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of Joy
Breath of Joy
Breath of Joy is a rapid and warming breathing practice that coordinates the movement of the arms, legs and upper
body with the breath. Stand with your feet a little wider than hip width. Toes are turned slightly in. Bend and
straighten the knees as you inhale through the nose and simultaneously cross and swing your arms overhead. Bend
and straighten the legs again as you exhale through the nose to swing your arms back down and then inhale to
swing the arms (without crossing) back overhead, legs bending and straightening. Exhale to swing the arms down
and slightly behind you as you release your upper body over the legs. Inhale to rise up and repeat the pattern.
Kapha Focus:
Rapid movements and strong breath. Spread the muscles and skin of the chest.
Benefits:
Uplifting, energizing, and cleansing.
Kapha Focus:
Fully filling the lungs as you tap the chest.
Benefits:
Stimulates the thymus gland which builds immunity and massages the lungs, heart, bronchial tubes and throat
through the vibration of the tapping.
Angel Wings
Standing with your feet hip distance apart, toes turned slightly in, bring the palms together and place the thumbs at
your heart. On a deep inhalation bend the knees and then slowly straighten the legs as you press the palms away
from you and overhead. Exhale to reach the arms out to the sides, fingers spread wide and then bend the knees as
the palms join together and rest at your heart.
Kapha Focus:
Gaze upward, open the arms wide, spread the chest and shine your heart out to the world.
Benefits:
Encourages the flow of prana (life-force), gently opens the chest and connects us to the breath and subtle energies.
Kapha Focus:
Expand your chest, lift the heart and roll your shoulders back. Practice extended mountain pose by externally
rotating the arms and reaching them overhead. Experiment with rotating the femurs internally and externally.
Notice the different sensations in your body.
Benefits:
Increases focus, concentration and balance.
Hands at Heart
Arms Overhead
Bend at Hips
Forward Fold
Arms Overhead
Plank Pose
Plank Variation
Arms Overhead
Forward Fold
Arms Overhead
Hands at Heart
Kapha Focus:
Gaze upward and spread the fingers each time you reach the arms overhead. Keep moving; do not pause for long
between poses. Use a strong breath to guide you through the salutation.
Benefits:
Stimulates circulation, stretches and strengthens the entire body and builds heat.
Kapha Focus:
Take deep breaths and feel the breath spread through the chest area.
Benefits:
Builds strength in the thighs and abdomen as well as builds lung capacity and stamina.
the hips and the hands close into tight fists. Continue to balance and on the next inhalation, stretch the arms out,
open the hands to spread the fingers and bend the right knee. Continue the movement and balance for several
breaths. Repeat on the other side.
Kapha Focus:
Keep the chest lifted and shoulders back. Feel a quality of buoyancy through the extended leg.
Benefits:
Increases heat and strength in the muscles, builds balance and stability, and tones the abdomen.
Warrior I / Virabhadrasana I
From mountain pose, step your left foot back. Turn the left foot out about 45 degrees. Keep the right toes pointed
forward. Inhale to lengthen the sides of the body and exhale to bend the right leg. Make sure your right knee is
directly on top of your right ankle. You may place the hands at the hips or on an inhalation extend the arms
laterally and overhead. Palms face one another and the arms run along side the ears. Maintain fluidity by moving
with the breath. Inhale to slightly straighten the right leg and exhale to bend the leg.
Kapha Focus:
Lifting and opening the chest. Gaze upward and if it is comfortable for your neck, tilt the head slightly back to
open the throat. When you are ready to release the pose, hold it for one more breath.
Benefits:
Builds strength and courage.
Warrior II / Virabhadrasana II
On an exhalation from warrior I open the upper body to the left and lengthen the arms from the shoulders out to the
sides. Palms face down. Feel the line of energy running from the tips of the fingers on the left hand to the tips of
the fingers on the right hand. Coordinate bending and straightening the right leg with the breath.
Kapha Focus:
Lifting and opening the chest. Gaze upward. Hold the pose longer than you want to.
Benefits:
Builds strength and courage, and opens in the hips.
Warrior II / Virabhadrasana II
On an exhalation from warrior I open the upper body to the left and lengthen the arms from the shoulders out to the
sides. Palms face down. Feel the line of energy running from the tips of the fingers on the left hand to the tips of
the fingers on the right hand. Coordinate bending and straightening the right leg with the breath.
