Thursday night I was woken up by my cell phone ringing with some unfortunate news, and afterwards I thought there'd be no way to hush the noise in my head and fall back asleep afterwards. I thought to myself that I needed the peace of savasana, but wasn't about to hop out of bed to run through some sun salutations. So instead I tried some mental yoga instead.
First I chanted (with my thoughts) the opening chant to the Ashtanga Practice. And then I began to do sun salutations. Counting my breath, and visualizing the movements.
Inhale, hands go up.
Exhale, fold forward.
Inhale, chest and eyes look up.
Exhale, jump back, chaturanga.
Inhale, up dog.
Exhale down dog.
Take five long breaths.
At the end of your exhale, bend your knees and look forward.
Inhale, jump forward look up.
Exhale, bend forward.
Inhale, hands go up.
Exhale, samasthiti.
Going through these mental sun salutations calmed both my body and my mind. Eventually I was able to get some sleep.
Today is a reminder that yoga is available to you both on and off the mat. Even if you have not physically practiced in a few days.
And with that I'll leave you with the translation of the ashtange closing chant, the words of which seem particularly appropirate with everything going on in the world these days.
May all be well with mankind.
May the leaders of the earth protect it in every way by keeping to the right path.
May there be goodness for those who know the earth is sacred.
May all the worlds be happy.
Namaste
Yoga has become very important nowadays. Its really important to calm down your mind, forget about all the tensions and just relax for sometime.
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