You Are What You Think

Whatever you keep telling yourself, negative or positive, is the truth

I have always been pretty physically active. As a child, I was a dancer and a cheerleader. I still love to power walk and go for bike rides.After marriage and starting a family, as most new parents can relate, the demands of work, child-rearing, and typical daily life responsibilities left me little time to continue with my own activities. I occasionally did work-out videos or walked on the treadmill, but I didn’t really enjoy such exercise. I just felt compelled to move.About 5 years ago, my children were teenagers and I had more freedom in my schedule. I was encouraged by my sister-in-law to check out Marina’s class at Mind Body Flow Yoga. I was simply looking for a new form of exercise. I never imagined how life-transforming this practice could be. As often claimed by yogis, I was immediately hooked! I very much connected with Marina’s spirit, energy, hands-on assists, encouragement, and love. The mantras, thoughtful music, and daily devotions resonated with me.Before practicing yoga, I wasn’t physically, mentally, and spiritually my best. Yoga poses have helped me to reconnect with my strongest self. I don’t need machines or weights, just my own body. I used to feel mentally drained. My brain couldn’t shut down. Yoga has made me hyper-aware of my breath. I focus on my breath often, as it is such a calming tool.When decision making and within my relationships with others, I used to lean towards doing or saying what felt safe, but my practice has given me the courage to trust myself and take more risks. I often had that negative self-tape playing in my head. I learned the power of positive words. Whatever you keep telling yourself, negative or positive, is the truth: I’m excited! I can do it! I am strong! I am wise! I am prepared! I am competent! I can have this uncomfortable conversation! I have this opinion! I am a great teacher! I am a confident performer! I need a break! I need help!Most importantly, my yoga practice has helped me to accept things, as well as myself, just as they are, right at this moment. I live more in the now. I am admittedly a perfectionist and felt the need to have everything just so. I am now better able to let go. I don’t have to wait for my hair to look good, or for a difficult event to pass in order for me to be ok. I will always be ok. I don’t always like everything and everyone all of the time, and situations may be challenging, but I trust that I’m ok and I’m right where I am supposed to be. That is perfection!

---

*If you have any medical concerns, talk with your doctor before practicing yoga.

What’s This Pose About?

This is an open hip pose that stretches your groin, thighs, and ankles. The resulting shape is a deep opening through the shoulders, arms, thighs, legs, and ankles. Watch Sandy enter 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

• Warrior II is transitioned into from Warrior I (Virabhadrasana I).
• Come into Warrior I with your right leg forward to begin.
• Then open into Warrior II. Your hips will now face the side (rather than the front) and your stance should be wide. Your right knee should bend to stack evenly over your right ankle. Your right heel should be in line with the inner-arch of your left foot. Your left leg should be straight – keep your back knee loose but straight, in other words, you don’t want your knee joint to be locked or hyperextended. Your arms are outstretched from side to side like a wide T. Keep your shoulders back and down. Engage your core. Keep your tailbone dropping down. Spread all ten of your fingers wide and take your eye gaze over your front arm, as long as there isn’t discomfort in your neck. If there is discomfort in your neck, keep your eye gaze looking straight in front of you, rather than turning your head to the side.
• Hold this pose for 3-5 deep breaths.
• From here, it is most come to cartwheel the arms to the ground and go into a vinyasa flow from there (high plank, to low plank, upward facing dog, to downward facing dog).
• Don’t forget about the other side. Step into Warrior I on the other side with the opposite leg in front and transition into Warrior II following the same instructions above.

Benefits

• Expands your chest, lungs, and shoulders
• Stimulates abdominal organs and digestion
• Increases stamina and endurance
• Relieves backaches
• Improves balance, concentration, and core awareness

Caution

• Avoid this posture if you have high blood pressure, medical conditions that affect balance, diarrhea, or neck problems – keep your neck looking forward from the chest rather than over your front arm.  Enlist the help of an experienced instructor with Peaceful Warrior Pose if this is your first time trying it.
• Have you tried this pose before? What has been your experience?

Have you tried this pose before? What has been your experience?