We are taught early on in life to separate things into good and bad, complaining about the bad and rejoicing in the good. Life is constantly in motion however, everything comes and goes. What we deem good and bad comes and goes. Our emotions come an go, but when we hold on to feelings of hurt, sorrow, anxiety, or anger they persist. They stay with us, these emotions get stuck in the body causing tension and dis-ease.
Yet when we feel these negative feelings in a positive way, we then can let them go and a feeling fully felt will finally fade. Feeling these feelings does not mean we obsess about them or react to them. It means we become aware of them and breathe through them. Our emotions are essential to having a deeper understanding of our inner spiritual nature and creating authentic power. Becoming emotionally aware helps us move into our full potential and not be bound by experiences of fear and resentment. Resolution to life's problems means we must deal with these feelings and experiences, not deny them or fight against them. By fighting against them we only create tension in all areas of our life.
Feelings and thoughts go hand in hand. All feelings are caused by thoughts. All thoughts produces feelings, and feelings create actions. Quantum Theory says our thoughts and feelings shape our life. Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we respond to what is happening. The Yoga Sutra also tells us, when the mind is disturbed by disturbing thoughts cultivate the opposite; pratipaksha-bhavana. In other words, change your thoughts...change your life.
Therefore, we are best served by accepting our present circumstances - this is what is happening - and in doing so make a choice and act in support of that choice. By making responsible choices we can change our thoughts and feelings, and in changing ourselves we change our circumstances.
We have been moving full speed ahead since spring and with summer in full swing a nice cooling Yin yoga practice seemed appropriate. Yin allows us to cool down, relax and let go. It helps us to let go of resistance which manifests as tension and dis-ease in the body and mind. Yin increases flexibility focusing on inter-connective tissue, ligaments and joints. When we practice yoga, we breathe through what is happening as well as what we are feeling. Our story this month; I relax and let go.
Yin poses are typically held for 5 minutes. We cooled down, relaxed and let go with Supported Reclined Butterfly pose. Give it a try, we think you'll like it!
Supported Reclined Butterfly
The shoulder blades and head are supported with a yoga block, bolster, or rolled blanket. Be creative with whatever you have. This pose loosens the hips, groins, knees, and inner thighs as well as the shoulders, opens the chest and improves blood flow. It lowers blood pressure, decreases muscle tension, reduces occurrences of headaches, relieves fatigue and insomnia, reduces nervous tension and stress, and relieves anxiety and panic attacks. Supported Reclined Butterfly is a doozey!
Set up your support. Sit tall bringing the soles of the feet together, relax the knees open, lean back on the elbows and ease into the pose finding support for your shoulder blades and head, making adjustments as needed. Lie back and bring the arms alongside the body palms facing up. Close you eyes. Breathe. Relax and let go.
To come out of the pose, draw your knees together. Roll to your side and use your hands to press up to a seated position.
Relax and let go,
KH
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