Triangle Pose
“Hatha Yoga,” is another name for achieving balance into the body, working with equal and opposite actions, and balancing the nervous system. Today’s sequence includes more active standing poses. When you feel like you need to move, try this sequence. Keep aware of your breath as you work through each posture. And most of all, enjoy your practice!
I have been giving thought to a “care” ful yoga practice. Usually, when I think of careful, it means watching out and not being too risky…and there is an element of hesitation. But here, I don’t think that. I think more of being watchful, attentive and clear. In our Yoga practice, we focus and pay “care” ful attention to how we set up, prior to entering a pose. We watch how we breathe.
In supported breath work, careful setup is important. We are aiming to direct, Prana, or life force through the body. In our careful setup, we allow for energy to move in—into the uppermost regions of the lungs, allowing more fullness in the breath.
Being “Care” ful reminds me of a deeper concentration, attentive, deliberate, and also showing care for yourself. Here are some breath poses to practice “Care” ful set up.
You can always begin!
Yoga Teacher at 83
Elisabeth Wengersky has never been one for sitting around. As far as she’s concerned, park benches are not for resting weary bones, but more of a yoga prop when the weather allows for some outdoor exercise.
While most 82 year olds might consider a Sunday walk in the country or a game of bowls a decent bash at exercise, Elisabeth is probably dashing across London from her home in St John’s Wood to teach yoga to students a fraction of her age, which she does several times a week.
Her Thursday schedule consists of trekking from north to south London for a lunchtime class at the Virgin Active Club in Fulham, then returning home. During the day she might get creative making birthday cards for her huge circle of family and friends or preparing supper for a friend.
A few hours later it’s back across town for her second class at Virgin Active, which begins at 7pm.
Not content with this level of activity, this lively and charming lady also manages to fit in four two-hour sessions as a participant. However, this is nothing compared to her early days of teaching when she would sometimes teach five classes in a day.
Elisabeth learned the yoga of BKS Iyengar, often called “the father of yoga”. Every single pose must be practised to perfection using intense focus, even down to making sure the inner edge of your big toe is pushing down, for example.
