Virabhadrasana 3
Come to the top of your mat, into Tadasana. Root down into the ground, feeling your connection to the earth through all four corners of each foot. As you take a few long, slow breaths, consider this quote about santosa: “Contentment is a dynamic and constructive attitude that brings us to look at things in a new way.” You have the power to choose how you react to your practice of Virabhadrasana 3 today. Will you become frustrated and struggle to maintain your balance? Or will you find a way to move with the flow of your body and accept the results without judgment?
Step your left foot back into position for Virabhadrasana 1, bending your right leg. Ground through your feet again, especially the outside edge of your left foot and the big toe mound of your right foot. Inhale your arms up toward the sun, bringing your palms together as you gaze to the ceiling. Exhale and soften the lower ribs to the frontal hip bones. Lower your torso over your right leg, extending your arms in front of you. Inhale and get longer through the spine, feeling all four sides of your waist lengthen. Hold here through your exhale. On your next inhale, press strongly into your right foot and lift your torso, raising your arms to the ceiling. Exhale and come to Tadasana.
As you take a few breaths here, notice how your body feels. Are you feeling strong and grounded? Or is something in your body uncomfortable and telling you to take it easy during today’s practice? There is no need for judgment. As we repeat Virabhadrasana 3 and come into the full pose, do what feels best for your body. If the modification feels better for you, just remain there. If you need blocks, place them in front of your mat so they will be available.
Step your left foot back into position for Virabhadrasana 1, bending your right leg. Ground through your feet again, especially the outside edge of your left foot and the big toe mound of your right foot. Inhale your arms up toward the sun, bringing your palms together as you gaze to the ceiling. Exhale and soften the lower ribs to the frontal hip bones. Lower your torso over your right leg, extending your arms in front of you. Inhale and get longer through the spine, feeling all four sides of your waist lengthen. Press strongly into your right foot, firming the muscles on the front of your thigh. Exhale and straighten your right leg as you lift your left leg, extending it to the back of the room. Flex the foot strongly and work to bring your left hip parallel to the floor by spiraling your inner thigh to the ceiling. Hold here for one breath. On your next inhale, root into the floor with your right foot and lift your torso, raising your arms to the ceiling and you slowly lower your left foot to the floor. Exhale and come to Tadasana.
Choosing to remain content in our hearts and minds despite what happens in our environment is a powerful tool that allows us to create a peaceful life for ourselves. Make contentment a conscious choice. If we do not learn to be as flexible in mind as we seek to be in body through asana, our mental inflexibility becomes a weakness. To resist nature is to create suffering, for prakriti is ever flowing, ever changing. Move with the of nature and you can bring santosa into your life.
Step your left foot back into position for Virabhadrasana 1, bending your right leg. Ground through your feet again, especially the outside edge of your left foot and the big toe mound of your right foot. Inhale your arms up toward the sun, bringing your palms together as you gaze to the ceiling. Exhale and soften the lower ribs to the frontal hip bones. Lower your torso over your right leg, extending your arms in front of you. Inhale and get longer through the spine, feeling all four sides of your waist lengthen. Hold here through your exhale. On your next inhale, press strongly into your right foot and lift your torso, raising your arms to the ceiling. Exhale and come to Tadasana.
As you take a few breaths here, notice how your body feels. Are you feeling strong and grounded? Or is something in your body uncomfortable and telling you to take it easy during today’s practice? There is no need for judgment. As we repeat Virabhadrasana 3 and come into the full pose, do what feels best for your body. If the modification feels better for you, just remain there. If you need blocks, place them in front of your mat so they will be available.
Step your left foot back into position for Virabhadrasana 1, bending your right leg. Ground through your feet again, especially the outside edge of your left foot and the big toe mound of your right foot. Inhale your arms up toward the sun, bringing your palms together as you gaze to the ceiling. Exhale and soften the lower ribs to the frontal hip bones. Lower your torso over your right leg, extending your arms in front of you. Inhale and get longer through the spine, feeling all four sides of your waist lengthen. Press strongly into your right foot, firming the muscles on the front of your thigh. Exhale and straighten your right leg as you lift your left leg, extending it to the back of the room. Flex the foot strongly and work to bring your left hip parallel to the floor by spiraling your inner thigh to the ceiling. Hold here for one breath. On your next inhale, root into the floor with your right foot and lift your torso, raising your arms to the ceiling and you slowly lower your left foot to the floor. Exhale and come to Tadasana.
Choosing to remain content in our hearts and minds despite what happens in our environment is a powerful tool that allows us to create a peaceful life for ourselves. Make contentment a conscious choice. If we do not learn to be as flexible in mind as we seek to be in body through asana, our mental inflexibility becomes a weakness. To resist nature is to create suffering, for prakriti is ever flowing, ever changing. Move with the of nature and you can bring santosa into your life.
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