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Take Time to Strengthen with Lotus Pose and Warrior Two

written by Emily Garrettfor Venus Rising Magazine

Taurus 07 Issue

Taurians move slowly. Representative of the earth element, they are naturally patient, strong, and stable. They take their time to make decisions and move through life with care. A Taurian’s natural groundedness helps her to feel present and stable in the world, no matter what happens. In yoga, the earth element is found mainly in the legs. Its our legs that determine how we stand in the world. When we are aware of how we stand on our legs, we can choose to stand in a stable and grounded way. When we are unaware of our feet touching the earth, we might feel out of balance or even anxious. The closer we are to the ground, of course, the closer we are to the earth. Sitting can be a wonderful way to get grounded when we are feeling anxious or spaced out, and Taurians are naturally good at sitting. The lotus pose is a perfect pose for Taurians as it requires an openness through the legs, a connection to the earth through the lower body, a stable base for sitting in correct posture, and the patience both to master the pose and to sit still for longer periods of time. 

Lotus pose is considered a classic pose for seated meditation. For most of us, in the beginning, lotus is neither comfortable nor possible. It requires flexibility in both the hips and the ankles. Over time, with diligent and careful practice, we can open the hips and ankles enough to sit in lotus comfortably. Everyone’s body is different, and it is important that you do not force your body into this pose. If you try to force into the pose before you are ready, you can damage your knees because they will compensate for tightness in the hips and ankles. In fact, taking time to slowly move into the pose requires the patience of Taurus as it may take years or a lifetime to sit comfortably in lotus. Lotus pose is a perfect place for Taurians to sit and contemplate what their next move might be. 

Half Lotus/Lotus (Padmasana/Ardha Padmasana)

To practice lotus, sit on the floor in an easy cross legged pose. Lift up your left foot and place it high on top of the right thigh, in toward the groin. Hold here for a few breaths and imagine the knees weighted toward the floor. This is half lotus. If you are comfortable here and you would like to move deeper, pick up your right foot and place it over the left shin, placing the foot high on the left thigh, as close to the groin as you can get. This is full lotus. Hold here and breathe. As you get more comfortable in the pose, you can hold for longer periods of time. One breath may be enough in the beginning. Release the pose and do either half or full lotus on the second side.

When Taurus is out of balance, she forgets that she has tremendous strength and stability inside herself. Instead, she looks for this stability in material satisfaction. She can become greedy and hoarding because her actions stem from fear of not having enough rather than from a place of abundance. Lucky for us, by practicing Warrior Two pose she can find the security and strength she needs to feel whole. Warrior Two pose helps us to access the strength of our legs. Still and steady, the strength of our legs holds us up. Activating our legs and feet fosters a sense of stability and security and reminds us of our connection to the earth. When we feel insecure, we are less connected to the earth. We can walk for miles, completely unaware of the sensation of our feet touching the ground. When we feel secure, we tend to be more aware of our feet and the support of our legs. This is exactly what a Taurus woman needs when she is feeling out of balance. She will fear less because the warrior pose naturally gives us the strength to move through difficulties in life. So when the urge for shopping arises, try a few breaths in Warrior Two pose instead. 

Warrior Two/Virabadhrasana Two

Begin in five pointed star. The feet are parallel and about a leg's-width apart. The arms are outstrectched and parallel to the floor. Rotate the feet to the right. Point the toes of the right foot directly toward the edge of your mat and angle the left foot in about 45 degrees. Bend the right knee until it is just above the ankle and the thigh bone is close to parallel with the floor. Make sure that the front shin bone is vertical. If the knee is past the ankle, please step your right foot forward to ensure that the shin bone is vertical. Otherwise you can damage your knee. Gaze at your right big toe and make sure you can see it. If not, align the knee directly over the ankle so that you can see the big toe of the right foot. Lift the gaze over the middle finger tip of the right hand. Press into the feet, and feel the muscles of the legs activate. Lift the pubic bone toward the navel and reach out strongly through the fingertips. Take up space. Breathe and connect with your inner strength. Hold for five breaths and then switch sides. 

Avoid injury! When practicing yoga, listen to your body and take responsibility for your safety. Always move gently into poses, and do not push too hard.

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