Taking Flight, Landing Light & Balancing Without Fright
Written by Jen M.
Greetings, Funky ones!
We really soared through September with our theme of “all the birds,” but we just can’t stop– we welcome October with the theme of CONTINUED FLYING. That’s right- more birds– there are sooo many asanas named after birds that a month couldn’t even scratch the surface- but also think arm balances like flying lizard and dragonfly- and even poses like butterfly, grasshopper, and airplane! And honestly your Funky team here still has a nest egg of bird puns to get out of our systems. Now, climb under my wing as I share three fresh and fun flying concepts we might play with in this month to come: taking flight, landing light, and arm balancing without fright.
- Taking Flight: the upward or downward tragectory of your torso in yoga poses and transitions where your trunk is horizontal-ish (think halfway lift, airplane, chair, active side lunge) can really change what muscle groups are firing up. For example, take airplane pose, and notice how very different it feels for your torso to be tilted up like in take off versus tilted down like a landing plane. Notice how a halfway lift feels with heart higher than hips versus chest low. If you want to go strong on the bird theme, bring awareness to how you can change the angle of your torso and wings in drinking bird, sparrow, seagull, hawk, and flamingo. There is no right or wrong here, but there sure is room for exploration, adjusting, and noticing! This all can deeply impact the overall sensations in your physical and mental practice, as well as your balance of effort and ease (in yogaland, Sthira and Sukha.)
- Landing Light: Speaking of impact- there are so many ways to build soft landings as we hop to the top of the mat or jump back toward chaturanga. This month your pilot- er… yoga teacher- may share wonderful tips, tricks, skills, and drills on how to engage your breaks and help you soar. Fun fact- in a jump forward, your “breaks” are your fingertips gripping (hasta bandha) and deep core firing. There are so many ways we can work together to bring lightness, play, and even some extra hang time in these transitions.
- Arm balancing without Fright! It may be spooky season, but please never fear an arm balance at Funky Buddha! We’ll flip these poses in all directions and utilize props and practices for every bird in the room to find success. Have you taken crow pose on your back? Bird of paradise with a foot on the wall? Side lying-lizard flying?! Grab a block (or 2 or 3 or 4!) as we use arm balancing poses and concepts to stretch, strengthen, feel, focus- and sometimes fly.
I’ll leave you with just a few lovely studio October updates before we head into another fine fall month of flying-themed yoga: The early bird gets the worm, so be sure to pre-register for classes as we move toward our busier (chillier) season. We’ve added a few extra daytime class time slots to support your practice, dear ones. More of a night owl? 9 pm classes have returned to our Eastown studio! If you’re a songbird, you’ll love our special pop up class called “Breath and Soundbath” where rest meets focused breathwork and ends with a soothing sound bath of crystal bowls. And if you like to flit in and out of the studio in a flash whilst building strength like an eagle, please enjoy our “Core 30” pop up– a targeted 30 minute low-to-the-mat class to enhance your deep core strength and stamina.
I’m finally out of berd werds, so for now, goodbye.
