Deep relaxation in Savasana

Savasana (Image © Yoga Robin®)Savasana is one of my favorite poses. Why? Not because it's a simple relaxation...

It depicts the end of a vibrant and soulful yoga practice preceding it. It's the most spiritual aspect of my yoga practice sometimes, as I assimilate the meditative state I uncovered preceding it with breathing, movement, Samskaras burning and spiritual insight. 

Namaste.

~ Robin Ellen Lucas, MA

Deep twists wring out toxins

Dragonfly (Image © Yoga Robin®)This deep twist helps to wring out toxins. It also helps to give myself a beneficial self-chiropractic adjustment to my entire back, shoulders, hips, and more.

I often thank my Ashtanga yoga practice for the gifts it's given me. This yoga pose isn't quite part of my Ashtanga practice (and probably never will be as the full pose is in the 4th series, which I don't believe is in my grasp.) In the full pose, the bent leg is behind the head rather than balancing on the back of the tricep on the arm.

Thank you. I love doing this pose whenever I can, outside of my Ashtanga yoga practice. (Dragonfly, Parsva Bhuja Dandasana—a variation).

Namaste.

~ Robin Ellen Lucas, MA

Calm the nervous system with this yoga pose

Halasana (Image © Yoga Robin®)

Perfect pose for a rainy day. Calming to the nervous system while stimulating abdominal organs and thyroid. It feels great on spine and back. The spine elongated, ligaments stretch.

I love this pose and could remain here for a long time. (Halasana pose).

I always follow this one by bending my knees around ears for an extended relaxation. (Karna Pidasana pose).

It's a great pose for winding down or for destressing. It happens to be part of the Ashtanga Yoga closing sequence. 

Sitting in a chair all day is bad for you

Ardha Matsyendrasana (Image © Yoga Robin®)

Don't sit at desk all day

It's important to take a break while working at your desk. Sitting in a chair all day is not good for you. Even for a few hours it takes a toll on your cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. It leads to muscle degeneration, organ damage, lymphatic blockage, psoas contraction, circulatory issues in legs, etc. I personally add psychological craziness to the list.

I do quick yoga breaks often in my office, in particular to keep my spine elongated and shoulders open. I practice Ashtanga yoga every morning so it's a matter of reopening what was already open earlier in the day. If I let all of my hard work succumb to the computer, I feel a combination of carpal tunnel syndrome and skeletal misalignment in my upper back.

Getting into alignment in my yoga practice each morning is such a precious thing! Keeping it is my daily at-home or at-office practice.

Namaste.

Backbends are a sure thing for unleashing prana

Natarajasana B (Image © Yoga Robin®)This pose feels so good with the strap. The Ashtanga way is to hold the toes, no strap (and for me, this means that all of my energy goes toward not dropping the foot, or even getting it). My favorite Iyengar teacher instructs this one with a strap.

It is a wonderful shoulder opener (euphoric) and doing it this way I'm feeling the Prana in my shoulders, entire back, up and down legs. I'm even smiling. Using resistance against the strap (foot and shoulders higher up) feels even better. I forget I'm even balancing. My favorite backbend...

Backbends are a sure thing for unleashing all kinds of emotional holding. For me, it's a guarantee and always leaves me happier. Some people experience fear and sadness in backbends (and I'm also one of them) as these feelings hide inside a broken heart or cold heart that doesn't feel much...but can't help but rise to the surface in backbends. Getting the energy to express itself is a wonderful way to release it.

Namaste.

Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (Image © Yoga Robin®)

Pursing a graduate degree: my process

 a celebration, an offeringMy Master of Arts degree?

The hardest question to answer about my Master’s Degree is, “So, what are you going to do with your degree?” It's as if I’m a nomad until I can answer this with precision. However, I have been utilizing my degree all along—for the past seven years as a part-time student—one semester and one class at a time. When I began in August 2008 I was already teaching yoga and I already owned my own business as a writer and digital marketer.

What turned into seven years of one class per semester in East-West Psychology turned into the best type of graduate experience I could have ever imagined. It was, in some ways, like self-led psychotherapy as I put my entire life into each one class, especially the final papers. Each semester I evaluated where I was at in life and it was always changing. I evolved at my own pace and could not imagine seven years ago being where I am now.

What I intend to do with my degree and with my professional life is to enhance it with the knowledge, credentials and confidence I've gained, which will bridge into my writing and yoga teaching. I'll go beyond private yoga lessons and posting my written version of passions on the internet as I've become accustomed.

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Cardiovascular System, Blood

Healing the Total Body: Where Western Anatomy Meets Eastern Spiritual Science

Healing Series, part 10

Read on for more details...

Digestive System, nutrition and metabolism

Healing the Total Body: Where Western Anatomy Meets Eastern Spiritual Science

Healing Series, part 9

Read on for more details...