“If you are a little playful with life, every moment is a celebration.” – Sadhguru
Weekly Focus: Lila (cosmic play)
Lila is “cosmic play.” This is the concept that the Universe was created through the spontaneous interplay of masculine and feminine forces. Lila encourages us to embrace spontaneity, curiosity and joy into the everyday.
Yoga is often taken so seriously. It’s easy to forget that a huge component of Yoga is embracing creation, spontaneity and joy in life! The act of self-reflection, one of the fundamental practices of Yoga, is an act of exploration — a curious state in which we seek to learn more and be inquisitive about who we are. That’s exciting! Our entire pathway towards self-acknowledgement is a journey towards fulfillment and joy. Why do we take it so seriously?
There doesn’t have to be a hard line in the sand between austerity and playfulness. The two can go hand-in-hand. When we look at the larger through-lines of Yoga — finding flow, embracing discomfort, shifting mindsets, self-inquiry — we see themes of spontaneity, embracing joy, and seeking curiosity!
It’s easy to fall into the trap of ritual turning to rigidity and routine turning to obliation or habit. When this happens we begin to lose the practice of presence and being in the NOW. Rather than allowing life to flow with us we are bound to tasks and schedules, just doing our best to get on to the next thing.
Responsibility and duty are important, but when do they become excessive and controlling? This is a fine line to walk that requires a constant attention to navigate. Do you find yourself rejecting play for routine you have obliged yourself to? Can you recognize when you are simply moving through the motions in life rather than fully embracing the joy of living? What would it look like to invite a bit more spontaneity and playfulness into your life?
Passive Pose of the Week: Ananda Balasana (happy baby)
Ananda Balasana is a position we often see babies and toddlers in as they explore the world with newfound curiosity. Let this be a reminder to find a childlike sense of play as a tool to learn.
- Begin lying on the floor, on your back.
- Draw the knees into the belly.
- Grab hold of the shins and draw the legs apart, pulling them to the sides of the ribs.
- If it feels accessible, reach your hands now inside of the legs and grab the outer edge of the ankles or the feet. Continue bending the knees and pulling them down towards the floor outside of the ribs.
- Hold for 5 – 7 breaths. You can stay still or rock gently back and forth, left and right, maybe straightening one or both legs.
For a variation of happy baby that allows the upper body to relax, try taking this pose at the wall. Lay down in the fetal position with your feet near the wall. Roll onto your back and swing your legs up the wall as you go. Separate the feet slightly and slide them down the wall, so that the knees drop towards the belly. Stay here pushing the feet lightly into the wall. If you feel to scrunched up, you can push yourself away slightly. Find the spot where the wall helps to hold the feet in position for you, so that the arms and upper body can be at ease.
Active Pose of the Week: Anantasana (Vishnu’s Couch)
Anantasana is a pose not often taken in classes. It is fun and a little silly, with a multitude of ways to explore and get playful.
- Begin lying on your right side.
- Prop yourself up on the right elbow and forearm.
- Stack one leg atop the other. Try to stay balanced on the edge of your leg so that your weight does not roll back into your seat.
- To add on, trying lifting the top leg up, grabbing hold of the foot or big toe with the left hand or a yoga strap.
- Hold for 3 – 5 breaths and switch sides.
Anantasana has a lot of fun variations to it. You can stay stacked in one neat line, you can lift the top leg overhead. You can also bring the top leg into a tree pose position and extend the left arm alongisde your year. Not to mention the multitude of challenging hip and inner thigh exercises that can happen here! Give yourself some space to play around with positions in the pose and get creative. What is your expression of anantasana?
Join us in class this week to practice lila! See the full schedule HERE.
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