Yoga 2.0 - Chair Pose
Good day, Steemians!
The longest distance between two people is misunderstanding. -- Anonymous
I've told you before and I'll likely tell you many more times because it's very relevant for me: I live in an ecovillage called the @gardenofeden with a dozen+ other people. Life is totally awesome...unless it's not. 😉
The tens of thousands of free meals we feed a year is easy; saving hundreds of thousands of pounds of trash from the landfill is easy. Cooking over fire and using composting toilets is easy. What is difficult about my lifestyle is dealing with a dozen+ people and their dysfunctional programming from decades of trauma and abuse on a daily basis--and no matter how you look at it, life in the matrix is traumatic and abusive. Almost everyone comes with baggage.
Clear communication is of utmost importance, yet almost everyone sucks at it. So how do we build a responsible community given this reality? Well...we keep practicing. We come together to love and support each other daily. Built on that foundation, we trust that we have one another's best interest in mind, so we practice radical honesty without fear of repercussions. We ask questions when we don't understand, and we turn the other cheek when we get offended. We fuck up, we forgive, we try again. It's gorgeous to witness people heal and thrive in this kind of space; I stay here because it makes me feel good to witness such depths of humanity.
Community is a big deal to me, so I am especially drawn to Steemit. It is incredible that the revolutionaries continue to gather here every day to relate to each other and hone our communication skills. Misunderstandings arise, but when we don't understand a concept, we find a resource and ask for clarification. We form networks and associations, and we use visuals and language as best we can to find common ground. It is true that we have our share of assholes, but we continue to evolve and shape this game to be something more and more and more people can understand, play, and win.
It's great to be in a place where your voice matters! 💞
On with the yoga!
Speaking of misunderstandings 😜,
this pose is often called Chair Pose in Western yoga classes, but it's Sanskrit name Utkatasana means "fierce, proud, high, haughty, superior, immense, large, difficult" pose.
This is not a pose that I like to hang out in. This is an elemental posture during Sun Salutation B; I like to take my exhalation into Chair/Fierce Pose and be right along my merry way with the next inhale.
If you do hold this pose, you get an intense full body workout. The heels root into the Earth, the thighs engage, the core activates, spine lengthens, and the extended arms and shoulders pull the heart and diaphragm open.
It is a mental challenge to hold something "difficult" for a few moments or more; breathing through that challenge can shift your perspective of the pose, and miraculously the difficulty eases.
I love that yoga works deep on the mind and soul and opens up spaces and possibilities that didn't exist before, even if all you wanted was a physical workout.
How to Chair/Fierce Pose:
- From mountain pose, exhale and lower the tail towards the heels as if you are sitting in a chair.
- I lower my fingertips to the ground then do a grand sweep to extend arms over head, palms facing each other.
- Root through the heels.
- Thighs stay strong, inner thighs parallel, to maintain the knee caps straight ahead rather than turning inwards. Can squeeze a block between the knees to practice proper alignment.
- Torso will lean slightly forward. Draw the navel towards the spine.
- Shoulder blades draw together.
- Extend through the spine & reach right up through the fingertips.
- Gaze can be forward or up at the hands.
💛 Sara!
Oh how I have missed your posts and writings Miss Sara.
Always a highlight of my day.
You asked for reminders on posts so the #SteemitCampfire every-weekend post is up on my page now, goes up every Friday late aft. EST or early evening.
That is my community building like you love to do!
I really appreciate your solid support, Barry! I'll check out your post.
I did FB you today with my Canada Day post if you find time, I will not drop the link here but...
Most Canadian thing you might read all year? LOL
Thanks Sara. Posters like you are the reason I started my own yoga journey four months ago - the love, passion and 'good-vibes' in your content is second to none!
In regards to chair pose; I noticed that your feet are a few inches apart. Is there a reason you do this instead of keeping your feet together? :)
So awesome to hear! One of the GREAT many benefits of being part of this steemit community!
