Yoga Gurus

XIV PA SCHIMOTTANASANA A-C • INTENSE WEST STRETCH OR SITTING FORWARD BEND Paschima=west Uttana=intense stretch A 1. Inhale, arms up, look up to thumbs. 2. Exhale, bend forward, hold onto big toes with middle and index fingers. 3. Inhale, head up, straighten spine, lift chest and look toward 3rd eye. 4. Exhale, bend forward, pulling elbows out to sides to help bring chest to thighs, then nose to knees. (In A, B, and C pull shoulder blades back down the spine as the arms stretch forward to create oppositional pull.) Drishti: nose. Hold for 5-8 breaths. Modified posture: hands to ankles or shins, look up, spine straight. B 1. Inhale, head up, look up between eyebrows, lengthen spine, this time hold around sides of feet. 2. Exhale, bend forward, go a little deeper into the posture and bring chin to knees, elbows should be above the ground out to the side, not touching the floor, feet flexed. Drishti: nose. Hold for 5-8 breaths.. C 1. Inhale, head up,

XIII DANDASANA • STAFF POSE Danda=staff, rod 1. Sit with legs extended out in front and hands on floor by hips with fingers facing the feet, sitting up with spine straight. Place chin to chest in jalandhara bandha, shoulders rolled open and scapula pulled down the back. Drishti: nose. Hold for 5-8 breaths.

XII VIRABHADRASANA A-B • WARRIOR Vira=hero A From downward dog, Adho Mukha Svanasana 1. Inhale, step right foot forward between hands, bend right knee to 90 degrees, square the hips, press back heel and outside of foot into floor, as you lift arms up over head, palms together, gaze upward and really emphasize mula bandha. Drishti: thumbs. Hold for 5-8 breaths. 2. Inhale, straighten right leg, come up and turn around to other side, bend left knee, arms up over head. Virabhdrasana A, left side 5-8 breaths. B 9. Inhale, keep the trunk straight, a feeling of being pulled from four directions, revolve hips open to right, arms out to sides looking over middle finger of left hand. Bend left knee, tuck pelvis, lift chest. Press back heel and outside of back foot into floor. Drishti: tip of middle finger. Hold for 5-8 breaths. 10. Inhale, come up, straighten legs, revolve around to other side, bend right knee over right ankle, Virabhadrasana B, right sid

XI Utkatasana – Fierce pose Utka=fierce or powerful 1. Inhale, hands up, look up to thumbs. 2. Exhale, forward bend, gaze nose. 3. Inhale, head up, gaze 3rd eye. 4. Exhale, bend knees, jump back to Chaturanga. 5. Inhale to upward dog, lift chest. 6. Exhale back to downward dog. 7. Inhale, head up, bend knees and jump to top of mat, feet together. Straighten or lift upper body to erect position with knees bent, palms together but not clasped, arms as straight as possible pointed to ceiling. Deepen posture with each breath. Drishti: thumbs Hold for 5-8 breaths. With last inhale deepen 1/2 way down towards floor. 8. Exhale, come up and bend forward in a swan dive, arms to sides. Look toward 3rd eye and then tip of nose. 9. Inhale, head up, look between eyebrows. 10. Exhale, bend knees and jump back to Chaturanga. 11. Inhale, upward dog. 12. Exhale, downward dog.