A Hatha class stretches the neck, chest, and shoulders to relieve the muscles strained by working at a desk. This class involves hip-openers, twists, and lunges. Pranayamas create a sense of calm and groundedness. Focus on the breath and slower-paced movements with long holds to deregulate the nervous system.
Style: Hatha
Duration: 30-minutes
Level: open-levels
Props: none
Focus: shoulder and neck stretches.
Location: Lila Familia Production Studio, Vancouver, BC
Music: none
Yoga is about bringing ourselves into the moment through the breath and physical body. We do this to create more calm and equanimity in body and mind. This lowers our stress and deepens our sense of well-being.
May we recognize that we shift our energies and physical bodies as we breathe and move.
Opening Movement
Come up to stand at the top of your mat.
Close your eyes and begin to inhale and exhale deeply through the nose.
Turn your palms forward.
This is a standing expression of savasana, corpse pose.
Bend your knees and roll down into a standing forward fold.
Moving Meditation – Boa Breath
This pranayama is from Chien Lung by Constantine Darling; it’s from the martial art Tai Chi. 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 breath is a moving form of meditation and encourages a meditative state.
How to do it:
Floor Poses
Baddha Konasana (seated bound angle pose) variations
Adho Mukha Shvanasana (downward dog)
Anjaneyasana (low lunge) variation
Mrigasana (deer pose)
Repeat the same sequence from a down dog on the other leg.
Backbends
Salabasana (locust pose)
Dhanurasana (bow pose)
Closing Poses
Balasana (child’s pose)
Marichyasana (seated spinal twist)
Ardha Gomukhasana (half cow face) variation
Kumbhaka Pranayama (aka breath retention)
Kumbhaka is a form of breath retention; do not do this pranayama if you have difficulty breathing or anxiety. Breathe normally with longer inhales and exhales. If you take kumbhaka pranayama, hold to a point where you don’t feel any discomfort.
Benefits of Kumbhaka include:
Maha Bandha (aka, the great seal)
Maha Bandha is the combination of all three bandhas that includes Mula bandha (the pelvic/root lock), uddiyana bandha (core/abdominal lock), jalandhara bandha (chin/throat lock).
A bandha is an energetic lock/seal we create in the body. Bandhas channel and move the Prana through the body with more integrity.
Benefits of Maha Bandha:
It strengthens the pelvic area and the nervous system. It supports immunity, betters digestion and the inner organs, promotes strength and energy in the body.