Thank you kindly, @epicelk, and great username! I love yoga so much, and it's totally awesome to have a platform like Steemit to share it. I'm stoked to hear you've started your own practice!! How's it going for you??
It's kinda funny you noticed my feet; they are apart here because I'm in the garden and there's a stick right there and the ground is uneven and I actually thought "whatever, I'll just work around it!" :) The black tarp beneath my yoga mat is covering a patch we're clearing for fall planting. The weeds under the tarp will die because they won't get any sunlight for months, and when we're ready we will roll up the tarp and work the soil a little bit and put our crops in!
Thanks! Yoga has been a total game changer for me... My physical health, mental health and all-round enjoyment of life have improved since I started. I'm very lucky to have some great teachers in my area :)
Hahahaha that makes sense I guess! I must admit I've never even done yoga outdoors, but your content is totally inspiring me to do it. Very cool that you're living off the land too,
I always love to read your thoughts. Seeing people thrive and helping them on their way to a happy and healthy life is indeed one of the most beautiful and rewarding things there is! Beautiful yoga spot btw!
Sara is a great personality, she is one of my fav's!!
Thank you, Barry 😊
Sara's one of my favorites too!
I think she's a lot of peoples' faves!
We can say that with ease!!!
Thank you so much, @amy-goodrich! I'm truly honored that you find value in what I share. 💛
Nice one my friend, the lecture is well received. I agree with you on the idea of making your voice heard in the community, contributing your own quoter in life. Weldon for the great job.
Thanks for your encouragement, @hynet! Communication is seriously important, and that comes down to each community member taking responsibility to voice their opinions, comments, suggestions, concerns, etc. AND we need good listeners/receivers as well. I believe it's a skill that needs a lot more practice given the current state of society. Thanks for being here and working on it with me!
I'm pregnant and yoga has honestly helped me a lot with this pregnancy to relax and breath better . I'm going to try this out too
That's awesome to hear, @journeyoflife! Many blessings~*~
I think yoga while pregnant is especially beneficial, and a hugely loving gift to give your growing baby. You're releasing all kinds of healthful chemicals, and your baby is literally incorporating that into their physical being. It's magic!
You have alot of wisdom Sara. By the way you write you give the impression that you are a good communicator I enjoyed your post and truths about the matrix Thank you!
Thank you, @wavemaster, I'm really glad that you enjoyed it! I have definitely improved my communication skillz, and I strive to openly share the tools I know. Yoga can change everything, and it's my pleasure to share it!
She does, she is super awesome. You are right!
Great pose that really engages the lower body and core. The addition of raising the arms will definitely make you work the entire body.
Absolutely! There are modifications as well, like bringing the hands to the heart in prayer position, then twisting to the side. The elbow can be anchored on the outside of the knee to pull a little deeper in the twist. I love how little adjustments like arm position can totally change the flavor of a pose! Thanks for your comment, @ptmikesteem.
Very nice, you've just earned a new follower. :)
Thank you, @beng05! I'll bring more yoga :)
Yey! And if its not too much to ask, maybe you can add a video as well? I honestly am interested to know how you do it. Thank you @saramiller. :)
I haven't try Yoga before but have always been intrigue by it. I may have to try the Chair / Fierce Pose. Thanks Saramiller.
Go for it! Just 5 minutes a day makes a big difference.
Quinn is totally right--even just 5 minutes a day can change your life, @halfscreen, so I highly encourage giving it a try!
Simply taking 1 minute to do deep breathes while at work every now and then is a LIFE changer also.
You're welcome, @halfscreen!
Since I started reading your posts about Yoga I started trying doing some and practice. Although my life is pretty busy and my head is full of activities, yoga relaxes me a bit more. Thank you for that!
I'm so excited to hear that, @rkrijgsman! You deserve to invest some time in your health every single day, and yoga gives physical, mental, and spiritual health benefits. I hope every day gets better and better for you!