Besides the fact that it is Wednesday, camel pose / ustrasana is the perfect pose for me this week. Backbends open the heart, stretch the body in many ways, and require trust as you bend back into the unseen. This is the first week back to school for me- teaching and as a graduate student. I was not sure if this was the right path for me to continue on and have been a little anxious about this upcoming semester--- I am going to embrace camel pose and let go of my fears--which may be completely unfounded since it is a brand new semester-- open my heart, and lean back trusting that it will all work out.
Benefits:
- Energizes- make sure to do deep back bends earlier in the day if you have a hard time sleeping
- Stretching the front and back body
- Tones thighs
- Opens chest
- Anjaneyasana (crescent pose)
- Vira 1 (warrior 1)
- Bujanghasana (cobra)
- Urdva Mukha Svanasana (up dog)
- Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (bridge)
- Shalabasana (locust pose)
- be properly warmed up
- baby cobra offers all the same benefits so start small keeping the hands on your back
- bring both hands to the heels at the same time with either toes tucked or untucked, come out of the pose by using your abs and releasing the hands at the same time
- use a block or place the thighs against a wall to help with proper alignment
- use a block between the thighs for extra thigh engagement
- keep an imaginary grapefruit between your neck and chest, not releasing the head all the way
- forward folds like poschimottanasana, janu sirsasana, etc. help neutralize the spine
- gentle twists are great counter poses
Happy Hump Day--get your ustrasana on
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