“Shift your energy from protecting yourself from failure to squeezing the life out of life.” – Danielle LaPorte
Weekly Focus: Kriya (internal action – shifting energy)
Kriyas are specific actions or practices meant to help bring about an inner transformation. Kriyas are not about cleansing the body — rather kriyas help us to shift our internal space. When we practice kriyas we adjust our subtle energies to help us increase awareness, expansion and lucidity.
There are many kriya practices that we can look towards to cleanse and prepare the body space for a physical shift and redirection of energy. We can also turn to the idea of Kriya as inspiration to adjust and redirect our internal energies with practice. Kriya helps us to clean the sticky, nagging and irritating negative energies so that more positive energy may flow throughout us.
You can think of our energy channels a bit like pipes in a house. If we have very hard water (negative energy) constantly flowing through, it sticks, clings and builds up along the insides of our pipes. This buildup leads to the channel of the pipes becoming smaller and narrower with time, eventually allowing no positive energy to flow through. With time, a pipe may even burst, flooding our systems with sadness, frustration and anxiety.
Kriyas help us to cleanse and remove the buildup of negative energy. This is the action of actively choosing to let go and discontinue the negative thought patterns. In it’s place, there is space for our vital life energy (prana) to flow through. Like purified water to the system, we are flooded with positivity and clarity of mind and spirit.
Do you ever feel a build-up of “toxic energy” preventing you from finding joy in life? What practices help you release these negative patterns and create space for positivity?
Passive Pose of the Week: Mrigasana (deer pose)
Mrigasana is a prone (or belly down) twist. This twist gets deep into the belly, stoking the fire of the digestive system. As we help the body release we find metaphor to a deeper release within.
- Begin sitting on the floor with the legs straight out in front of you.
- Bend the knees and drop them to the right.
- Turn your chest and belly to the right and fold over the right thigh.
- Relax your upper body and arms down to the floor, a blanket or a bolster.
- Hold for 7 – 10 breaths before slowly lifting up and switching sides.
This posture is a lovely way to wind down at the end of a practice. Because mrigasana is in a prone position, it is a little less stimulating or active than a chest up or seated twist. The fold over the legs gives you the benefit of receiving a forward fold and a twist at the same time. If you give yourself enough support as you fold forward you will notice how the body relaxes and the mind settles into the pose.
Active Pose of the Week: Parsovottanasana (pyramid pose)
Parsvottanasana is a forward fold – both self-reflective and stimulating for the digestive space. To truly cleanse ourself of negativity we must contain the skill to self-reflect deeply, and notice where there is room to release.
- Begin in a standing Mountain pose (tadasana).
- Step your left foot back about 2 – 3 feet. Your back foot may be at any angle that is comfortable for you.
- Check the distance between your legs. You do not need to be lined up on a balance beam with your feet, rather allow yourself to have appropriate space left and right on your mat. You can think about the legs being hips-width distance apart.
- Inhale and reach your arms overhead, lengthening the torso.
- Exhale and fold forward over the front leg.
- Hands can rest on blocks if the floor is not comfortable accessible.
- Hold for 5 – 7 breaths before slowly standing up and switching sides.
There are a number of ways to support the fold in parsvottanasana. Here are some fun options to play around with besides simply bringing your hands to blocks. If you want more leverage to get into the fold, try looping a strap around your front foot. You can leverage yourself into the fold and walk your hands further down the strap. If you want to find more extension and length in your back, try facing the wall for the pose. Place your hands on the wall and walk them down to about hip height. Press your hands into the wall and use the press to help you lengthen out and extend through the spine.
Join us in class this week to practice your inner transformation. See the full schedule HERE.
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