Venus Rising

Yoga for LivingIssue: Capricorn 06

Stay Steady with Plank Pose and Have Fun with Lion’s Breath

When unbalanced, a Capricorn tends to be overly serious and she forgets entirely to play. She is apt to feel threatened by anything that jeopardizes her sense of stability and therefore sets strict rules in an effort to maintain the seemingly unsteady structure of her environment. When this happens, one of the best things a Capricorn can do is let it all go and discover that it will be okay. She will not fall from this earth in pieces, and she might even enjoy herself. Lion’s Breath is one of my favorite yogic techniques for loosening up a mind that has become too rigid. It helps to relax the jaw, which relaxes the mind, and its playful nature can make us laugh. The silly nature of the pose reminds us that life can be enjoyable too. 

LION’S BREATH

Sit in a kneeling position with your hips on your heels. If this is uncomfortable for your knees, place a folded blanket or a pillow between your hips and your heels. Place your hands on your knees. Straighten your arms and spread your fingers wide. Take a deep breath in through the nose, and when you exhale open your mouth wide, stick out your tongue and roll your eyes into the top corners of their sockets. Now, depending on how serious you are feeling, you may be offended by the mere idea of doing this pose. My advice is to do it anyway. Do about three to five breaths. If you still feel serious afterwards, ask a friend to join you, and do the pose facing each other. Most likely, one of you will start laughing before the pose is finished. Enjoy.

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.