New Moon in Taurus
from Yogitoes
This Taurus new moon is the first of 5 SUPERMOONS this year... (which means it's in Perigee or closest proximity to the Earth.) SuperMoons intensify gravitational pull on land and water, generating more extreme tides and tectonic activity.
Our bodies and psyches are more strongly affected as well, undergoing wider swings of emotions and more profound realizations. In addition, this new moon ties into a very powerful EARTH grand trine. Trines represent easy flow of energy, where the wind is at our back, and a little bit of effort goes a long way.... and earth signs are all about grounding and manifestation!
So, we will be receiving extra cosmic support for concretizing our new moon visions and prayers and transforming what is no longer viable. Over the next 2 weeks the GROUND is especially fertile for planting new seeds, laying down new roots, and nurturing financial, creative, and romantic GROWTH!
Our selected yoga pose and color this month will support you in staying practical, grounded, and abundantly blessed!
OM Shanti, Peace
YOGA ASANA: Salamba Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand)
COLOR: SKIDLESS in LOAM (bija- seed, infinite growth)
COLOR INTENTION - LOAM: LOAM is the earth. Literally, it is soil composed of sand, silt and clay used for gardening and agriculture. LOAM represents FERTILITY and GROWTH. BIJA, which in sanskrit means SEED is used as a metaphor for the origin or cause of all things. The color LOAM or brown, is the combination of several colors, mostly dark yellow, orange and red, which are representative of the lowest three chakras (solar plexus, sacral, and root chakras) further reflecting the overall sense of GROUNDING and ROOTING exuded by LOAM. Our intention in using the color LOAM during this Taurus new moon is to identify our connection with MOTHER EARTH. By "digging deep" inside yourself and surrendering to the POWER of the planet, you will find what you need to flourish and grow like the BIJA, deep within the fertile ground.
Salamba Sarvangasana
(sah-LOM-bah sar-van-GAHS-anna)
salamba = with support
sarva= all
anga=limb
AKA Supported Shoulder Stand
Begin by folding 1-3 blankets into a rectangular shape. It is important to be diligent with the folds.. think Princess and the Pea... smooth out any bumps or creases and line up the folded edges evenly.
STEP 1.
Position yourself near a wall and lie down so that your shoulders are about 6 inches away from the folded edge of the blanket. Place your feet flat on the wall hips distance, making sure your shoulders are parallel with the edge of the blanket, and you are maintaining the natural curve in your neck. Take a few breaths here...
STEP 2.
On an exhale press your arms into the ground and your feet into the wall, lifting your hips into the air. Grab your ySTRAP and loop around the wrists. Wiggle your shoulders underneath you, bringing the shoulder blades towards each other. Be careful not to roll your shoulders down away from the ears, but instead move them directly in. As you press your feet into the wall, think of releasing the sacrum towards the heels and dropping the inner thighs downward, letting the lift come from the outer hips.
STEP 3
Start wiggling the strap up the arms until it is just above the elbows, pulling the elbow towards each other and preventing splaying outward. With the backs of your upper arms flat on the ground, spin your hands so the fingers point up and the palms are flat, as high up the back as possible.
STEP 4
Begin to shift the hips over the shoulders, pushing off the wall and extending the legs straight up to the ceiling. Again feel the inner thighs rolling back and extend through the balls of the feet. Press the backs of your arms and the shoulder blades in to the mat to create a root and rebound feeling, lifting as much of your upper back away from the floor as possible. Make sure your forehead is parallel with the floor. Now, relax your tongue, your cheeks, and softly gaze toward the sternum. Be careful not to turn your head while inverted.You only want to stay in the pose as long as is comfortable for you, but generally 3-5 minutes is the correct amount of time to fully receive the benefit of the pose. To come down... on an exhale, bend your knees, dropping the thighs down to your chest and roll your back slowly to the floor, keeping the back of your head and neck down. As you roll down, imagine a strand of pearls lowering on to a glass top table, one vertebrae at a time, until your feet land on the ground.
MODIFICATIONS WITH YOGITOES PROPS...
Before you begin, measure the ySTRAP from sternum to shoulder-head and adjust accordingly. (This is your shoulder distance.) When setting up your props to begin, keep your ySTRAP handy. Once you grab the ySTRAP, you will not need to adjust the size. Work the ySTRAP up your arms and it will provide comfortable resistance while allowing you to engage in the pose.
INTENTION:
Our intention in choosing Salamba Sarvangasana as the Taurus NEW MOON ASANA is to help further your connection to the planet, as the root your shoulders, keeping your heart grounded and lifting your feet to the sky. Perhaps take a moment to honor your feet for walking you through life and being the origin of growth as we stand on the earth. Also take some time to focus on centering and calming your mind and psyche, as this powerful new moon may produce wider emotional swings that could throw you off balance.
BENEFITS:
Salamba Sarvangasana is known as the "Queen" of yoga poses, for its calming effect on the brain and mind. As with all inversion, Shoulder Stand reverses the blood flow, stimulating glands and organs, such as the thyroid, improves circulation and digestion, and calms the brain, relieving stress, tension, frustration, and depression. This pose has also been found to help with insomnia, asthma, symptoms of menopause, and infertility. It also tones the legs, back and buttocks and stretches the neck, spine and shoulders.
CONTRAINDICATIONS/CAUTIONS:
Salamba Sarvangasana is considered an intermediate pose, so be cautious when practicing. Always listen to your body and stop if you ever feel any pain or discomfort. Use special caution if you have neck or back injuries, high blood pressure, headache or diarrhea. Mensturating women are advised not to practice inversions while on their cycle. Pregnant woman can practice shoulder stand throughout their pregnancy, provided they have a shoulder stand practice prior to becoming pregnant.
with BIG LOVE, OM LAUGHTER, AND DEEP GRATITUDE...
