Venus Rising

Yoga for LivingIssue: cancer 08

Frogs Stay Cool in the Summer

When the air is muggy and the sun is bright, a cool dip in the lake offers relief. I spend my summer in the water as much as possible. Each time I jump into a cool pool of water it momentarily washes away my worries and cleanses the past. Maybe it’s relief from the earth’s gravitational pull or the coolness against my skin, or maybe it’s the feel of being wrapped and held. Whatever it is, when I arise from a swim I feel fresh and new. 

Swimming, bathing, or simply soaking in a river are wonderful summertime practices. Next time you go for a dip, try to feel all the sensations of the water against your skin and notice how your body temperature changes in response to the water. To prepare the body for swimming, practice Mandukasana, frog pose. This is a great preparatory pose for the breast stroke as it opens the hips, feet, and toes and is similar to the position of the legs during the pull of the breast stroke. Through Mandukasana, we mimic and learn from water-happy frogs.

Mandukasana, Frog Pose

To practice Mandukasana, start in table top position. If your knees are sensitive, bring a folded mat or blanket under your knees to protect them. Keeping your hips and knees in one line, walk your knees away from each other and lower your forearms to the floor. Bring your shins perpendicular to the thighs and flex your feet. Spread your toes. Draw your navel slightly in to your spine to maintain length in your lower back and breathe. Feel the sensation. To deepen the experience, move your knees farther away from each other. Breathe. Feel the opening. Practice being with sensation. Hold for 7-10 breaths. When you are ready to release, gently slide forward onto your belly and then press to child pose for a breath or two. Feel the effects.