Day 18
Timer on…
I want to re-examine the things I typed, yesterday, because I typed them and then ran out of time to (maybe) have some reflections that were meaningful for the journey I am on…
· Camel/Ustrasana: “ ‘Ustra’ means ‘camel’ in Sanskrit. It also has been translated as meaning “that which casts light on the mind” and “that which can help to release knowledge when there is a quest for it.” This is where there is a connection with the camel: camels can survive in the desert by storing water and being able to tap into their store of nourishment when they need it. Likewise, we store knowledge in our minds, which we can use to nourish our spirits if we learn how to tap into it. The Camel revitalizes the mind.” “Benefits: Increases mobility in the spine and shoulders; increases the flexibility of the spine; nourishes and revitalizes the spinal nerves with a fresh blood supply; improves posture; stretches the abdomen, helping to reduce fat; expands the chest and helps to counter a hunched back and rounded shoulders; opens the throat area and relaxes the neck; it is helpful for asthmas, bronchitis and other respiratory complaints; and it is beneficial during pregnancy (although it must be done with caution).”
So…I typed this yesterday and I was struck by the quote, “that which casts light on the mind” and “that which can help to release knowledge when there is a quest for it.” Obviously, I am on a quest of sorts, this 69 Day Journey of poses to find a transition out of the painful mourning I have been experiencing from my father’s death…which I had hoped would have abated, or, at least lessened in the 3 years since, but…it is still something that causes enormous pain in my life…so…as an American, who has no cultural transitions from these monumental moments in one’s life as a human…I’m trying to steal one from the Hindis.
“Likewise, we store knowledge in our minds, which we can use to nourish our spirits if we learn how to tap into it.” Much of the acting training I experienced at Cornish College of the Arts from 1996-2000 involved methods that were to “tap” into our intuition to find that universal human experience that is stored in all human beings, and because of that training I have always trusted my intuition, and sometimes I don’t even question it…which also created a moment at Cornish where one instructor told me he thought I didn’t care about my process, but…what he didn’t realize is that I very much did care about my process…I just didn’t want to mess with it, and then lose it… So…this 69-Day Journey to find a transition out of mourning is using yoga to find some way out of my mourning. I am a kinesthetic learner and, thus, I don’t think I’m getting out of this mourning without the physical/tactile world. Can I prove any of this? No, but I do hope that the “…knowledge [I store] in [my] mind…can…nourish [my] spirit if [I] learn how to tap into it.”
· Sphinx/Salamba Bhujangasana & Cobra/Bhujangasana & Upward Facing Dog/Urdhva Mukha Svanasana: “In Sanskrit, “Bhujanga” means “snake” or “cobra.” Bhujangasana is a posture that resembles a cobra.” “Benefits: Strengthens the back muscles; increases flexibility and mobility of the spine and vertebrae, particularly in the upper and middle back; increases blood circulation to the spine and nerves; stretches and strengthens neck and shoulder muscles; expands the chest and frees the throat area; strengthens and tones abdominal muscles and organs; helps digestion and can alleviate flatulence; strengthens the function of and revitalizes the kidneys and adrenal glands; and increases blood flow to the pelvic area, nourishing the organs.” I didn’t finish typing, yesterday the Upward Facing Dog/Urdhva Mukha Svanasana, so…I’ll do that now: “ ‘Urdhva” means “upward facing” and “mukha” means “downward facing,” while “svana” means a dog. This posture imitates a dog stretching.” “Benefits: Stretches and relaxes the spine; increases the flexibility of the spine, hamstrings, calf muscles and shoulders; improves concentration; helpful for insomnia; expands the chest; gives the abdominal organs a gentle massage; helpful for anemia.”
Anyway, in reflection of this series of upward-facing-snake-like poses, I have to say I like that it nourishes the internal organs because, I have hypothesized that the 20 lbs. I gained after my dad’s death, which has not left after dieting and exercise…is emotional and “inside” so…here’s to hoping I’m right.
