Sun at the Ocean

Today at Ocean Om Yoga, I was reminded there are many ways to move like the sun!

Stand in Mountain

Breath in, reach arms up, overhead . . . 

and back!

Exhale, reach for the ground

Inhale, take the left leg back and right knee bends for Low Crescent Lunge

Exhale, right foot meets left for a Downward Dog

Knees down,

Chest to mat,

Scootch your upper body through

to Up Dog!

Hips up to the sky for a Down Dog

Walk feet to hands for a Forward Fold

Inhale arms out and

up and

exhale palms together, thumbs to heart

Do the sequence a second time through to work the opposite leg in the Low Crescent Lunge!  If you do three sets, six rounds, you'll be "warm."🌞

Oh, the Weather Outside is FRIGHTFUL!

 "Oh, the weather outside is FRIGHTFUL!"☔

"But the fire is so delightful!"🔥

And since we've no place to go . . . do some yoga, do some yoga, do some yoga!🎶🧘

Here's a series of seated movements to put sunshine in your heart on a rainy day:🌞

 Begin sitting tall, feet connected to the floor.  Press the hands together, thumbs to your heart.  Breathe in and out right here.

Reach the hands high on the breath in.

 On the breath out, place your hands on your thighs.

 On the next breath in, reach hands forward . . .

 then on the breath out, fold your body, and reach to the floor.  Let your head be heavy, shake it "yes" and "no" to be sure you are not holding on to any tension or tightness in the neck and shoulders!

 On the next breath in, reach one hand high and press the other one into the floor.  You can pile some books on the floor if you need the floor to be a little higher for your stretch.📚

 On the breath out, hands reach back to the floor, and then, breath in, reach the opposite hands high and low.

 Exhale reach back to the floor, then squeeze the tummy, and with a big breath in, reach up and out and high overhead .

Exhale hands to prayer position.  Breathe in and out.  You're ready to go for another round!  Three rounds is a great start.🌞🌞🌞  This sequence is called a seated sun salutation.  I learned this version from Desktop Yoga by Julie Lusk.  These movements energize your body and are good for your lungs, digestive system, and joints.  You also lengthen and tone muscles, and have the opportunity for a moving meditation (like walking).  #rainydayfun #zipaDeeBee #dosomeyoga #dosomeyoga #dosomeyoga

Advent Action

"People, Look East" was written by Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965) and was first published as "Carol of Advent" in Part 3 of "Modern Texts Written for or Adapted to Traditional Tunes" in The Oxford Book of Carols, 1928. Farjeon, a native of London, was a devout Catholic who viewed her faith as "a progression toward which her spiritual life moved rather than a conversion experience." (The Presbyterian Hymnal Companion, p. 323) She achieved acclaim as an author of children's nursery rhymes and singing games, and is best remembered for her poem "Morning Has Broken." BESANÇON, an ancient carol, first appeared in Christmas Carols New and Old, 1871, as the setting for "Shepherds, Shake Off Your Drowsy Sleep," and was titled CHANTONS, BARGIÉS, NOUÉ, NOUÉ. https://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/people_look_east.htm

As you prepare for Christmas, try this carol with some yoga moves!

1. People, look east. The time is near 
Of the crowning of the year.

Make your house fair as you are able,

Trim the hearth and set the table.

Table Pose:  knees under hips, hands under shoulders
Your spine stretches and your back, wrists, arms, and shoulders strengthen.  Also, as the chest is under less pressure, you increase lung capacity for deep breathing.

People, look east and sing today:
Love, the guest, is on the way.

Heart Mudra:  thumbs together, interlace fingers, hold in front of your chest
This hand gesture may help you welcome your thoughts and feelings!

2. Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
One more seed is planted there:
Give up your strength the seed to nourish, 

Seed Pose:  hips on heels, lean forward, reach forehead towards the ground and hands back to feet

calming for the mind, great for digestion, stretches the back, and opens the hips

That in course the flower may flourish.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the rose, is on the way.

Flower Pose:  Keep your back lengthened as the soles of the feet meet, slide hands under calves and lean back to balance on your sit bones

When you "bloom" in flower pose,  you strengthen your core and improve your balance and coordination skills 

3. Birds, though you long have ceased to build,
Guard the nest that must be filled.

Warrior 3 Pose:  Solidly connect one foot to the ground, then reach your belly button forward and down, lifting the opposite leg up and long like a tailfeather and your arms out to the side like wings. 

Even the hour when wings are frozen
God for fledging time has chosen.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the bird, is on the way.

This pose strengthens the whole back side of the body.  It tones abdominal muscles and improves balance, posture, and full-body coordination.

4. Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim
One more light the bowl shall brim,
Shining beyond the frosty weather,
Bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east and sing today: Love, the star, is on the way.

I call this Viniyoga sequence "Twinkling the Star."

5. Angels, announce with shouts of mirth
Christ who brings new life to earth.

Whole World Mudra:  touch the tips of the fingers and thumbs together, leaving a ball of space between extended fingers

This hand gesture encourages skills for focus, concentration, remaining in the moment, and mental clarity.

Set every peak and valley humming
With the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east and sing today: Love, the Lord, is on the way.

 Triangle Pose is my go to pose when I think about God.  The three sides and corners of the triangle make me think about God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. You are balancing, strengthening, and s-t-r-e-t-ch-i-n-g when you work your triangle.

Stand like your feet are balancing on railroad tracks, then take one toe out to the side.  Lift arms into a letter "T," then breathe in.  As you exhale, push the arm over the extended toe and cartwheel towards the toe, reaching the other arm high as you reach low. You should feel a line of energy from fingertip to fingertip.  You can take the legs wider, reach lower, but the idea is to open and expand the chest. This standing posture is strengthening and stretching knees, ankles, hips, legs, core, shoulders, and back, creating balance, relieving stress. #preparation #zipaDeeBee #moveandbreath #findpeaceandcalm

9 Days Before the 12 Days of Christmas

Nine days before the "twelve days," we moved and breathed to the "Twelve Days of Christmas!"🎵  The Twelve Days of Christmas will begin December 25!

Here's one of the four calling birds!🐦

Here's another🐦🐦

a third calling bird🐦🐦🐦

and a fourth and final calling bird!🐦🐦🐦🐦

Rest with the geese on the 6th Day of Christmas

Swim with the swans on the 7th Day of Christmas

Milk your cow with the maids on the 8th Day of Christmas

Dance with the ladies on the 9th Day of Christmas

Rum a tum tum your drum on the 12th Day of Christmas

Merry Christmas, Yogis!🎄🎅🤶🌟🎁🎉