This class features shoulder and chest openings to express the heart. Move at a pace that serves as you breathe deeply into your body. Close your practice in child’s pose, seated meditation, or savasana.
Style: Slow Flow
Duration: 20-minutes
Level: open-levels
Props: none
Focus: slow movement, deep breath.
Location: Salt Spring Island, BC
Music: Boa Spotify Playlist
Boas are observers; they do not strike until it is absolutely necessary. When they do move, they move slowly. The intention for today’s practice is for you to widen the scope of your awareness and move slowly as you can.
Moving Meditation
Boa Breath – A Martial Art practice from Chien Lung created by Constantine Darling.
To create the Bhavana (the mood) in your body, soften your tongue and slightly open your mouth. Allow the gaze to become soft so you can take in the periphery; widen the lens. Inhale through the nose and exhale out the mouth. Take in heat as you inhale, and create a cooling effect as you exhale.
Come up to stand in the center of your mat with your feet hip distance apart.
Boa Breath has a calming effect on the body as the gaze is soft, the movements are slow, and the breath is deep. This style of pranayama encourages a meditative state.
Wave 1
Tadasana (mountain pose)
Urdhva Hastasana (hands to sky)
Uttanasana (forward fold)
Ardha Uttanasana (half lift)
Anjaneyasana (low lunge) flowing variation with boa breath arms
Adho mukha svanasana (down dog)
Phalakasana (plank pose)
Chaturanga
Bhujangasana (cobra pose) on fingertips
Phalakasana (plank pose)
Adho mukha svanasana (down dog)
Eka pada adho mukha svanasana (3-legged down dog)
Anjaneyasana (low lunge) flowing variation with boa breath arms
Uttanasana (forward fold)
Urdhva Hastasana (hands to sky)
Tadasana (mountain pose)
Repeat the same sequence on the other leg.
**Take several cycles of boa breath between each side.
Wave 2
Tadasana (mountain pose)
Urdhva Hastasana (hands to sky)
Uttanasana (forward fold)
Ardha Uttanasana (half lift)
Adho mukha svanasana (down dog)
Phalakasana (plank pose)
Chaturanga
Shalabasana (locust) variation with feet on the ground
Bhujangasana (cobra pose) OR Urdhva Mukha Shvanasana (upward dog)
Adho mukha svanasana (down dog)
Eka pada adho mukha svanasana (3-legged down dog)
Virabhadrasana I (warrior 1) flowing variation with boa breath arms
Anjaneyasana (low lunge)
Vasisthasana (side plank) variation with the top leg on the ground
Marichyasana (seated spinal twist) facing the long edge of your mat
Anjaneyasana (low lunge)
Garudasana (eagle pose) flowing variation with boa breath
Uttanasana (forward fold)
Repeat the same sequence on the other leg.
**Take several cycles of boa breath between each side.
Floor Postures
Balasana (child’s pose), stay here or take seated meditation or Savasana.