November: Chair Pose/Standing Forward Fold

 

This posture series promotes fertility by strengthening the flow of the apana energy current in our body.  Strong apana energy flow promotes healthy reproductive function, regular
elimination and tissue detoxification.  Utkatasana strengthens the legs and back and uttanasana releases tension we hold in those areas.  On an emotional level, these poses help us get out of our head, reconnect with our "grounded Self,"  break obsessive thinking patterns and release anxieties. 



1.  Utkatasana:  Stand with feet hips' width apart, inhale and bend your knees as if you are sitting back into an imaginary chair and stretch your arms up in line with your ears.  Really feel your feet as you take 2-3 breaths in utkatasana.  Gently draw your belly button toward the spine to support your lower back.  Gaze straight ahead or, if your neck feels happy, you can raise your eyes up to the place where the wall meets the ceiling in front of you. 

2.  Uttansana:  With an exhale, release utkatasana and fold forward and down.  Knees can be slightly bent if your hamstrings are tight.  Fully release your head and neck.  Breathe here 2-3 breaths. 

3.  With an inhale return to utkatasana.  Repeat series 5 times.