Usually I have a fairly open back and can do most backbending postures however, today the place right behind my heart cracked open just slightly more than usual. I also was more aware of the slight outer rotation on my left upper inner thigh compared to my right which broadened my right lower back and gave me more uniformity in the curves of my spine as I practiced the backbends.
OK I know what your thinking BORING! Well without this proper alignment I wouldn't have been able to practice deep wall heart kissing backbends then do 1-5 eka pada raja kapotasana. This is the sequence of asemetrical back bends with different versions of the base leg. These are frickin hard poses to hold semitry in. Which leads me to my insight of the day.
After this practice the triple shot of backbends left me feeling goofy, playful, happy and confident. These are sexy qualities when you see them in someone else! I noticed my energy level was increased as well but not jitter as real coffee may have done to someone not used to drinking that much coffee. So does finding semitry in an non-symetrical world make a shift in our brain chemistry?
Mr. Iyengar would call this "the dawning of the light of the spirit." He strived to balance the inner and outer body energies. How about balancing our inner state with the outer world? Perhaps by practicing asymetrical postures we are able to give our minds practice on how to balance out ANY two opposite experiences to create a more harmonious state with any oppositions.
On a tangible level I am feeling better than ever and am worrying l
ess and perhaps am over the Depressed state I was in last week completely? Maybe I should speak to soon but I think this is working! I noticed that I looked more beautiful to myself in the mirror as well? Last week my inner comment was "gross!" Now I think to myself, "wow I am beautiful in my own way."Backbend sequence: (if you dare)
Sun Sal
Lunge
Side tilts
Parsvokasana -> Warrior 2 -> Warrior 1.5 -> Parsvokasana
Thigh stretches: twisted lunge, eka pada bekasana, bekasana, pigeon w/thigh stretch, lunge w/thigh stretch
downward puppy
hero
handstand w/feet on wall deep scoop in heart towards wall ideally legs straight and parallel to floor
1/2 bridge
urdhva danurasana x 3
urdhva danurasana w/ blocks between forarms and wall press heart towards wall walk feet in
forearm backbend w/ blocks between upper arms and wall press heart towards wall walk feet in
headstand drop overs
eka pada rajakapotasana 1
eka pada rajakapotasana 2
eka pada rajakapotasana 3
eka pada rajakapotasana 4
eka pada rajakapotasana 5 (front or base leg is in Turbo/Nuclear pigeon)
kapinjalasana
uttanasana
janu sirsasana
fire log
savasana or meditation
How does this make you feel?
Song of the day: "Psychedelic Women" by Honey and the Bees Band