That’s all for today…
Timer on…
I want to re-examine the things I typed, yesterday, because I typed them and then ran out of time to (maybe) have some reflections that were meaningful for the journey I am on…
· Camel/Ustrasana: “ ‘Ustra’ means ‘camel’ in Sanskrit. It also has been translated as meaning “that which casts light on the mind” and “that which can help to release knowledge when there is a quest for it.” This is where there is a connection with the camel: camels can survive in the desert by storing water and being able to tap into their store of nourishment when they need it. Likewise, we store knowledge in our minds, which we can use to nourish our spirits if we learn how to tap into it. The Camel revitalizes the mind.” “Benefits: Increases mobility in the spine and shoulders; increases the flexibility of the spine; nourishes and revitalizes the spinal nerves with a fresh blood supply; improves posture; stretches the abdomen, helping to reduce fat; expands the chest and helps to counter a hunched back and rounded shoulders; opens the throat area and relaxes the neck; it is helpful for asthmas, bronchitis and other respiratory complaints; and it is beneficial during pregnancy (although it must be done with caution).”
So…I typed this yesterday and I was struck by the quote, “that which casts light on the mind” and “that which can help to release knowledge when there is a quest for it.” Obviously, I am on a quest of sorts, this 69 Day Journey of poses to find a transition out of the painful mourning I have been experiencing from my father’s death…which I had hoped would have abated, or, at least lessened in the 3 years since, but…it is still something that causes enormous pain in my life…so…as an American, who has no cultural transitions from these monumental moments in one’s life as a human…I’m trying to steal one from the Hindis.
“Likewise, we store knowledge in our minds, which we can use to nourish our spirits if we learn how to tap into it.” Much of the acting training I experienced at Cornish College of the Arts from 1996-2000 involved methods that were to “tap” into our intuition to find that universal human experience that is stored in all human beings, and because of that training I have always trusted my intuition, and sometimes I don’t even question it…which also created a moment at Cornish where one instructor told me he thought I didn’t care about my process, but…what he didn’t realize is that I very much did care about my process…I just didn’t want to mess with it, and then lose it… So…this 69-Day Journey to find a transition out of mourning is using yoga to find some way out of my mourning. I am a kinesthetic learner and, thus, I don’t think I’m getting out of this mourning without the physical/tactile world. Can I prove any of this? No, but I do hope that the “…knowledge [I store] in [my] mind…can…nourish [my] spirit if [I] learn how to tap into it.”
· Sphinx/Salamba Bhujangasana & Cobra/Bhujangasana & Upward Facing Dog/Urdhva Mukha Svanasana: “In Sanskrit, “Bhujanga” means “snake” or “cobra.” Bhujangasana is a posture that resembles a cobra.” “Benefits: Strengthens the back muscles; increases flexibility and mobility of the spine and vertebrae, particularly in the upper and middle back; increases blood circulation to the spine and nerves; stretches and strengthens neck and shoulder muscles; expands the chest and frees the throat area; strengthens and tones abdominal muscles and organs; helps digestion and can alleviate flatulence; strengthens the function of and revitalizes the kidneys and adrenal glands; and increases blood flow to the pelvic area, nourishing the organs.” I didn’t finish typing, yesterday the Upward Facing Dog/Urdhva Mukha Svanasana, so…I’ll do that now: “ ‘Urdhva” means “upward facing” and “mukha” means “downward facing,” while “svana” means a dog. This posture imitates a dog stretching.” “Benefits: Stretches and relaxes the spine; increases the flexibility of the spine, hamstrings, calf muscles and shoulders; improves concentration; helpful for insomnia; expands the chest; gives the abdominal organs a gentle massage; helpful for anemia.”
Anyway, in reflection of this series of upward-facing-snake-like poses, I have to say I like that it nourishes the internal organs because, I have hypothesized that the 20 lbs. I gained after my dad’s death, which has not left after dieting and exercise…is emotional and “inside” so…here’s to hoping I’m right.
That’s all for today…
RSS Feed