Spiritual Awakening: advanced yoga poses | day 24

“Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.”   Boat Pose Sanskrit: Navasana How to do it   Sit with knees bent. Place hands underneath knees. Tip back on the sitz bones and draw the lower back in and up as you hug your abs toward your spine. Lift shins parallel to the floor. Then stretch arms forward. Finally, straighten knees if you can. The benefits   You’ll strengthen your abdominals and hip flexors.   Through meditation, the higher self …

Spiritual Awakening: intermediate yoga poses | day 23

“Confine yourself to the present.”   Revolved Triangle Pose Sanskrit: Parivrtta trikonasana   How to do it   From mountain pose, step your left foot back and place it flat on the floor, turned out 45 degrees. Line your feet up heel to heel, or wider for more stability and space.   Ground down into both feet and lift up through your thighs. Hinge forward at the hips and lengthen spine over your front thigh.   Release your left hand …

Spiritual Awakening: intermediate yoga poses | day 22

“Meditation is a way for nourishing and blossoming the divine within you.” Side plank Sanskrit: Vasisthasana How to do it   Start in Downward-Facing Dog. Turn onto the outer edge of your right foot, making sure that your right foot and right hand are in alignment.   Stack your left foot on top of your right. Lengthen through the spine through the crown of your head. Once you’re stable, lift your left hand up toward the sky. Press the floor …

Spiritual Awakening: intermediate yoga poses | day 21

“Paradise is not a place, it’s a state of consciousness.”   Camel Pose Sanskrit: Ustrasana How to do it   Kneel on the ground with your shins hip-width apart. Press the tops of your feet into the mat. Rest hands on your hips, thumbs near your lower back.   Take an inhale and press down into your shins. Elongate through the spine. On an exhale, reach your arms back toward your heels. Use the leverage to lift your chest up …

Spiritual Awakening: intermediate yoga poses | day 20

“Praying is talking to the Universe. Meditation is listening to it.”   Bow Pose Sanskrit: Dhanurasana   How to do it   Lie facedown, roll your shoulder blades down the back, and send your arms back behind you. Bend your knees so that your feet are near your butt.   On an inhale, lift your upper body and legs off the floor, keeping the hips grounded. Reach back to grab outer ankles. Use the leverage to lift your body up …

Spiritual Awakening: intermediate yoga poses | day 19

“Wisdom comes with the ability to be still.”   Dolphin Pose Sanskrit: Ardha pincha mayurasana    How to do it   From all fours, come down onto your forearms. Spread your fingers wide and keep elbows shoulder-width apart.   On an inhale, tuck your toes and lift your hips up and back like you’re in Downward-Facing Dog. Allow your head to hang above the floor.   Ground down into your forearms and lift your upper body away from the floor. …

Spiritual Awakening: intermediate yoga poses | day 18

“Be here now. Be someplace else later.”   Intense side stretch Sanskrit: Parsvottanasana How to do it   Start in Mountain Pose. Step your left foot back and place it flat on the floor at a 45-degree angle. Ground down into both feet and lift up through the thighs.   Place your hands on your hips. Rotate your torso forward. Hinge at the hips and lengthen your spine over the front leg. Lift away from the floor and broaden across …

Spiritual Awakening: intermediate yoga poses | day 17

“Learn to slow down.”   Warrior III Sanskrit: Virabhadrasana III How to do it   From Warrior I, hinge forward at the hips. Rest your abdomen on your front thigh. Step the back foot in and shift your weight into your front foot.   On an inhale, lift your back leg off the ground, straighten through the leg, and reach through your back heel. Press your palms together in front of your sternum (prayer hands) and gaze forward.   You …

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