{Photo credit: Todd Vernon, from the Lijit Team Hike Day}
Every once in awhile a particular yoga posture strikes me as meaningful, whether it’s because of the emotions that it opens or because of the physical focus (and therefore mental challenge) it requires. The first real posture that struck me like that was crow pose, during Teacher Training last year. It was the one posture in the sequence I was learning to teach that wasn’t yet a part of my own practice, and while I could cue it and talk someone through the mechanics necessary to approach it, I, myself wasn’t quite ready to trust my own ability to balance and not fall. I even listed it FIRST on my Life List, and halfway through training during a workshop taught by Simon Park in which we were encouraged to simply play with balance and gravity, I found myself up and stable with my knees on my triceps, and finally fell over not because I lost balance, but because I was giggling about having expressed that.
Other times, certain postures evoke emotions that I need to face, memories I need to deal with. Half-pidgeon is one of these. I’ve said over and over how much emotion we store in our hips, and this sacral-chakra-opening posture certainly has opened the doors for some serious personal reflection.
Lately though, this pose – Ardha Chandrasana – has been my favorite and my challenge. As you can see here from my hiking yoga, I’m a bit tilty and I’m using part of the mountain for balance, but there is something so beautifully open and expressive about this posture that each day as I get closer and closer to the full expression, I find my heart opening up more and more. It’s such a powerful posture, such a heart-statement to the world that screams openness to receiving.
It’s funny and amazing, what kinds of things we receive when we’re open to them, when we’re clear about the things we want. And I’m finding all of these doors opening (new writing opportunities, new yoga teaching opportunities), almost immediately after I was clear about wanting them and about being open to them.
I'm Doniree. I live in Portland, Oregon where I practice yoga, obsess about the local farmers' markets and vineyards, and work from home or one of my many favorite coffee shops. I also 
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In this new month, I've finally started practicing yoga again!!! I'm veryvery excited about it
This month I'm open to receiving as much positive energy as possible. But to receive, I also have to give, and I'm working on that too!
Beautiful! And so important to know/live that – awesome reminder to live the life we want to attract
Your post almost makes me want to try yoga.
This month, I'm trying to open myself to things that require courage. I figure if I start now, I'll have the guts neccessary to take a leap of faith when I need to.
Hm, what are we growing…?
I remember that one time, I was a musician who took the stage on a regular basis. I think it's time to bring that guy back. And I have a couple of new tools in the mix that'll help for that. And all of my musician comrades' support.
You know, I wouldn't have come to this promise-to-self without having read this post.
Hm. Ardha Chandrasana indeed…!
I keep hearing about how the Camel Pose is supposed to cause this huge flood of emotion to erupt while you're in it. I can see why people might feel a bit more emotion in such a vulnerable pose – hips out, heart exposed, head back.
Granted, I knew I wouldn't cry or anything, but I had to try it myself. So last night, as my own private experiment, I did the Camel Pose. Reaction – nothing. I felt zero, zip, zilch. Does this mean I don't have a heart? Or maybe I'm doing it wrong?
I'm working on really being present in whatever moment I'm in. NOT looking ahead. NOT planning. So far it's been glorious, freeing and just what I need. I hope to live my life like this more often.
Ah yoga is healing in every way, i'm learning so much more about these poses in the state that I'm in right now…..i'm storing so much energy in certain places that I never felt before in yoga. It's a little scary actually….
This month, the month before my baby’s due, I’m being open to whatever emotions I’m feeling at the time.
And there’s a lot. I’m also being open to the changes in my body. Haha. Things keep expanding…
And my time doing prenatal yoga? Is totally helping me find that.
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