Bend This: with Chris LeichtWow. one more week to go until the election! I am not only crossing my fingers, but my whole body!
...which led me to this week's yoga pose: the
spinal twist.
A twisted arm balance: parsva bakasana (side crow)
There are many many MANY different twists with lots of different names (a lot of them named after sages):
Matsyendrasana (matz-e-en-DROS-awna) Below
Marichyasana (mar-EECH-e-OSS-awna)
Bharadvajasana (bard-vuh-JOSS-awna)
Seated spinal twist Matsyendrasana (matz-e-en-DROS-awna)Regardless of which pose you are practising, you will get the basic benefits of the spinal twist.
Twists are referred to as cleansing or detoxifying poses. When we are twisting, our major organs are being compressed slightly and then when we release the twist, fresh, oxygenated blood refreshes the organs.
* Twists help with circulation as well as cleansing the organs.
* Twists also help with aches and pains in the back as they tone and increase flexibility in the muscles that support the spine.
Just like last time:
1. Sit up straight with your feet flat on the floor and let the legs and feet be hips-width distance apart.
2. Make sure you start to breathe (1-2-3 inhales and exhales through the nose).
Mike Lowry taking a break from reading fitzbomb and planning his South American adventure to rejuvenate his spine.
***The most flexible part of our spine is the cervical part; the neck area. The most restricted area of our spine is the lumbar or base of the spine. To keep your spine safe and to avoid over twisting, we think about starting at the base of the spine and moving up.***3. Put your right hand on the desk in front of you or your left knee.
4. Put your left hand either on your chair at the base of your spine or on your chairback.
5. Inhale. Sit up even straigher exhale begin to twist.
Focus on trying to twist the lower back first.6. Inhale. Lengthen the spine again. Exhale. Twist deeper thinking about twisting the middle back inhale lengthen exhale twist into the cervical spine as you look over your shoulder
stay here for about 5 breaths. Make sure to keep breathing deeply: lengthen the spine on the inhales and twist deeper on the exhales.
Unwind on an exhale and repeat on the other side.
Take a moment to notice how you feel after the twists: refreshed? energized? taller? more even on both sides?
There is a new donation only yoga studio opening in hampden next week (falls Rd @ the end of 36th st.:
http://www.letsflowyoga.com/)
I will be teaching on Tuesdays at 7:15pm.
Come out next Tuesday and check it out and then we can watch the returns! Go Obama!
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