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.

Endocrine System, Aging and Spine Health

Healing the Total Body: Where Western Anatomy Meets Eastern Spiritual 

Healing Series, part 5 

Read on for more details...

Skeletal System, fears and spiritual grounding: Healing series

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

Healing Series, part 2 

Read on for more details...