Air Element – Clear Communication, Self-expression, Compassion, Love
This class is intended to be shared with trained Yoga teachers who would like to use this sequence. Please use your intuition and don’t force anything that doesn’t feel good for your body. If it doesn’t feel right for you then don’t do it. You can use a mat, blocks, bolsters, straps and any other props that you feel will be supportive in your practice. Yin yoga is a style of yoga that includes specific passive poses (called yin poses) that are held for an extended time, usually 3 to 10 minutes. Take a few minutes between each pose to breath and integrate.
In this yin sequence, we will engage in postures designed to facilitate the opening of our respiratory pathways and enhance the lung meridian. These specific poses will promote fluidity in movement and alleviate any stagnation in our energy levels. As a result, this practice will contribute to an increase in our overall vitality and bolster our immune system.
Intent:
How do I listen? To others and to myself?
Meditation:
Find a comfortable seat and take several full inhales and exhales. Become aware of the air element within and around our bodies. Tune into the rhythm of your breath as it moves in and out. Do not try to change anything, simply witness where you are breathing from. Feel the breath in your heart, feel the breath in your belly. Notice how deep you are breathing. Notice the quality of breaths you take and how satisfying they feel throughout your body. Do this for a few moments. Bring your awareness outside of yourself, sense the air surrounding you. Feel it upon your skin, is there wind? Then with your breath connect to the air outside your body and watch as it comes into the body. There is only one air element., what is within us is simply borrowed for a few moments. Watch as you live by letting go, never by holding on. Send gratitude to the air for nourishing us. For allowing us to be apart of the elements and connected to everything.
- Cat Grabbing It’s Tail – Using a bolster, pull it close in towards the belly. You can use your top hand to reach back and connect with your top ankle. If it feels like you are straining to keep that connection you can use a strap around your ankle or let the foot float back down towards the mat. Use your breath to sink deeper into the pose. Repeat on the other side.
- Bananasana over a bolster – Using the bolster under your side waist, let yourself drape over it and then choosing whether you’d like to be outstretched fully or if you’d like to keep your elbows or knees bent. Make sure you feel balanced from front to make. Shift your hips forward or back and experiment with what feels best. Repeat on other side.
- Child’s Resting Pose – You can chose to use a bolster lengthwise under your belly or not. Bring awareness to the fullness of breath you are receiving. Let it inform your stillness as your mind explores your inner landscapes.
- Crossed Eagle Wings – Laying on your belly with your wings crossed below you, if your neck feels uncomfortable dangling bring a block under your forehead. Wiggle your hips from side to side and feel the grounding in your pelvis. Breath into your Vader-scapula and feel the space expand with your breath. Repeat on other side. As you rest between sides notice the new space created.
- Eagle Wings – You can use your bolster under one or both knees to keep you supported here, as well as a blanket under your chest in case it feels like the ground is too hard. Let yourself open, let yourself surrender to that opening. When emotions come up acknowledge them, and let them pass through naturally. They inform us but they are only passing states.
- Savasana – Take your time sinking in as you inhale and exhale several deep breaths Take an intentional swallow to clear your airway. Then let yourself relax each limb slowly and with awareness. Feeling sensations as move through your fingers and toes. Lengthen your breath and soften your belly simultaneously. Be here now.
- Sukhasana – Take a moment of silence. Let that stillness envelope you. Let the world pause. And then with mindfulness collect all the pieces of yourself back into oneness. Ask again, How do I listen? To others and to myself?
- Closing your practice however feel natural – perhaps bowing towards the earth or your internal teacher or repeating the words Om Shanti Shanti Shanti which is a powerful Vedic mantra or sacred sound with healing vibrations, that calls forth the cosmic peace.
