My Go-To Yoga Flow
Hello MyYogaPal Community,
The topic for this month’s blog is “My Go-To Yoga Flow”.
It’s that flow you can count on to kick out the blues, to work out the kinks, to make you feel good if you keep a checklist… In my case, it’s my flow when my creativity escapes me.
I think we can all relate when you’re feeling dog-tired and that Beatles song “I’m So Tired” plays on a loop in your head. Actually, on such days, it’s like moving a mountain to show up on the mat. I like what Duke once mentioned in a conversation that if you can at least show up and do one sun salutation then pat yourself on the back.
Last month’s topic was “Mothers” and I certainly champion mothers who double-triple duty wearing multiple hats. I was reading up Carolyn Myss’ archetype of the mother and her shadow. She said:
“Although Mothers have always worked, the contemporary archetype of the Career or Working Mother reflects the crises experienced by many women who seek also to be Devoted Mothers. Measured against the impossible mythic ideal of the Perfect Mother, the Career Mom is sometimes assumed unfairly to be a mother who puts her own needs before those of the children. This is an archetypal crisis for many women.
The Devouring Mother “consumes” her children psychologically and emotionally and often instills in them feelings of guilt at leaving her or becoming independent. The Abusive and Abandoning Mothers violate natural law by harming their own young.“
Credit: https://www.myss.com/free-resources/sacred-contracts-and-your-archetypes/appendix-a-gallery-of-archtypes/
I’m pointing it out only that we can be hard on ourselves (both men and women who are responsible for nurturing children, pets, friends… the list goes on… and that also ties in with Erin’s blog on “Mothering Myself”).
I thought it would be fun and good for you to have the opportunity to share your “Go-To Yoga Flow” and share what you like about it, and give it some life to your readers and practicing audience. Maybe some of us might even try it.
My Go-To Yoga Flow is organic in a sense that I just do what I feel like. I go with my intuition, and certainly I’ve learned so much from Lesley and incorporate lessons from her in my own organic practice.
I always picture myself starting with Child’s Pose which I connect with surrender. I’ll stay in Child’s Pose just letting my awareness flow with my breath.
Then I move to Table Top and work on my alignment especially focusing on engaging my core.
I start some Cat-Cows or do Cow then move back to Child’s Pose alternating as this really helps me to allow my breath to flow easily. On the exhale move to Child’s Pose then inhale to Cow and allow my breath to lengthen more with each movement. I’ll do this 3X to 5X.
After my last Cow Pose I transition from Table Top to Downward Dog. I love my first Downward Dog and really begin to open up more. I’ll stay in this pose for 5 cycles of breath.
This is followed by 1 or maybe upto 5 sun salutations, again focusing on my core work in the Plank to Chaturanga movement.
By my last Sun Salutation I am feeling refreshed. I can do this… or sometimes if super tired, I will allow myself to rest. I come to Shavasana and rest.
But if feeling charged I’ll add Suriyanamaskar B then with some Warrior Two movements intertwined with Crecent Poses and some fancy arm work (like Eagle Arms or reverse Namaskar).
It was kinda fun writing this down. It felt real and visceral.
Give it a try! We’d love to read about your “My Go-To Yoga Flow”
I begin in Child’s Pose / Balasana