Quieting

As I approach my 70th year I am still learning about the yoga poses. I am moving more simply and I find my center more quickly which is helpful for quieting the mind and gaining balance. I began learning and practicing yoga when I was 17 years old, both on and off the mat, and I have changed a LOT. I went through stages of not practicing asana, the poses. I meditated. In my twenties I preferred a more active life, backpacking, biking and downhill skiing. I did breath work.

In my thirties I returned to yoga classes and practicing more on my own. I began to realize the true strength and agility required for the body and mind with a consistent yoga practice. Cardio work, strength training, agility and flexibilty, all of these benefits could be gained on the mat.

Giving and releasing to receive and hold more, that is my intention. I come to the wall and place a couple of stacked blocks ahead of me. Leaning my sit -bones on the wall I widen my feet and take a step forward. I find a place where I could be comfortable standing, leaning for a while.

From this wall support I take a strong forward fold, a cascade of my body over a deep hip hinge. The blocks support my head, I can arrange them up or down to allow the back of my neck to soften and my eyes to still. I step into my self and the quiet and go into my center. Allowing, releasing, finding more and more ease as my body lengthens down.

Stay one or two minutes or more. When I rise, my mind is quiet.