“Intuition is really a sudden immersion of the soul into the universal current of life.” – Paulo Coelho
Weekly Focus: Ajna Chakra (the third eye chakra)
Ajna is the sixth chakra located at the third eye center. This space is associated with our intuition, our inner knowing and our cosmic vision. In this space we find creativity, imagination, and a connection to our spiritual insights.
Ajna translates as “to command,” “to perceive,” or “to summon.” This space, located between the brows, is the window to our inner guidance, where we summon the knowing within us. We often use the third eye center as a space of focus in meditation, as it is meant to pull from our intuition and intellect. To access the gifts of ajna, we must trust in ourselves and believe that we are full of wisdom. That somewhere deep within our core, the answers we seek lie.
To embrace our own wisdom is not only a great act of Self trust, but also of Self alignment. We often seek answers outside of ourselves, from teachers, peers, media, etc. While outside influences can be helpful tools in the exploration of finding what we seek, ultimately, we must remember that we are responsible for ourselves, and we are our own best guide.
This is not a call to ignore the wisdom that can be found in the world around you, but to pull it in, and let it simmer within for your consideration . This is a call to listen deeply to ourselves, to the small voices inside that pull you in one direction or another. Don’t be mistaken, our intuition is deeper than a gut feeling or a tug of anxiety — intuition is an innate knowing that feels connected, aligned and true when we hear its voice.
Can you decipher between the inner voices you hear (anxiety, emotion, impatience) and your own intuition? How can you put more trust into your own inner wisdom?
Here are three simple mantras to repeat to reiterate our connection to ajna:
- “I trust myself and my intuition.” — builds confidence for believing in what we know to be the answers.
- “I am full of deep wisdom.” — reminds us of the inner well of knowledge we each hold.
- “My cosmic vision is clear and focused.” — promotes a sense of clarity and focus in our meditative practice.
Passive Pose of the Week: Balasana (child’s pose)
Balasana is a humbling pose that allows us to connect our third eye center to the earth, seeking the knowledge within us.
- Begin in a tabletop position, on hands and knees.
- Press your hips back towards your feet as you reach the hands forward. Allow your chest to drop to the floor and your forehead to rest.
- Use about [3] breaths to gradually enter the pose. Once you come to your most comfortable posture, take about [7] breaths before gently lifting out of the pose.
For some of us, this deep hip flexion is not comfortable or accessible. Often in classes, we simple support the seat with a block to help this position. If your hips cannot get down to your heels, rather than just placing a block under the seat, try elevating the chest and belly with a bolster, a stack of blankets, or cushions. By lifting the height of the chest, you can allow the hips to drop towards the heels and reduce the deep flexion. This may also allow the upper back and the shoulders to soften and relax more. Try both variations and see if you can notice the differences!
Active Pose of the Week: Virabhadrasana III (warrior 3)
Virabhadrasana III encourages us to focus, as we ground and interact with gravity, and allow our third eye to act as the beacon of the pose.
- Begin in a standing Mountain pose (tadasana).
- Step your left foot back just a few inches, touching the big toe to the ground. Begin to tone and strengthen the left leg.
- Fix your gaze on a non-moving point in front of you, finding your drishti.
- With your hands on your hips, start to tip the torso forward as the left leg lifts, like a see saw or pendulum. See if you can keep the torso and the leg in one even plane.
- If it feels OK, arms may come together at heart’s center or reach overhead.
- Hold for 3 – 5 breaths and switch sides.
In this balance, it can sometimes be hard to sense what is happening in the back leg, our proprioception can be really challenging here. A fun way to practice this and help find the sensation of your body in one lean line, is to practice this pose with your back foot pressing against a wall. You can use the pressure of the foot to help you adjust the relationship of the back leg and the torso. After a few breaths, come away from the wall and try practicing while pressing your hands into the wall instead. How does this change your relationship to the pose?
Join us in class this week to practice connecting to ajna chakra. See the full schedule HERE.
To get weekly updates from our parent brand, Myriad Fitness + Yoga, follow our weekly podcast “For Time.”
