Water Element – Ability to adapt, flow, selflessness, unattachment, joint pain, “Cold Illness”
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 breathe and integrate.
This element is associated with emotions, passion, pleasure, creativity, and fluidity. When it is balanced you feel content and calm, and you can let things go easily. This class is for strengthening as well as relaxing the hips while releasing tension and sinking into our breath.
Intent:
Am I in tune with my emotions? How do I listen to my intuition?
Meditation:
Find a comfortable seat. Take several deep inhales and exhales. Visualize yourself diving into a body of water, ocean or lake. As you dive in notice how the water feels on your face and skin. Notice your temperature sensations as you sink deeper into the water. Diving deeper and deeper. Feel yourself in this watery depth for a few moment, letting your breath flow naturally. Then, when you are ready, start to ascend. Coming to the surface for a deliciously deep breath of fresh air. Then dive back in. Repeat this cycle several times, surfacing, breathing, and descending. When you have finished these cycles, get out of the water. Feel the cool air on your skin, the sand under your toes, and the warm rays of the sun on your face, arms and entire body. Drying off in it’s heat. Then bring your awareness back to your breath.
- Dangling (Uttanasana) – Use a block under your hands, keep a micro/macro bend in the knees, never stand up directly after this pose. Slowly exit by coming down to the knees and rest in Child’s resting pose for a few minutes afterwards.
- Low Flying Dragon (Anjaneyasana) – Bring a bolster under the elbows or stay up and have the bolster under your hands to keep ease in the wrists. Gently rock the hips forward and back when you’re ready to come out.
- Sleeping Swan (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana) – Bolster under the elbows, place a block under your bend legs glute, keeping the hips level, don’t sink. Breathe slowly and let the mind travel it’s depths with strong even breath. To exit move slowly and feel into the sensations that arise.
- Banana (Banasana) – Using a bolster under the waist. Breath moves like the waves, from toes to finger tips and back down again.
- Reclined Twist (Supta Matsyendrasana) – Use a bolster or block under your twisted knees to create easier lift and breath. Take longer here if you’d like.
- Corpse Pose (Savasana) – Bolter under the backs of your knees, and cover yourself with a blanket keeping yourself warm. If you’d like to use a strap around your ankles to keep your hips supported. Take three full breaths letting your body release and the mind rest. Imagine you are floating on your back on the surface of the water. Breathe evenly and naturally.
- Simple Pose ( Sukhasana) – Reflect on your reactions and feelings throughout the class today. Asking again: Am I in tune with my emotions? How do I listen to my intuition?
- 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.