Our bodies and psyches are more strongly affected as well, undergoing wider swings of emotions and more profound realizations. In addition, this new moon ties into a very powerful EARTH grand trine. Trines represent easy flow of energy, where the wind is at our back, and a little bit of effort goes a long way.... and earth signs are all about grounding and manifestation!
So, we will be receiving extra cosmic support for concretizing our new moon visions and prayers and transforming what is no longer viable. Over the next 2 weeks the GROUND is especially fertile for planting new seeds, laying down new roots, and nurturing financial, creative, and romantic GROWTH!
Our selected yoga pose and color this month will support you in staying practical, grounded, and abundantly blessed!
OM Shanti, Peace
YOGA ASANA: Salamba Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand)
COLOR: SKIDLESS in LOAM (bija- seed, infinite growth)
COLOR INTENTION - LOAM: LOAM is the earth. Literally, it is soil composed of sand, silt and clay used for gardening and agriculture. LOAM represents FERTILITY and GROWTH. BIJA, which in sanskrit means SEED is used as a metaphor for the origin or cause of all things. The color LOAM or brown, is the combination of several colors, mostly dark yellow, orange and red, which are representative of the lowest three chakras (solar plexus, sacral, and root chakras) further reflecting the overall sense of GROUNDING and ROOTING exuded by LOAM. Our intention in using the color LOAM during this Taurus new moon is to identify our connection with MOTHER EARTH. By "digging deep" inside yourself and surrendering to the POWER of the planet, you will find what you need to flourish and grow like the BIJA, deep within the fertile ground.
Salamba Sarvangasana
(sah-LOM-bah sar-van-GAHS-anna)
salamba = with support
sarva= all
anga=limb
AKA Supported Shoulder Stand
Begin by folding 1-3 blankets into a rectangular shape. It is important to be diligent with the folds.. think Princess and the Pea... smooth out any bumps or creases and line up the folded edges evenly.
STEP 1.
Position yourself near a wall and lie down so that your shoulders are about 6 inches away from the folded edge of the blanket. Place your feet flat on the wall hips distance, making sure your shoulders are parallel with the edge of the blanket, and you are maintaining the natural curve in your neck. Take a few breaths here...
STEP 2.
On an exhale press your arms into the ground and your feet into the wall, lifting your hips into the air. Grab your ySTRAP and loop around the wrists. Wiggle your shoulders underneath you, bringing the shoulder blades towards each other. Be careful not to roll your shoulders down away from the ears, but instead move them directly in. As you press your feet into the wall, think of releasing the sacrum towards the heels and dropping the inner thighs downward, letting the lift come from the outer hips.
STEP 3
Start wiggling the strap up the arms until it is just above the elbows, pulling the elbow towards each other and preventing splaying outward. With the backs of your upper arms flat on the ground, spin your hands so the fingers point up and the palms are flat, as high up the back as possible.
STEP 4
Begin to shift the hips over the shoulders, pushing off the wall and extending the legs straight up to the ceiling. Again feel the inner thighs rolling back and extend through the balls of the feet. Press the backs of your arms and the shoulder blades in to the mat to create a root and rebound feeling, lifting as much of your upper back away from the floor as possible. Make sure your forehead is parallel with the floor. Now, relax your tongue, your cheeks, and softly gaze toward the sternum. Be careful not to turn your head while inverted.You only want to stay in the pose as long as is comfortable for you, but generally 3-5 minutes is the correct amount of time to fully receive the benefit of the pose. To come down... on an exhale, bend your knees, dropping the thighs down to your chest and roll your back slowly to the floor, keeping the back of your head and neck down. As you roll down, imagine a strand of pearls lowering on to a glass top table, one vertebrae at a time, until your feet land on the ground.
MODIFICATIONS WITH YOGITOES PROPS...
Before you begin, measure the ySTRAP from sternum to shoulder-head and adjust accordingly. (This is your shoulder distance.) When setting up your props to begin, keep your ySTRAP handy. Once you grab the ySTRAP, you will not need to adjust the size. Work the ySTRAP up your arms and it will provide comfortable resistance while allowing you to engage in the pose.
INTENTION:
Our intention in choosing Salamba Sarvangasana as the Taurus NEW MOON ASANA is to help further your connection to the planet, as the root your shoulders, keeping your heart grounded and lifting your feet to the sky. Perhaps take a moment to honor your feet for walking you through life and being the origin of growth as we stand on the earth. Also take some time to focus on centering and calming your mind and psyche, as this powerful new moon may produce wider emotional swings that could throw you off balance.
BENEFITS:
Salamba Sarvangasana is known as the "Queen" of yoga poses, for its calming effect on the brain and mind. As with all inversion, Shoulder Stand reverses the blood flow, stimulating glands and organs, such as the thyroid, improves circulation and digestion, and calms the brain, relieving stress, tension, frustration, and depression. This pose has also been found to help with insomnia, asthma, symptoms of menopause, and infertility. It also tones the legs, back and buttocks and stretches the neck, spine and shoulders.
CONTRAINDICATIONS/CAUTIONS:
Salamba Sarvangasana is considered an intermediate pose, so be cautious when practicing. Always listen to your body and stop if you ever feel any pain or discomfort. Use special caution if you have neck or back injuries, high blood pressure, headache or diarrhea. Mensturating women are advised not to practice inversions while on their cycle. Pregnant woman can practice shoulder stand throughout their pregnancy, provided they have a shoulder stand practice prior to becoming pregnant.
with BIG LOVE, OM LAUGHTER, AND DEEP GRATITUDE...
Labels: Salamba Sarvangasana, skidless, yoga poses, Yogitoes
posted by Give Me Something to Blog About @ 5:04 PM
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