November 13, 2011

Rainy days are great for yoga, Salambhasana

The Daily Doodle: On rainy days in Cali there are not many options (even our malls are outdoors.) Having already seen the decent box-office hits, I re-read Iyengar's "Light on Life," while waiting out this Saturday's persistent showers. And lo and behold, it could not be a sunnier Sunday.

Salambhasana: locust pose
Salabha: grasshopper, locust

This seemingly simple pose is much more powerful than it looks. But do not take my word for it: lie face down on your mat, press your pelvis into the floor, spread your low back long, reach up and out with your toes, and lift your chest. You will be relieving fatigue, flatulence, constipation, indigestion and lower back pain as well as strengthening your spine, buttocks, backs of the arms, and backs of the legs. You are also stretching your shoulders, chest, belly, and thighs. 

"By persistent and sustained practice, anyone and everyone can make the yoga journey and reach the goal of illumination and freedom... A yogi never forgets that health must begin with the body... Patanjali said that asanas bring perfection in body, beauty in form, grace, strength, and compactness, and the hardness and brilliance of a diamond... Asana is perfect firmness of body, steadiness of intelligence, and and benevolence of spirit." -B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on Life. 

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