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| I just fell in love with my local grocery store. |
So, there's this pose I absolutely adore. It's very easy to do, and I believe that anyone could perform it. I love it because it can be done at any moment of the day, and it has an immediately powerful & positive effect on my body, mind, spirit. It must be a super-secret pose, though, because it's very rarely actively taught in yoga classes. I believe everyone should have knowledge of this pose, so I will tell you how to perform it now. Pause whatever you are doing this very moment, even your thoughts.
Lift the corners of your mouth. That's it. It's called
Smile-asana.
Yes, yoga is serious business. It is unimaginably powerful medicine. It teaches us how to break the conditions of our existence, freeing us from self-limiting thoughts and tendencies, and even freeing us from disease and our fear of death. But that's no reason to take all the fun out of it! On the contrary, it would seem a great tragedy to take something so transformative, so inherently creative and drain it of its pure joy.
Some time back, I wrote about the benefits of laughter and yoga, especially as they're currently being applied to cancer therapy programs ("
Laughing All the Way"). But it doesn't take a scientist to recognize instinctively how laughter, joy, even a simple smile can be the conduit for the healing and positive transformation that yoga can bring. We instantly feel lighter with a smile, and the tonic of laughter can speed our healing and maintain good health.
So, the next time yoga practice rolls around, and one of those particularly troublesome poses sees a scowl work its way onto the face, remember to take
smile-asana. It just might make all the difference.
If you'd like to read more about current scientific research on the healing power of laughter, here are some links to get started:
http://www.laughteryogaamerica.com
http://www.laughingrx.com/15.html
http://www.laughteryoga.org/
And one of my favorite blogs, just for giggles:
http://www.recoveringyogi.com
Until next time, yogis & yoginis...
NAMASTE!
This week, June 7, marks the beginning of a new yoga class with yours truly: Restorative Yoga at The Studio Maui in Haiku! What is restorative yoga? Glad you asked. Restorative yoga teaches us the art of conscious deep relaxation. The practice involves resting in fully supported poses with the aid of props, allowing the practitioner to focus on deep breathing and maintaining an active meditative state. Gravity, time, and a focused attention on the breath do all the work. Among its many benefits, this practice stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, helping us to "de-stress," lower the heart rate and blood pressure, as well as promote healthy function of the endocrine and immune systems. Restorative yoga offers something for everyone: a gentle introduction to yoga for beginners, an essential balance to stronger yoga practices, and an opportunity for healing and improved health of the mind, body, and spirit.
