real life yoga: rest and restore
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 My after event (I'm an event planner in my day job) yoga ritual is super yummy. It is languid and slow. Lots of deep belly breathing.
I start with a couple of down dogs and then move into my version of Sun Salutations: tadasana, swan dive, uttanasana, extend half way up, high lunge, plank, drop knees to bhaktasana, 5-10 breaths in bhaktasana, nose chin and chest to bhujangasana, table, down dog, high lunge on the other leg, uttanasana, roll up slowly. I do about 2-3 of these. It allows me to stretch out the legs after being on them for 15 hours a day. Strengthens my back. Gets to my abs. Gets to my hip flexors. And, I move very, very slowly.
Then the really good stuff comes in. Child's pose with a bolster, 2-4 minutes. Chest opener with a bolster, 2-4 minutes.
I end with viparita karani. Actually, at the event, I laid in the office with my legs up the wall for about 5 minutes and I can't even tell you what a difference it made in my legs! Everyone thought I was crazy...but, they usually think that anyway ;)
Reader Comments (7)
I love finding out yoga teacher's "day jobs" (mine's admin btw)
I just read this one and yesterdays post. It is amazing how we feel during and after practice. I often think, how many people are missing out on this stuff!
Hey, stop by my site later. I left an award for you there ;-)
3 cheers for the restorative power of Yoga!!
i love slower moving practice now... i feel like i "get" so much more...... :)
Rachel--isn't that funny?! I like finding out day jobs, too. But, in my heart, teaching yoga is my real job ;)
Heather--aren't you so sweet?! Thanks for the lovely award and for commenting on my babblings ;)
Lagitane--it took me a long time to understand and accept the power of restorative yoga and now it is so YUMMY.
Eco--I really appreciate a slow practice too. Sometimes I wish I could be a hardcore ashtangi or do a super vinyasa practice, but it just isn't gonna happen. I've found my yoga and I love it!
I love viparita karani. I've heard it's the 'fountain of youth pose'. Even if it's not, it feels so good, I just have to do it.
I do two Yin sessions a week. I love the contrast between the vinyasa sessions and the Yin sessions.
BTW. Iin my day job, I'm an anthropologist...as if you couldn't guess!
Amanda--Yay for legs up the wall. So yummy. I usually cry in this pose. It just brings so much to the surface for some reason. Your day job sounds like a lot of fun!