Solar power and summer energy: an asana sequence with Barbra Noh for inner and outer strength that will make you shine on all levels.
Summer is an energetic season, a time of energetic abundance. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is considered the strongest yang phase of the year. “Yang” corresponds to the Sanskrit word “Ha,” which means, among other things, “sun” and stands for the active, dynamic principle within the duality of Hatha yoga. With longer days and more sunshine, summer is a time of expansion, growth, activity and creativity – and joy!
As someone who rarely does any other form of training, I expect my asana practice to offer me more than just relaxation. Over the last two years I have focused on developing physical strength. As we age, physical strength and health can decline if we do not maintain good muscle tone and flexibility. How about getting stronger instead of older?! The following asana sequence is a compact practice to build. Summer Strength
Become wiser
My goal is to become wiser and stronger with age. In my twenties and thirties, time felt different. Now, in my mid-40s, I feel the inevitable: my time here is limited. I find that I appreciate everything more, that I take myself and the world less seriously than I used to – I want to enjoy life while I have the chance! By “enjoy” I don’t mean just throwing myself into fun.
What I mean by this is truly being at peace with who I am and listening less to the inner critic who always seems to think that nothing is ever good enough. This inner critic that we all know too well weakens us and robs us of the joy that is our natural birthright. This joy is a powerful force in our lives, giving us inner strength and resilience as we navigate the ups and downs of human existence. When we talk about “core strength,” I like to think of a deep realization of our being that we don’t have even in the most difficult and challenging moments of our lives.
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