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Vicki Knapp’s Life Changing Experience with Yoga
“I don’t dream, I worry.”
This is how my yoga story began. I hadn’t been sleeping well and was very busy with my life.
I am a full-time working mother of two beautiful and smart girls and wife to my busy, also full-time working husband.
I turned 40 this year and have naturally over time, put all of my efforts elsewhere- my family and my job at the top of the list.
Not me.
I had given up on me and felt there was nothing but downhill ahead of me health-wise.
Not me. I had given up on me and felt there was nothing but downhill ahead of me health-wise.
“You should try yoga,” said Christina Zwerecki. I stored that suggestion and tried yoga at Mind Body Flow Yoga soon after.
I didn’t love it at first- I was inflexible and could barely keep up with the pace, but I kept trying.
It opened my eyes to the need to spend quality time doing something for myself and giving myself permission to work on improving my own condition. I had given up on putting effort into myself to help myself be healthier and have work-life-me balance.
All of my efforts were elsewhere, until I found yoga.
Soon, I became a regular and found myself in love. I have never loved any form of physical activity before!
I don’t quite feel right if I don’t practice regularly and I have given myself permission to find the time to do what my body needs.
My body craves yoga.
My life needs yoga.
It opened my eyes to the need to spend quality time doing something for myself
My yoga journey has been filled with a balance of determination and peace.
I thoroughly enjoy the challenges my instructors present during each class. The challenges have brought out a determination in me while helping me to understand that
- “it’s yoga practice, not yoga perfect” and that one should never compare oneself to the person on the next mat.
- “As long as you’re breathing, you’re doing yoga,”
- “Take what you need and leave behind that which does not serve you,” and
- “It’s okay to take child’s pose,” are among some of my favorite yoga lessons.
My instructors have helped me to understand “it’s yoga practice, not yoga perfect
I have learned to “embrace the wobbles,” especially in the crescent lunge pose. I have a love/hate relationship with this pose, which is the reason I chose to demonstrate it for this newsletter.
I often struggle through crescent lunge and am sometimes wobbly, but I can do it.
I can do yoga and every time I practice, I improve with some aspect. I sleep well, dream instead of worry, and have learned to “leave it on the mat.”
My mat is my “happy place” and I love the comfort of my yoga studio. I love the Mind Body Flow Yoga community and the balance I have found in my continuously busy life since beginning my yoga journey.
When I practice yoga (and beyond my mat), I am learning that I am “an island of excellence.” I have learned that I need to take this time for myself and to put myself first, so that I can be a better mother and better at all I do.
I can do yoga and every time I practice, I improve with some aspect.
I am open to the possibilities I have yet to unlock in my life and feel that nothing is unattainable. Thank you, Marina, Christina, Christine, and the Mind Body Flow Yoga instructors and community for your love and cultivation of peace.
I love the Mind Body Flow Yoga community and the balance I have found in my continuously busy life since beginning my yoga journey.
What’s Vicki’s Pose About?
Vicki has a beautiful yoga practice and was generous in sharing it with us, as she demonstrates Crescent Lunge Pose (Anjaneyasana).
This is a dynamic standing pose. The resulting shape is a deep opening through the lower and upper body, while creating stability and balance. Watch Vicki as she enters into this asana from Mountain Pose (Tadasana). She will exit the pose and land back in Mountain Pose (Tadasana) as well.
Here are a few things to keep in mind, if you decide to try this pose, or if you have already started to experiment and play around with it.
Tips
- Start in downward facing dog
- Step your right foot forward to your right hand
- Press into the ball of your left foot and keep your left heel lifted off your mat, so that your heel aligns directly over your back toes
- Both your right foot and left foot should be facing twelve on a clock
- Set your feet wide apart (in other words, you are not on a tight rope with heel to heel alignment in this pose, but rather on two distinct separate lines)
- Your right knee bends and your right knee is stacked directly over your right ankle
- Your arms are reaching high above your head, with your shoulders drawn down your back and your fingers spread wide
- Hold for 3-5 breathsTake a vinyasa flow of high plank, to low plank, upward facing dog, to downward facing dog, or step straight back into downward facing dog
- Repeat on the left side
Benefits
- Stretches the legs, groin, and hip flexors, while also opening the front torso, chest, and shoulders
- Strengthens and tones the thighs, hips, and butt, while the balancing aspect helps to develop flexible stability
- Considered a balance pose, back-bend, and heart opener, crescent lunge helps the front of the body to expand, which increases energy and reduces fatigue
- Do not practice Crescent Lunge Pose if you are currently experiencing high blood pressure or heart problems. Also, avoid this pose if you have a knee or spinal injury. Always work within your own range of limits and abilities. If you have any medical concerns, talk with your doctor before practicing yoga.
- Have you tried this pose before? What has been your experience?
Caution
- Do not practice Crescent Lunge Pose if you are currently experiencing high blood pressure or heart problems. Also, avoid this pose if you have a knee or spinal injury. Always work within your own range of limits and abilities. If you have any medical concerns, talk with your doctor before practicing yoga.
Have you tried this pose before? What has been your experience? Let me know below.
