Venus Rising

Yoga for LivingIssue: Aquarius 07

Stay Connected with Seated Twists and Bow Pose

A balanced Aquarian is full of sparkly energy and endless ingenuity. She has a creative outlook on life and is not easily convinced by cultural norms that dictate what is acceptable or unacceptable. She finds her own way through the world, and when you meet her, you might be surprised at her logical reasons for doing things a little bit differently. Her reasons for doing things differently are guided by an intuitive understanding of how things work and what is important. She is awake and, therefore, aware. From a yogic perspective, this awakeness and inner knowing is related to the free flow of energy along her spine. 

The physical poses, or asanas, are designed to align the spine so that energy can flow freely along its axis. When the spine is clear, our thoughts get clear. We feel connected within ourselves and to the world around us. When our spine gets tight and compressed, our thinking gets clouded and we experience mood swings. Twists are particularly nourishing to the spine. They strengthen the muscles that support the vertebrae and release tension from the joints. Twists also increase the circulation along the spine, cultivating an open flow of energy. The spine gets clear and its this clarity that promotes the thoughtful creativity of an Aquarius. The assymetrical shape of a twist also appeals to an Aquarian woman’s taste for the unusual. 

Seated Twist (Ardha Matsyendrasana)

To practice Ardha Matsyendrasana sit with your legs crossed in front of you. Cross your right leg over your left and plant the right foot on the floor just past the left knee. Bring your left knee to center line with the foot tucked in toward your right hip. Ground evenly through both sitting bones, and press the right foot into the floor. Take a deep breath, and lengthen up through the spine. On an exhale, twist toward your right leg and place your left elbow across your outer right thigh. Plant your right hand on the floor behind you, and roll the right shoulder back. Inhale to lengthen, and exhale to deepen the twist. Gaze either directly forward or over your right shoulder. On the inhale, imagine breathing from your tailbone to the crown of your head, and on the exhale deepen the twist as the navel presses in towards the spine. Hold for 5-7 breaths, and then do the same thing on the second side.