Adho Mukha Svanasana= Freedom

I took a Monday Night Hatha Flow 1 class last night. Beth was instructing it. I always enjoy Beth’s classes because she allows us a bit of input into what we need to work on in our practice. Last night I wasn’t really feeling like doing yoga. But I knew in my heart that yoga would bring me what I needed if I could just make myself get to practice. So, I did and as usual once I got there I was so much happier than I had been coming through the door. 

The car ride to the studio was filled with much doubt and anxiety which was in a way how I had been feeling much of the day. I walked through the studio door to see Beth smiling with a warm and gentle hello. That changed me. I quietly sat waiting for the class ahead of us to finish and I started to relax into myself. I began to let go of those feelings that were eating me up. 

When we began practicing Beth took us through a very in-depth practice that focused on Pranayama. Our breathing technique that is key to all yoga. If your breath is off then you must stop what you are doing and regain control over the breath. You are not ready for an asana if you cannot properly maintain mindfulness over your breath. This loss of control/awareness of the breath always happens when I am in a vinyasa flow from downward facing dog (adho mukha savansana) to low plank, to cobra/upward facing dog. This is always for the first and second sets then once I am used to the vinyasa I am able to do this without disrupting the breath. I am aware now that this transition is disrupted due to my overly quick or tense movement from one to the other. I am focusing on the difficulty my body is facing through the vinyasa and not on my breath. If I instead, focused on my breath then allowed the vinyasa to happen I would be able to properly maintain awareness. NEXT TIME! 

Despite this challenge I really got to enjoy “Down-Dog” last evening. I have been building towards comfort in this position since returning to the class setting. I managed to find a nice towel that I lay over the top edge of my mat (Blossom) that gives me enough traction. I open in my heart centre and lengthen through my sitting bones when in “down-dog” now. I am feeling it’s wonderful effects as a slight inversion. Pushing my agni upward toward my heart centre and riding my body of avidya (wastes). 

According to Yoga Journal here are the major benefits of Adho Mukha Savasana:

Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression

Energizes the body

Stretches the shoulders, hamstrings, calves, arches, and hands

Strengthens the arms and legs

Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause

Relieves menstrual discomfort when done with head supported

Helps prevent osteoporosis

Improves digestion

Relieves headache, insomnia, back pain, and fatigue

Therapeutic for high blood pressure, asthma, flat feet, sciatica, sinusitis