Kapha Focus:
Lifting and opening the chest. Gaze upward. Hold the pose longer than you want to.
Benefits:
Builds strength and courage, and opens in the hips.
Reverse Warrior
From warrior II, take a deep breath to drop your left hand to the back of your left thigh or calf. Reach your right
arm overhead and extend it along side your right ear with the palm facing down. Secure the upper arm into the
shoulder socket. Continue to lunge into the right leg and breathe into your side body.
Kapha Focus:
Gaze up and fully fill the lungs with your breath. Feel the ribs expand with each inhalation.
Benefits:
Develops strength in the legs, stretches the intercostal muscles, encourages deeper breathing and builds heat.
Kapha Focus:
Enjoy a sun salutation to bring you into cobra lifts. From the four limb staff pose, lower the entire front body to the
floor and do cobra lifts in place of upward facing dog. After you complete several repetitions, finish the round of
the sun salutation. Gaze up as you exaggerate the spreading action across your chest and torso.
Benefits:
Strengthens the muscles of the back, stretches the spine, opens the chest and shoulders, and massages the
abdominal and pelvic area.
Kapha Focus:
Feel light and buoyant. Use the inhalation to fill the shape of the pose and assist in floating your chest and thighs
off the earth.
Benefits:
Opens the front of the body, massages the pelvic area, stimulates the glands in the neck and chest, encourages good
posture and strengthens the back muscles. It also breaks up congestion in the chest.
Kapha Focus:
Reaching the side of the body towards the sky. Find a great deal of space in your body.
Benefits:
Strengthens the abdomen, arms and legs, and improves balance.
Spinal Rolls
Sitting upright with a long spine and open heart, bend the knees and bring the hands behind the thighs. Roll the
shoulders back, tuck the chin in towards the chest and keep the spine erect. Let your weight roll you to the ground
and use your strength and momentum to bring you back up to sitting without touching your feet to the earth. Roll
back and forth several times.
Kapha Focus:
Keeping your chest open and shoulder blades together as you roll upright. Coordinate the movement with your
breath.
Benefits:
Massages the back body, builds abdominal strength and coordination.
Supine Twist
Lie flat on your back, bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor. The calves should be parallel to the ground. Flex
your feet and extend the arms out to the sides like a "T. Press the palms into the ground. Take a deep breath feeling
your back body expand into the earth. On the exhalation, guide the knees/legs to the left side coming into a twist.
Use the breath to create more space between the right shoulder and right hip. The right shoulder should connect to
the ground. If it has a tendency to rise up then place blankets under the legs. Enjoy several breaths before inhaling
back up to center and exhaling the legs to the right side.
Pitta Focus:
Breathing fully into the belly. Make sure the back of the neck is extended. Enjoy the sensation of letting go into the
pose on your exhalation.
Benefits:
Increases spinal flexibility, invigorates the internal organs and relieves backache.
Leg Lifts
Lie down on your back and extend the arms out to the sides like a T. Press the palms into the ground. Flex the feet
and engage the legs. Inhale to lift the left leg off the ground towards a 90 degree angle. Exhale to slowly lower.
Inhale to reach the right leg up and exhale to lower it. Take several repetitions on each side. If the low back is
straining, then bring your hands underneath your sacrum and/or bend your knee.
Kapha Focus:
Roll the shoulders back and into the ground. Do not strain to lift the legs, feel as if the movement is effortless. Let
your breath guide the movement.
Benefits:
Strengthens the core muscles and builds agni.
Kapha Focus:
Keep the chest lifted and open.
Benefits:
Aids for the respiratory system by opening the chest and lungs. Stretches the shoulders, hips, knees and buttocks.
Kapha Focus:
Enjoy a relatively short length of time (5-10 minutes) in savasana. Pay particular attention to the subtle changes
and sensations in your body, mind and breath.
Benefits:
Complete relaxation. Releases physical and mental tension, improves immunity and allows your body to integrate
your yoga practice.
Kapha Focus:
Pausing for a moment between each inhalation and exhalation.
Benefits:
Calms the nervous system, slows the mind, cultivates awareness and increases lung capacity.