Thursday 13: Yoga Poses

In keeping with my take on last week’s centered theme, I thought I’d share with you 13 yoga poses – some that I like, and some that I don’t. This is my first Thursday Thirteen. We’ll see whether I can actually come with 13 things to talk about each week, but we’ll give it a try for now.

1. Child’s Pose: This can be a good pose to get you into your yoga for the day. It’s a gentle stretch, low to the ground, and is a good place to start focusing on your breathing.
2. Chaturanga: Ah, push-up pose. I’ve never been terribly good at push-ups, and Chaturanga is made especially hard by forcing you to keep your elbows closer to body. It makes you work your triceps a lot more, and my triceps have never really been my strongest muscle group.
3. Crow: Every now and then, I’m asked to do a yoga pose where I have to balance entirely on my arms. Mainly, these involve me flailing around, occasionally getting into the pose for a few seconds. More often than not, however, I end up falling on the floor. With Crow, I can almost do the pose, but only when my elbows are bent.
4. Half-Moon: I like half-moon, but it’s surprisingly hard to keep my balance.
5. Cat
6. Cow: Cat and Cow go hand in hand. You inhale as you go into cow, opening your chest, dropping your belly, and as you exhale you move into cat – rounding the back and dropping the head. I like doing this sequence, and it’s a good warm up to your practice.
7. Triangle: I also like triangle. It’s not too technically difficult, but you can focus and really get a good stretch out of it. Plus, I think it looks cool.
8. Eagle: Seriously. This pose is crazy. It’s a remarkably good stretch through the shoulders and arms when I get the top half right, but my legs just can’t wrap around themselves all that well. Keeping your balance is hard!
9. Reverse Warrior: I always feel graceful in reverse warrior, although I have to be careful in any of the warrior poses to protect my knees.
10. Pigeon: I love pigeon. Anyone who has seen me knows that I don’t sit in normal positions, so pigeon is quite natural for me. You can do a forward bend from this pose, and I could just stay there for quite some time. Comfy.
11. Tree: Tree amuses me, and I’m not quite sure why. It’s a pose I don’t think I’ve ever really done during a yoga class, but it’s one I just like to do anyway.
12. Dead Bug’s Pose: The first time I heard of dead bug’s pose I had to laugh, but it really is a good description. Lie on your back, grab your toes and let your legs drop open. It’s a good pose as you’re finishing up – a relaxing stretch.
13. Savasana: The end of your yoga practice. Relaxation. Surrender. Good night. ::ashoo::