Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Uneven Wings

Today I saw the dragon-fly
Come from the wells where he did lie.
An inner impulse rent the veil
Of his old husk: from head to tail
Came out clear plates of sapphire mail.
He dried his wings: like gauze they grew;
Thro’ crofts and pastures wet with dew
A living flash of light he flew.

Alfred Lord Tennyson, The Dragon-Fly (1833)

As I slowly press my body up away from my yoga mat, I walk my hands back under my shoulders, pull my forehead away from a supportive block, and lengthen my spine. My eyes open, and I see the simple beauty of the sunset through a stained glass picture. A strategically placed frame in the center window of the yoga studio, where I have the pleasure of practicing and teaching every week. The multifaceted rays of the sun create a more vibrant hue of blue, green, purple and orange. The image of a Dragonfly radiates its light towards me, uplifted, engaged and powerfully present. The Dragonfly has caught my attention.

I look down and see another image of a Dragonfly on my yoga mat. Why have I not seen this before? My old, thin, frayed, yoga mat? The black outline of one large Dragonfly and two smaller ones underneath.  Here, now, I am awakened by the delightful surprise of noticing these small, vibrant beings.

The Dragonfly belongs to the order Odonato, the suborder Anisoptera, which is Greek for "uneven wings". They have inhabited Earth for almost 300 million years and exist on every continent except Antarctica. The metallic iridescence on the wings of a dragonfly can show different colors depending on the angle and polarity of the light. With a short life span, the dragonfly truly lives in the moment. Almost 80% of it's brain power is dedicated to sight, and it can see 360 degrees around. There is a long history of folklore and myth associated with the Dragonfly. In many cultures, the dragonfly is revered as an image of victory, prosperity, harmony, happiness, speed, and purity. The dragonfly symbolizes change in perspective and self realization towards a deeper meaning of life. With strength and agility, the dragonfly can move up, down, forwards, and backwards at 20-30 miles per hour, twisting, extending from side to side or hovering like a helicopter, with minimal wing flapping. Like the dragonfly, the human spine has the ability to move in all six directions. The practice of yoga is a concentration on the simplicity of the moment, the dragonfly is an inspiring creature of precision, elegance and grace.
The dragonfly’s agile flight and its ability to move in all six directions exude a sense of power and poise - something that comes only with age and maturity.
The dragonfly can move at an amazing 45 miles an hour,  hover like a helicopter fly backwards like a hummingbird, fly straight up, down and on either side. What is mind blowing is the fact that it can do this while flapping its wings a mere 30 times a minute while mosquitoes and houseflies need to flap their wings 600 and 1000 times a minute respectively.
- See more at: http://www.dragonfly-site.com/meaning-symbolize.html#sthash.mg2CKaQy.dpufThe Dragonfly symbolizes change in perspective and self realization towards a deeper meaning of life. This amazing insect is agile, graceful, strong, moving in all six directions. They can fly around 20-30 miles per hour, backwards, up, down, hovering like a helicopter, extending and twisting on either side, with minimal wing flapping. Like the Dragonfly, the human spine has the ability to move in six directions.

YOGA is the union of MIND, BODY, and BREATH.

There are many different styles of yoga, but the heart of the physical practice focuses on the breath and movements of the spine. The six movements of the spine interweave into every yoga posture, providing a solid base from which to flow from one pose into the next. When we can gather energy and strength from the ground, the body is able to rise up, extend, open and release the spaces between the vertebrae. Vanda Scaravelli describes this freedom of movement in her book, Awakening The Spine. "Gravity is like a magnet attracting us to earth, but this attraction is not limited to pulling us down, it also allows us to stretch in the opposite direction towards the sky."

The world around us is a busy place, there are distractions around every corner, constant noise, interruptions and chaos. In an effort to find wholeness and pull the pieces of the self back together, it is vital to find space and time to relax, observe, connect to breath and physical sensation. This series of postures strengthen the spine and corresponding muscles, improving posture, alignment and chronic back pain. A consistent practice of yoga offers many benefits of a healthy body and mind. Move slowly, guided by comfort and breath.

Back-bend (flexion)
Forward bend (extension)
Lateral side stretching right and left
Spinal twist right and left

Begin in table position, on your hands and knees, elongate the spine in a neutral position of the pelvis. Lengthening through the crown of the head, and base of the spine, while pressing down through the pads of the fingers, base of the palms, and tops of the feet. Allow the breath to move in and out freely.


