Getting in Touch with Your Yoga Animal

We start off crawling into turtle asana (pose), then lift our feet off the floor as precariously perched cranes, majestically spread our wings as eagles and finally stretch our bodies into downward facing dog. When I watch my dogs stretch into that position, I fully understand! 

Though some of the poses are difficult for me, especially the inversions, I noticed a progression of improvement since I started taking yoga classes about a year ago.  The benefits are already evident.  My flexibility has increased and my slow breathing (pranayama), learned in class, has enabled me to relax, even when I’m out of class.  I have to admit that there are days when the relaxation of my yoga class doesn’t continue into the real world, as the stress resumes.  But for that hour, I can escape to the meditative, sometimes challenging tasks of bending, twisting and lunging into various poses.

I especially like the warrior poses; they make me feel strong and empowered.  The spinal twists while seated or lying down feel beneficial, as our vertebrae crackle and settle into postures we never thought possible.  Sun salutations, a series of poses designed to improve flexibility and strength, are another favorite of mine. The darkness of the room and the soothing Indian rhythmic music all add to a sense of calm.  Class always ends in savasana (corpse) pose, as we lie on our backs and try to push all thoughts out of her minds in meditation.  Inevitably it usually takes me about 5 minutes to empty my head of any noisy intrusions, and by then the tinkle of the teacher’s bell sounds for our final chant of om. 

I heartily recommend yoga classes for anyone desiring either a healing mind-body experience or a more cardiovascular one.  There are classes given for every level and in many styles: gentle, hatha, ashtanga, (power yoga) vinyasa, (flow) kripalu, (meditative, healing) and hot yoga, just to name a few.  Namaste!