Venus Rising

Yoga for LivingIssue: Capricorn 07

Surrender to the Snow

In Vermont, winter is not winter without snow. The ski areas pray for it and the school kids dance in excitement when snowstorms arrive suddenly and cover the earth with soft, fluffy powder. If, however, you have plans to get somewhere it may take a whole day to shovel out a buried car and once you do unbury it, the roads will usually be slick and traffic slow moving. If you plan to travel on foot, you will need to take the necessary time to bundle up and still move slowly due to heavy snowdrifts and icy sidewalks. You may go to sleep with expectations for all you will accomplish the next day, but when you wake up to three feet of snow, you must be willing to throw all those expectations out the window. Snowstorms remind us that we are not in control. They force us to stop, take a breath, and wonder at the magic of nature. 

DIRGHA PRANAYAMA/THREE-PART BREATH

When we do stop and take a breath, the three-part breath is a wonderful practice. It will help us to ground and center ourselves in the moment and calm our minds so that we are more able to appreciate what is around us. You can practice Dirgha breath either sitting or lying down. Begin by taking a few deep breaths through your nostrils and check in with how you are feeling. Gently and gradually allow the breath to lengthen. Now, to practice the three-part breath, inhale first into your belly, then your rib cage, and then your chest. As you exhale, exhale from your chest, then your rib cage, and then your belly. Continue directing the breath this way, inhaling and filling your torso bottom to top and exhaling from top to bottom. Notice where the breath moves easily and where it gets stuck. Continue to work on smoothing out and slowing down the breath. Practice for five to fifteen minutes. Sit quietly for a moment and feel the effects.

Accepting what arises embodies the deepest practice of yoga, which is learning to be in the moment. As we relax into our experience moment to moment, we become more present and engaged in our lives. When we struggle against situations, we resist our lives. I recommend the following mantra practice as a way to practice accepting ourselves as we are. The spiritual heart center lies at the center of the chest and holds the seat of unconditional love and compassion. This mantra practice is meant as a way to open ourselves to ourselves, without judgment and with an abundance of love.  

YAM MANTRA

Begin sitting upright in a comfortable position. You could either sit on the edge of a cushion or on the edge of a chair. Place both hands at the center of your chest, one on top of the other. Close your eyes and bring your internal awareness to your heart center. Take a few deep, relaxing breaths. Then take a deep breath in through your nostrils and as you exhale, chant the sound YAM (yyyyyyyyaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmm). Give time to all three syllables and try to feel the sound of the vibration through your hands as you chant. Continue for up to seven minutes and then sit quietly and feel the vibration travel through your body. 

 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.