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.
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
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 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
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
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