any props and bring the feet together.  Or, you can set up the "lazy boy recliner" of propping to support the entire body. The photo above is somewhere in between.  You can prop the arms, cover the forehead and eyes with a warm blanket, cover up completely, prop a bolster at an angle or flat, tie the legs as shown or just let them open onto blanket rolls, prop the neck with a rolled towel, place sandbags on the leg creases, and more.  Come to my classes during the week before the Full Moon and learn more ways to prop.  

So, practice this pose as a break from all the holiday activities.  Close the door, turn off the screens, say so long to all the people and enjoy this relaxing opening and healing of the body, mind, and spirit.  Deepen your breathing, let it become softer and slower as you feel your entire body slow down.  Give yourself this gift of repose.  ENJOY THE BREAK! 

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(in sanskrit there is no translation for this pose!)

Lets say you have not yet invested in a rope wall in your home (hey gift giving is right around the corner...).  You miss hanging like a bat in class. This pose gives you many of the benefits that Hanging Virasana and Hanging Adho Mukha Svanasana will right in the comfort of your own home!  So, move the side table out of the way, and hang right over the arm of the couch.  Bend over the arm of the couch at the leg crease/top of the thigh so the torso hangs down.  Strengthen the legs and press the feet into the couch cushions for support or ask someone to help by holding on to your ankles.  Then stretch your arms out, hang your head, and BREATHE!  Keep your shoulders wide so the neck can release.  To correct for your scoliosis, walk the hands over toward your vex side and breathe into the cave side.  Rotate the vex side down and the cave side up in space.  The entire spine is inverted, releasing tense muscles, changing your relationship to gravity, and releasing toxin from the body and mind.  This also tractions (adds space to) the spine, and opens up the space for your discs (the "cushions" between each vertebrae) to rehydrate and realign.  Overall, inversions help to heal the body and mind and spirit.

So, after everyone has left, go upside down and refresh yourself! 

Have a HOOT! 

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YOGA FOR SCOLIOSIS 6 WEEK SERIES  

Preregistration and prepayment required.  

Call DL to schedule a pre-class private assessment of your scoliosis, history, pain issues and curve pattern.  December Newsletter Assessment Special: $80 for 1 hour session!  

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YOGA PRIVATE SESSIONS AT ALL LOCATIONS

Schedule a private session with DL.  Learn to work with a specific ailment, pain, back issue, Scoliosis, MS, and more, or just to deepen your practice.   

These sessions are one on one.  Learn how to take that practice into your daily life.  

Private sessions are $100 for an hour and a half.    

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