Inhale deeply, widening the rib cage and pulling the breath into the belly. When you are ready to release your breath, tuck your chin towards your chest. Tuck the pelvis, shifting towards the first movement of rounding the spine, a forward bend. On your exhale, pull the naval into the spine, hollowing out the belly. You may sway from side to side to squeeze the breath out completely.


When you are ready to inhale, pull the breath in through both nostrils. Feel the upper chest lift, the rib cage widen and the breath in the belly. Shift the front of the pelvis forward, extending into the second movement of the spine. Lift your heart and your gaze directing the breath into the belly. When ready, exhale, rounding the spine, tucking the pelvis and the chin. Continue with these movements until you feel complete in coordinating your breath with the movement of your spine.


The third and fourth movements of the spine are lateral stretches. Keeping hips aligned over knees, with a neutral spine and pelvis, reach toward the top right corner of your yoga mat. Soften the forehead down onto the right forearm and tuck your chin to your chest. Allow the left hand to lift through the fingers or press down at the base of your palm. Draw the breath into the left side of the body, feeling the extension of the stretch, exhale slowly. Inhale, lifting forehead away from your forearm and walk the hands toward the top left corner of your yoga mat. Release through the right forearm and draw your forehead down, tucking your chin as you exhale. Continue to reach, lengthen and activate the right hand as you breathe in deeply, opening the spaces of the right rib cage. Exhale slowly and return to neutral spine. 


The fifth and sixth movements of the spine are twists. From a neutral spine, widen the knees to the width of your yoga mat and press the hips down and back towards the heels. Slide the hands under the shoulders, then lift the right arm out to the side and inhale. As you exhale, thread the right arm under the left arm pressing down through the top of the right hand. Enjoy the ability to spiral the spine and extend as you press the right shoulder and side of the head towards the yoga mat. Inhale into the twist, filling up the back body deepening the stretch around the right shoulder and scapula. The left arm may be relaxed under the left shoulder (as shown), or walk your hand forward towards the front of the yoga mat. Exhale slowly. When you are ready to release and switch sides, inhale and press into the left hand, lifting up and unraveling the right arm from the twist. Exhale, realigning hands under shoulders. Press the right hand into the yoga mat for stability, inhale and lift the left arm out to the side. Exhale as you thread the left arm under the right. Walk the right arm forward, lengthening into the stretch or draw the left hand underneath the left shoulder. Breathing in and breathing out.


As you release from the spinal twist, walk your hands forward (as shown), or wrap your arms around your lower body. Realign your knees and press your hips down towards your heels. Soften your forehead down towards the yoga mat or onto a block for support. Inhale filling your upper spine, rib cage and low back with breath. Retain the breath as long as it feels comfortable, then slowly exhale as you pull your naval into your spine, shifting the breath up and out through your nostrils. Allow your mind to be anchored by the constancy of your breath, thoughts will flow in, release them gently. The stillness of the physical body will transform into a subtle, rhythmic movement guided by your breath. Gravity takes hold of the lower body, and at the same time brings lightness to the upper body, creating an image of  uneven wings folded along your spine.



BREATHE ~ Relax ~ FEEL ~ Watch ~ ALLOW ~ Let Go

The dragonfly’s agile flight and its ability to move in all six directions exude a sense of power and poise - something that comes only with age and maturity.
The dragonfly can move at an amazing 45 miles an hour,  hover like a helicopter fly backwards like a hummingbird, fly straight up, down and on either side. What is mind blowing is the fact that it can do this while flapping its wings a mere 30 times a minute while mosquitoes and houseflies need to flap their wings 600 and 1000 times a minute respectively.
- See more at: http://www.dragonfly-site.com/meaning-symbolize.html#sthash.mg2CKaQy.dpuf
The dragonfly’s agile flight and its ability to move in all six directions exude a sense of power and poise - something that comes only with age and maturity.
The dragonfly can move at an amazing 45 miles an hour,  hover like a helicopter fly backwards like a hummingbird, fly straight up, down and on either side. What is mind blowing is the fact that it can do this while flapping its wings a mere 30 times a minute while mosquitoes and houseflies need to flap their wings 600 and 1000 times a minute respectively.
- See more at: http://www.dragonfly-site.com/meaning-symbolize.html#sthash.mg2CKaQy.dpuf